Patricia Lee Lewis: Meals and shelter on the heart of our lives 

The Middle for New Individuals (CNA) working with Catholic charities to resettle immigrant and refugee people and households in Hampshire and Franklin counties is an important, beneficiant and obligatory endeavor whose foundations are secure. It’s to offer a secure haven. Northampton’s Manna Group Kitchen employees and volunteers serve members of the underserved group by offering entry to nutritious meals and drop-in facilities. The Shelter is on the coronary heart of the actions of all three of those nice teams of hers. Just lately, I used to be one in every of about 90 poets he wrote and funded in his CNA 30 poems in November. And from my expertise as a volunteer at Mana’s drop-in heart, I wrote a collection of poems from what got here to thoughts probably the most. Right here is without doubt one of the poems:

eating on the desk

at this time for the primary time because the pandemic

Mana affords indoor eating

I often volunteer at a drop-in heart

For individuals who shouldn’t have a steady place to stay

take the names of these ready

take a bathe and hold the laundry

23 folks checked on this morning

heart check adverse

Welcomed by educated employees

WHY YOU NEED THIS CENTER

If your organization wants a scorching meal

others who don’t decide

we set the actual desk

napkins, stainless-steel tableware

52 models in 52 indoor places

100 ready-to-serve meals

The pleasure of consuming indoors

on a ravishing day

and one man making an attempt to assist

who couldn’t consider something

however somebody stole

all of the final issues he owned

Are you able to do it

Think about life with nothing

show your id

cellphone e-book in his tent pockets

sleeping bag and its location

did you camp?

Towards St. Mary’s Church

he mentioned and i believed

thank heaven he eats

what garments to clean at this time

he’s discovered right here to take a bathe

possibly some sort of baptism

and share a meal

too many talks

bread and fish

Patricia Lee Lewis

northampton