How Many Pounds Can You Carry?

 

Martin and I wanted to get more involved in the ministry of Love United Methodist Church and decided to assist with the food deliveries for Hearts and Hands Food Pantry in Baytown.

You may not be aware that stores donate food items that are close to expiration or overstocked. Each Thursday, we were to set up our car with 12 milk crates for receiving food items, don a nametag, then drive to six Dollar General stores with clipboard at the ready. (I never feel more in control than when I have a clipboard.)

Thursday came, and Martin was sick. Too sick to go with me. I put on my confident face and assured my worried husband that I was up for the challenge.

My first store was on Tidwell, where there is a large parking lot on a definite incline–or decline, depending on which side of the road you use. I entered the store confidently and was greeted enthusiastically because their refrigerator had gone out and they needed to get rid of a lot of milk. A whole lot of milk.  They graciously pointed me to the refrigerator and, noting my petite stature (petite means short), they offered me a stool to reach the top shelves.

I filled the first cart and pushed it across the parking lot, where I opened the hatch of my car and noticed just in time that my cart full of milk was rolling itself back across the parking lot toward the store. Using my limited strength and not-so-limited body weight, I wrestled it back to the car, narrowly missing several other parked cars. Five carts later, I was trying to catch my breath, not from exertion but because I was laughing so hard.

My car was groaning, but I headed to my second stop on Old Beaumont Highway, where I gathered a mere two carts of milk and mixed foods. Placing my purse on the front seat and grabbing my clipboard, I kicked the door closed with my foot, then realized that the clipboard was outside the car, but the attached string and pen were inside. Holding the clipboard between my knees, I got the door open and noted that the string had broken. I tied the pieces together and loaded my groceries quickly, giggling to myself.

At the Wallisville Road location, my pen untied itself from the clipboard and fell to the street, where I promptly stepped on it and broke it into several pieces.

Stops at Channelview, Highlands, and Crosby stores ended the route with no casualties to myself or my supplies. Efficient but not nearly as funny.   

As I shared my story on the weekly family call, I was pleased to win Martin’s admiration and a whole lot of laughter from kids and grandkids. But most of all, I felt blessed that I had been able to shuttle 750 pounds of groceries to a food pantry and still had enough breath to laugh about it.