"Life begins at 40" is a popular adage, at least among desperate 39-year-olds. But while it is a dubious assertion for middle-agers-in-denial, it's right on the money for Daily Bread. We are truly just getting started.

We have accomplished much since our humble beginnings: starting with just a single shopping cart in 1984, we now serve around 800 families every week, distributing upwards of 30,000 pounds of fresh, healthy food to those in need. We stayed open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting our operations almost overnight to meet the explosion in demand as safely as possible. And despite our tiny facility, we have managed to keep up with ever-rising numbers of guests seeking relief from the cost-of-living crisis.

But we are not about to rest on our bay leaves. We have plans! Big plans!! For the moment, these plans must remain Top Secret, so we have given them impenetrable code names. Project Move-To-A-Larger-Building has been in the works for what seems like forever, but it could happen this year! Then there is Operation Open-Longer-Hours, which will be a real treat for volunteers who can't get enough of the pantry.

Last, there is the Anniversary-Party-Project. And before you say "Ha! I think I've figured that one out," consider the hallmarks of good spycraft: obfuscation and misdirection. Don't get your hopes up, in other words.

It started with volunteer superstar Pete Jeffrey announcing he would "retire" from Pantry duties at the end of last year. Pete retired from his real job as an American Airlines pilot, erm, let's just say a while ago, and has spent a good amount of his time since then helping out at Daily Bread, among other worthy causes.

Anyways, because computers and phones know our every thought, the next time I was wasting time on YouTube, the algorithm gods recommended an obscure, hardly listened-to song by someone called Danielle Ate The Sandwich, which is possibly not her real name. You can listen to it if you want, but here are the lyrics:

The last coffee, The last tie

The color of the morning on the last drive

The last left turn, The last goodbye

The red stapler, in the cardboard box

The last break room cake and song

The last smile you weren’t sure of

The last memo, the last note

The gurgle of the water cooler’s throat

The last time you shut the door

The last small talk, the last step

The last nod to the security man

The last view of this sunset

And what's next?

Who could say

After I've written

This last day

The first morning, no alarm

Make the coffee with no tie on

What comes next?

it could be anything

I was moved to write this in the comments:

Danielle, I help run a food pantry in Danbury, CT. Among our 200+ active volunteers, retirees figure prominently. Without them, we could not serve the thousands of individuals who receive food from us every week. What comes next? It could be anything - but the time to give back to your community in retirement is a precious gift. I hope this lovely and poignant song leads others to think about what really matters, and how they wish to be remembered

If you've got this far, you may be wondering where I'm going with all this. Well, we need more volunteers, and recent retirees who have not yet filled up their dance cards with post-retirement activities are prime targets. If you know of such a person, hit 'em up! As a reminder, we have an application form on our website here.

Check out this fantastic mosaic created by fruit and vegetable supremo Pattie Thompson. A true masterpiece, now proudly on display in the Pantry. Thank you Pattie!

Scenes like this are a familiar feature of our outside distributions during the winter months. This is the fourth winter guests and volunteers alike have braved the cold -- and with any luck, it might be the last. But in any event, we are getting there! The last distribution of February saw temperatures flirting with the mid-fifties, and while winter undoubtedly has not done with us yet, there is hope around the corner. A huge thank you to everyone who has volunteered over the last couple of months. You are all amazing!

Do you miss the pantry when you are not volunteering? Of course you do! So you can now build your very own Lego Daily Bread model to display in your own home! Click on the picture for a demo. Among other things, it lights up at distribution times to make you feel guilty about not being at the pantry to help out. Price available on request. But, you know, if you have to ask...