JV AmeriCorps member Elizabeth Murphy (Spokane, WA ’14-16) shares her experience serving as Community Food Resource Specialist at the Catholic Charities of Spokane in Spokane, WA. Below, Murphy reflects on her favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, and the joy and excitement she feels for food and community.
In the season of giving, I find that I receive so much. My experience over the past year has shown me how invigorating little victories can be. As I watch a child have her first taste of spinach, have a senior ask me, “what’s a smoothie,” or give someone a bag of arugula, their favorite vegetable, I am filled with joy in a cheesy excited way. I jokingly told one of my housemates Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, because everyone gets as excited about food as I am every day. I try to carry the joy and comfort of sharing a meal with family and friends into an everyday tradition.
Serving at the same placement in Spokane for two years has allowed me to grow and deepen in relationship with the people I serve. Weekly, I deliver produce to St. Margaret’s Women and Children’s Shelter residents. Last week, an alumni of our program stopped by to drop off her “Christmas Blessings form” for her and her son, and I offered her a bunch of bananas. She ecstatically said, “Love! My baby is going to love this!” When the same mom was living in the shelter in the spring, I remember her calling asking me to, “please save me and my baby food from the community kitchen!” I get so excited when other people get excited about fruits and vegetables! Even through the simple pleasure of a bunch of bananas, I am lucky to connect with moms and kids who in turn make me excited to continue serving at my placement.
Last winter, I began serving with residents at Fr. Bach Haven housing for previously chronically-homeless men and women. We had a community kitchen cooking class and nutrition education series that allowed me to continue serving in the springtime. With another community partner, we hosted a garden-themed lunch and gardening class one week and the following week planted garden pots in front of their building. Since I decided to stay a as a JV year here second year, I was happy I could continue to serve with their case manager to plan a harvest-themed potluck for residents this fall and eat the fruits of our labor. I brought food from our program’s Food for All Farm and residents brought food from their garden pots. There’s a special connection that comes from working the soil, preparing a meal, and sharing a meal together.
Another program within Catholic Charities is called Senior Services through which I was matched with a low-income senior who I’ll call Sam (not her real name). I get to go to her apartment every week, make a meal with her, and we share that meal together. Sometimes we even go on field trips! Twice this summer I was able to take her to the farmers market so she could spend her senior farmers market nutrition program checks (which the Food for All program distributes in Spokane). Even though Sam is away from her family and on a tight budget, she has such a joyful presence and zest for life. I love my weekly visits with Sam. She always makes me laugh, gives me hugs, and loves every meal we make together (especially butternut squash soup). This year, I get to spend my Thanksgiving sharing a meal with her, another one of the reasons I am so happy to continue serving at my placement and deepen the relationships I’ve made over the past year.
