What’s in a number?

What’s in a number?
February 20, 2015 River City Food Bank

It is probably not a secret, but numbers are not my favorite things.  And yet they are very much a part of what we do at River City Food Bank.  Are you ready?  Here are the numbers of service for 2014:

Clients served in 2014:  88,762 (Includes those served through daily food distribution and RCFB programs)

  • 50,429 adults
  • 14,169 seniors
  • 24,164 children

Food distributed: 2,061,607 pounds healthy and nutritious food

I’m proud of these numbers because they mean that because of our supporters and volunteers, River City Food Bank has made a significant difference to those who are struggling.

But it is the people who come to us that keep me going.  Their hearts and personal stories propel all of us to provide better service, to make their days easier.  I am reminded of the young woman who accidentally brushed against me in the lobby last week as I was on my way to yet another meeting.  I was a bit late, and feeling less than patient when she began to bombard me with questions like, “How long do I have to wait?”  “What do I have to do in order to get food for me and my kids?” “How often can I come here?” Then she abruptly stopped the questions, apologized for her tone, and said, “Sorry….you know I’m just a little stressed.”  I was a “little stressed” myself, but I knew that I would have food on the table when I went home, and I knew my kids were not “hungry.”  I didn’t have to worry about that aspect of my life.  My client helped me put things in perspective, and I’m going to be very careful about the way I talk about “stress” in my life.