This past week I traveled to Trinidad, Colorado on business, population 8,100. As I was leaving the city, I drove through an intersection where 4 local residents, donned in orange safety vests, were on the four street corners asking for donations to their local food bank.
I gave a donation and then thought about what it is like to be hungry as I drove away.
I have never gone without food. But when I was on my mission in Sweden for the LDS church I came close. I paid for a third of my mission and my home ward paid for the other two thirds. The only problem was that they were supporting eight other missionaries at the same time and there was not much money to go
around to all of us.
While in Sweden and with a change in local priesthood leadership at home, my monthly check of $102.00 for all my housing, bus fare, and food expenses was forgotten and not sent. In that time period, there was no regular monthly support payments from the church.
So for two months at separate times, no checks were sent to me. I had a little saved up from a tax refund, but not much, which mostly paid for my housing and bus fare.
So for two months I had very little to eat. My companions tried to help but they did not have a lot of extra food. I remember subsisting on homemade pea soup and a few other items but not much else. I had some food but not enough and
was hungry at times.
At this time of year in our abundance, it may not seem imaginable to be without food for some in our community. The need though is real and exists. There are homeless people without food. There are struggling families whose income
is not enough to support them, that need food. There are elderly whose income is strained for food. There are disabled residents who are in trouble.
This is why I am leading out an effort in Orem to give food to the Community Action Services and Food Bank charity from now until December 21st. I have a barrel in my office right next to my desk where donations of food can be
dropped off. They are in need of chili, stew, canned meats, tuna, peanut butter, and also cake mixes, muffin mixes, and even some additional fun food like popcorn and potato chips.
I think about the times I have served hot food to those in need in Provo and in taking meals to home bound seniors. There is so much we can do to help those in need.
If you have the resources, please bring cans of food to my city office to go to those without this season. It means so much to so many. We can do it. We can help those who really need our assistance to not go hungry.
Mayor Brunst
