Dispatch - 8-01-07

The Cancellation

Theresa sounded tentative on the Food Runners message line. “Um...I’m not sure if you’re the right folks...I’m with the law firm of Morrison & Forester and we have some sandwiches we’d like to donate. Please call me as soon as possible.” She had the right folks. I phoned Theresa back and got all the pertinent information needed to arrange a pick up. I decided to go myself as I always try to do with a first time donor. I puttered slowly down Second Street between Mission and Market searching for the loading dock entrance which Theresa told me was easy to miss. I managed to locate it with no more incident than annoying the driver stuck behind me. I pulled into the dock which looked as if it were reserved for more imposing and official vehicles than my screaming blue, soccer-mom minivan.

The security guard gave me the fish-eye as I approached his station. “I’m here to pick up some donated food from Morrison & Forrester,” I warbled in a voice reminiscent of Dorothy’s when requesting help from the great and powerful Oz. “Sign here and leave your keys in this box.” said Mr. Intimidating. “You have twenty minutes.” I stepped into the freight elevator and pushed number thirty-two*. “Theresa?’ I inquired at the cubicle I’d been directed to. Theresa stood up from her desk to shake my hand as she thanked me for coming. Her warm smile crinkled her kind eyes. She was young, unassuming, casually dressed in jeans and comfortable shoes. No crisp suit. No Via Spigas. No pearls. She was not at all the Central Casting version of who I thought I’d meet at a law firm in a glass tower in downtown San Francisco. “The food’s in the kitchen,” she said. “They had me order lunch for forty today for a meeting that got cancelled at the last minute. I just couldn’t stand to see the food go to waste or to have people who don’t really need it take it home. I’m glad I found Food Runners.” “Me too,” I nodded. My eyes widened when I saw the food. Six trays from Specialties’ Cafe of delictible deli sandwiches, each one piled so high and thick that just half would make a meal; two platters of fresh cut, seasonal fruit salad; one large spinach salad and four platters of the biggest, fattest best cookies in town. I know. I often ordered Specialties’ cookies for the spoiled staff and clients of a post production house in Media Gulch where I once did time as the Craft Services Babe. Theresa rode down with me and helped me load my car from the cart she’d provided. “Where will you take the food?” she asked. “The Raman Hotel,” I replied. “It’s a hotel run by the Tenderloin Housing Clinic**. It’s exclusively for homeless seniors. The case manager there told me that many of the residents can barely even leave their rooms even if they could afford food.” They left their rooms that day thanks to Theresa, Morrison & Forrester and Food Runners.

Food Runners picked up and delivered 121,715 pounds of food in the month of July. Volunteers performed 836 runs and the truck did 260. Food Runners added many new donors this past month, including Morrison & Forester, J & V Catering, Christopher’s Catering, Adobe Software, the Tse Chen Ling Center for Tibetan Buddhism, Jay’s Deli, the Kaiser Farmer’s Market and more. Food Runners also added the following recipients during July: the Raman Hotel, the Janice Mirikitani Family Youth & Childcare Center, Phoenix Program Residential, the Mission YMCA Seniors Program and the Native American Center.

Are the caterers from all those weddings you’re attending this summer throwing away food?

Tell a Friend About Food Runners

We’ll come n’ get it with a smile and then deliver it to a food program or shelter in need. Maybe somewhere like the Raman Hotel.

Happy Dog Days,

Nancy

* when a Food Runners volunteer other than myself picks up donations, arrangements are made with donors in high rise buildings to bring the food to street level.

** for more information on the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, visit www.thclinic.org

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