Case study #0730-312012
How people act towards the homeless in different situations
Situation number 1. Food box donation facilities.
My name is rich and I was once homeless. I was fortunate to have great friends. One of my dear friends put me up in their apartment rent free for a month in a half. In that month in a half I was able to get a job and make enough to get my own place and I have never looked back. Thank you Randy you’re a true friend you and your wife.
I went out to several different locations in the east valley of Arizona that offer food boxes for families that are unable to afford food. There is a great deal of these places out there, and with all these places the less fortunate are able to receive a pretty good variety of foods for their families.
field study number 1. A Baptist church in Mesa Arizona.
After looking at the schedule for food box pick-ups I visited my first one on Sunday July 29th 2012 at 4:45 PM 4:45 PM was the time that was set by this particular organization to open the doors for the less fortunate to get a food box. Upon arriving to this location I was greeted by a gentleman that proceeded to hand me a brochure and said welcome. I then walked inside and asked one of the volunteers where I go to get the food box. The reply I received was one of confusion and ultimately put me in a state of shock. This person said that I would have to sit through a 45 minute service so that I could receive a ticket to go to a different part of the facility to get a food box.
Why is this? I then asked the volunteer “ so if I want to eat I have to sit through your church service” they then said yes you have to attend the service to receive a ticket to get food. I stood back in confusion and shock once again wondering how this is legal. How can this be right? Why should I be forced to sit through a church service to receive food? Besides the fact that even if I did sit through the service it would be under the wrong circumstances and I would not gain anything from that service because I was forced to attend against my will. I left this Baptist church and went home to check the next day’s schedule.
Field study number 2. A Christian church in mesa Arizona
After arriving at this facility at around 930 AM I was not even sure they had a food pantry program because the parking lot was empty and there were no signs being displayed to the fact. After walking around for a few minutes I decided to walk into the office and was greeted by an older woman that was busy filing paperwork and not once did she even look at me to acknowledge I was even there.
I then asked her am I in the right place to receive a food box? Without an answer she walk to a different part of the office and let out an uncomfortable sigh saying to the other person in this office “ this guy wants food” this person walks out looks at me and says one word… ID? I said yes and pulled it out and gave it to her she made a copy of it then walked back in to a different room grabbed a bag with a few items in it handed it to me and just walked away. She never even said have a great day or God bless you, nothing, nothing; she just walked back into her little office.
At this point I felt very small, very embarrassed, very uncomfortable. I then walked out of the door and headed back to my vehicle. I was not done yet I said to myself, I’m going to go back in there and ask them something else. I walked back into the office and with yet another sigh she said yes? I asked her if they had any diapers for my children and she said no. she did not give a resource nor did she even make an attempt to help me locate a place to get diapers. I pretty much ran out of there feeling like a piece of unneeded garbage.
Field study number 3. An east mesa Lutheran church.
After arriving at this location at around 950 AM I noticed a man walking out of one of the many buildings with a box of food and walking alongside him was the family. this looked a little more inviting. A volunteer walking out with the family’s food to bring it to their car for them what a nice gesture I said to myself.
I proceeded to walk into the building that you go to get your food was asked to give them I ID and fill out some paper work. After doing so they then asked me how many people were in my household I of course said four. I then asked her if there was a job board or someone I could talk too, to see if I could get a driving job. I then explained to her that I owned my own business and was in need of some contract work, is there anyone you can put me in contact with? The reply I received will make your head spin. She said we are falling behind so grab some items from the two shelves right here and we will bring
you out a food box. I said to myself what? Was I just ignored I’m asking for a contact so I can get some work and I’m shoved of and ignored. Wow! I said to myself.
Field study number 4. St Vincent DePaul Catholic Church
When I pulled into the parking lot of this church I noticed that there were a great deal of cars alongside the curb of the building with the trunks open. I walked through the doors and there were 5 or six people there scrambling around putting food boxes together. After listening to them for a minute I came to the conclusion that these people are going to deliver these boxes to the families in the mesa area. Wow! I said to myself there even delivering food what a great organization.
An older woman called me back into her office and asked me why I was here? I then I replied I’m here for three reasons. I need some food for my family, I am in need of electric on my M-Power box and who do I talk to about getting a job delivering food because I have a cargo van and would be able to make a great deal of deliveries for them.
The response I received was understandable. She said that the organization feels that receiving services from them and working for them would be a conflict of interest but that she would be able to help with my other requests. She then asked me a few questions and said that they would be by to drop it off either on Tuesday the 31 or Wednesday the 1st. I said ok no problem and as I was getting up to leave she asked me if there was anything that I needed right now I said yes I could use some food for my kids she walked into their pantry and brought out some hamburger meat and some awesome jimmy dean sausage as well as some chili some gum, bread and believe it or not some diapers. After grabbing the bags of goods that they were kind enough to give to me, to tide me over until tomorrow she asked if I wanted to pray with them for the days serviced to the community? With a cheerful smile I said of course I do. I then left that place with a smile on my face and I felt like I was worth something unlike the other three places I visited. This place is very well organized and is full of great, caring and loving people that really want to help the less fortunate and enjoy doing so day after day. God bless these people and what they do for the community.
Rich Ornelas 07/31/2012
