Flip Top Cans

I have been out of town for a few days and away from my computer.  I THOUGHT I knew what I wanted to sit down and write about this evening now that I am home.  But then I met someone at the Little Yellow Free Pantry who inspired me to tell you something else tonight, something more important. 

There is a meme that has been circulating for a couple years talking about what you “should and shouldn’t” donate to food pantries.  To be honest, it has always bothered me.  One of the things it emphasizes is that you “must” give canned goods that have flip-tops, because “what good is a can of food if the person cannot open it?”.

That premise bothers me.  I had a hard time putting my finger on WHY, but I think it is because it dehumanizes people experiencing food insecurity.  It assumes that they all live on the streets, or in tents, or other places with no access to can openers, let alone kitchens.  But the reality is – many, many people who are food insecure have housing.  They have jobs.  They have kitchens.  They just do not have enough food.  If they can get help in securing food, they can survive and often thrive.

 

But some of the guests who come to the Little Yellow Free Pantry are experiencing homelessness.  They do not have access to refrigerators or stoves or, like the meme infers, they don’t even have access to can openers.  And they are the reason that we always try to have can openers in stock, so that when we see a need, we can hand one out.

 

Tonight when we got home, I filled up the pantry.  Some amazing volunteers filled it while we were away, but it felt good to be back to select the items to put in and to set them carefully on the shelves.  Guests started coming as soon as it was filled, and at one point I was stepping out onto the back porch so that I could pop out to the pantry to see what had been taken and needed to be replaced.

 

A guest saw me under the light of the porch and said hello.  I walked over to greet them and ask if there was enough food inside.

 

“Oh, yes ma’am, there is food in here,” they assured me politely.

 

I didn’t think I had met this person before (but I admittedly have a bad memory).  I asked if there was anything special they would like or needed.

 

“Oh, oh no.  There is food here.  I will take some of this,” they said sweetly, sounding like so many others who come for help – thankful and not wanting to be a bother.  “It’s just…  It needs to have a flip top.”

 

Ahhhhhhhhh. 

 

The flip top.

 

That short sentence – it needs to have a flip top – says so much, doesn’t it?  It says, basically, I am hungry.  I do not have food.  I likely do not have housing.  And, of course, I do not have a can opener.

 

Oh, how I wished I could pop downstairs to the storage area and bring up a can opener like I normally do, but I had given away the last one a week ago.  But I convinced the guest to stay while I ran down and brought up some other items for them to choose from.  I brought up:  pre-cooked cups of rice that can be eaten cold or heated, pre-cooked pasta and pre-cooked meatballs and sauce that come in pouches, a cup of soup that is ready to heat and eat (or eat cold).  Toothpaste and a toothbrush.  A Pop-Tart. Spam.  Tuna.  Fruit cocktail.  Peas – all cans with flip tops.  And a few other items for them to look over.

 

I was happy to see that they had waited for me.  They took a few things (the pre-cooked rice and meatballs were new to them and I think they were excited to try them). 

 

“That is plenty, ma’am.  I do not want to take too much.”

 

I ran inside to grab them a bag since their backpack was already heavy and full. 

 

When I went back outside with the bag, they asked my name.  I told them, and they told me theirs.  The explained that they had just spent their money to go visit their birth state (I am guessing family) and things were very tight right now.

 

“I am re-joining the military,” they said.

 

“Ahhhh, this is a scary time to be doing that…” I said out-loud what I probably should have kept to myself.

 

“Yes ma’am, but it is necessary,” they told me.

 

I looked them in the eyes and said, “Come back anytime.  You are welcome here.  And THANKS.  Thank you for being willing to serve our country”.

 

And just like that, they walked off into the night. 

 

Thank you for the reminder, kind stranger, that flip tops are important for some.  And the reminder that we need more can openers. 

 

Because given the choice of singling people out for needing flip tops, or equaling the playing field even a tiny bit by making sure those who need them get can openers, I choose the can openers every time.

 

And to whoever raised this child:  I wish I could meet you.  I wish I could tell you that you did a good job.  Your child is kind and polite and caring.  They are careful to share with others.  They are working hard to find their path.

 

They are well.

 

And if we can help them even in the slightest, we will. 

 

Because whether it is a flip top can, a can opener, or a genuine conversation, we will give what we can. 

 

Thank you for the reminder, solider.  Thank you for your service.

 

 

If you are able to help us keep the Little Yellow Free Pantry (based in South Arlington, Virginia) filled, currently most needed are:

-          Manual can openers of any sort (we are out)

-          Heat and eat soup in cups (like Campbell’s Chunky Bowls or Sipping Cups) (we have 4 left)

-          Cans of ravioli or spaghetti and meatballs (those also do not need to be cooked) (almost out)

-          Gatorade (any flavor/size) (almost out)

-          Chef Boyardee cups of heat and eat pasta dishes (we are out of these)

-          Cans of Vienna Sausages (we are out)

-          Cans of salmon

-          Cans of corned beef

-          Flip top cans of corn

-          Pre-cooked pasta in pouches

-          Canned tomatoes of any kind

-          Canned potatoes of any kind

 

This is our Amazon wish list, items ordered here ship directly to us:  

 Little Yellow Free Pantry Wish List

If you prefer to shop somewhere else and need a shipping address, please email us at:  KindnessActivist@gmail.com .

If you are local to the DC metro and can help out, there is a tan and green plastic bin on our front porch next to the door.  Please drop any donations there instead of directly into the pantry.  They are then brought inside, stored, and put into the pantry as needed.  This system helps us “spread the love” to many guests.  Email us at KindnessActivist@gmail.com if you need the address for drop-off.

 

THANK YOU.  Kindness Activist is a registered 501C3 non-profit organization.