I have mentioned before that my husband works as a firefighter. The firehouse where he is stationed is in one of the worst parts of the city. He enjoys working there because "that's where all the action is" and it's a pride thing - you know you are a kicka$$ firefighter if you are put in charge of a station in that area.
Often, he will tell me things that happen while he is on duty. He told me one story in particular last night and it broke my heart - I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. They work 24 hour shifts, so, each day that they are on duty, they make a trip to the grocery store to buy food that they cook for lunch and dinner. When he was working the other night, they were just about to sit down to dinner when the doorbell rang (they generally keep the firehouse doors closed and locked so that people cannot just walk in from the street). At the door was a little boy, around 11 or 12 years old. Kids sometimes hang around the firehouse, so it wasn't unusual for him to be there, although this particular boy was not familiar to them. They let him in the firehouse and he simply asked one question: "Can I have something to eat?" He sat down with the firefighters and enjoyed a dinner that included pork chops, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. Not once did the boy turn down anything that was offered to him. I think of my kids and how just about every night at least one of them will complain about not liking something I am serving for dinner - "Mom, that's gross! I'm not eating that" - They truly do not realize how lucky they are to be able to have a place to sit down with their family and eat a meal. I don't know this boy's story or anything about him. But, if he is having to go to a neighborhood firehouse and ask for something to eat, you can bet that maybe his situation is not that great. There's definitely a message here for me to share with my children.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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5 comments:
That is a great message to share! Thanks!
that is soo sad. I used to tell my kids all the time how lucky they are to have good food on the table and a warm bed..etc etc...they never believed me though until they were adults.
In America..no kid should go hungry..ever..I feel so sad for that little boy.
Kari
That breaks my heart. Thanks for sharing this.
Great message. Thanks for sharing. Happy Friday Follow - Rita @ http://one2try.blogspot.com/
Kari, The message was apparently not just for your children. It is heart breaking that children need to go without in our country. Sometimes I just don't know what the government is thinking. My kids are older now, and they too understand how precious a home, family and food on the table really are. Thank your for writing about this.
♥, Susan
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