Scouting for Food

Every year we go collecting for Loudoun Interfaith Relief. In years past, we collected whole trucks full of food, which we took to the food bank in Leesburg. Last year, we went through a very middle-class neighborhood, and one of the older neighborhoods in town. The houses in the old section were small ranch homes and split-levels, some with a one car garages, most with none. And yet, from that year, we hauled in an entire truckload of food--over 800 pounds! That's eighty pounds of food per boy.

Sadly, this year was pathetic. Our patrol was assigned to one of the wealthiest and nicest neighborhoods in town. The homes were enormous--three-car-garage brick homes on three acre lots. And yet, with all that abundance, we collected a mere ten bags of food--93 pounds. I was really disappointed. I mean, with all that wealth, could no one bother to buy a few extra cans of beans and set them on their porch? It was a depressing display of greed and indifference.

Anyhow, I'm proud of my boys for getting out there and collecting what they did.