rice, a wreck, and SHARE

Apropos of nothing, my favorite rice is short grain brown rice. It used to be the only rice we ate and was available at several different stores when we lived in the city but apparently it didn't prove to be very popular as eventually the only place I could buy it was in the bulk section of Whole Foods. It was a pain having to go into the city just for rice after we moved and then we found 12 pound bags at Costco but Costco doesn't seem to get it anymore. So after two or three years of eating white rice (don't really care for long grain brown rice) I finally searched online for the short grain brown and the 12 pound bag arrived.

Yesterday morning there was a three vehicle accident including an 18-wheeler on I-59S just past the bridge over the Colorado River in Wharton. When the police and emergency personnel got there all three vehicles were engulfed in flame. The truck driver died. They closed the highway in both directions. I don't know where they funneled the traffic going north but when I had to pass under I-59 to get Robin to work at 9 AM they were diverting and directing the traffic going south right through town to the other bridge over the river. That road eventually joins up to 59 past where the accident was. Traffic was bumper to bumper through town, probably 85% trucks of varying size.

Usually it takes 5 minutes or less to get from the Walmart to SHARE. Yesterday it took nearly 20 minutes so I was late. Of course it turned out to be our busiest day yet, over 30, maybe 32, and there was already a mountain of baskets at my station to be filled and they kept coming. I don't think I finally caught up til about 12:30 (we close at 1 PM) and two of the guys had to do my restocking for me when they were in between filling carts with other food. Their station had 5 volunteers, mine, just me. These are the baskets I fill.

A is one person, B 2, C 3, D 4 or 5, E 6 and up. A and B families get one basket each, C – E families, two baskets.

This is my station. I just do the canned goods and some packaged food like mac and cheese, juice, laundry detergent, and (when we have them) hygiene items.

They also get meat, bread, milk, flour, sugar, peanut butter, cereal, eggs, butter, dried fruit, nuts, hamburger helper, assorted sauces, whatever fresh is available, desserts, etc. What they get depends on what we get either from donations (individuals, food drives, the grocery store, Walmart) or from the Food Bank in Victoria from which Jan places an order every month or direct purchases. SHARE also provides clothing, blankets, sheets, diapers, some household goods/appliances, financial help and temporary housing at motels if needed.

This week has been so busy. This is what my day yesterday was like...pick Robin up and take her to work, SHARE, drop the cardboard from SHARE at the recycling container, lunch, an estate sale with Pam, walk the dog, pick Robin up and take her home, yoga class. Today though, there is nothing on my agenda and I plan to sit and read. Because it turned cold again. Maybe vacuum the floors. Maybe.