Dispatch 9-01-07

Tuesdays with Michael

Michael loves Tuesdays. Every Tuesday, Michael leaves his apartment for low income seniors at the El Bethel Arms and makes his way to the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. He arrives at two o'clock or so and checks in with Dexter, the Market manager, who gives him a few boxes and a cart. Michael then makes the rounds of the Market vendors asking if they have any product to donate to Food Runners. When he is finished with the sidewalk vendors, he heads inside to Miette Cakes, Frog Hollow Cafe and Delica R-F1, three shops who donate their excess food to Food Runners on a daily basis. By 2:45, when Edwin pulls up in the Food Runners, Michael stands proudly in the alcove just south of the main entrance, his boxes overflowing with the haul of the day. This time of year, the produce donations tend to be particularly copious and delectable. Anything from flats of imperceptibly damaged peaches, plums or strawberries, to cabbages the size of bowling balls, to feathery fennel, to frothy lettuces with flaws so minimal that only a discerning farmer could spot them. Edwin, the Food Runners truck driver, has learned never to arrive before Michael finishes his rounds. Michael has a system. Nobody messes with Michael's system. Not me, not Edwin, not Dexter. And don't offer to help Michael move any boxes either. Michael is proud. Old country proud. He is seventy-something, of modest stature, but of enormous vigor and exuberant heart. "Nenzy, you are my angel!" Michael bursts in his Romanian accented speech on the rare occasions that we meet. His Grand Canyon smile explodes across his face like fireworks on the Fourth of July. "Foot Ronners save my life," he says as he shakes my hand with strength belying his age. "Wittout Foot Ronners I seet all day in my apartment, stare at walls. I speak five lengvages but I am old man. Nobody want old man. Man need to work or he will die." And work Michael does once a week volunteering for Food Runners. Michael has been collecting the donations at the Tuesday Farmer's Market for as long as anyone can remember. He knows all the vendors and all the vendors know him. The clatter of his raucous, gravelly laugh echoing off the clock tower signals them to set aside the still beautiful produce they deem unsellable. When Michael spies Edwin he wheels his full cart to the Food Runners truck. He asks for a piece of fruit and a pastry from Miette Cakes before climbing into the cab for a lift back to the El Bethel Arms which is located conveniently on Edwin's way to the Haight Ashbury Food Program. "Tenks be to Gott for Foot Ronners," Michael sighs with relief. "Every week, I have sumptink important to do." Something important indeed.

Food Runners picked up 116,260 pounds of food this past month. Volunteers performed 835 runs and the truck did 252. Please welcome new donors OMI Family Resource Food Pantry, Claire Squares and Cybernet Entertainment . Also welcome new volunteer Karen C. In other news, Food Runners truck driver Edwin P. celebrated his one year anniversary on August 16th. Edwin came to Food Runners through Larkin Street Youth Services a fantastic, non-profit organization dedicated to "creating a continuum of services that inspires youth to move off the street." Food Runners took a big chance on this young man who, over the past year, has proven himself to be a reliable, hard worker who gets the job done with a smile. Food Runners clients report that Edwin is personable, helpful and very, very strong! Edwin feels proud to not only have a job, but to have one that makes a difference for so many.

Summer is almost over meaning that Gala Season is almost here. At your next gala, ask the caterer if they are throwing away food at the end of their events. If the answer is "yes," tell them about Food Runners.

Alleviating waste and stopping hunger in San Francisco are a mere phone call away.

Happy Labor Day,

Nancy

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