Grocery Bags Are Worth A
Thousand Words
Andy tugged on
his grandmother’s arm to hurry. In the distance, he saw long strings
of balloons waving in the San Diego breeze. Soon Andy and Maria heard music
drifting from the City Heights Park. Not having any money, the two cautiously
walked in unaware of the surprises that were waiting for them!
On the Saturday morning of January
18th, Maria worriedly looked into the empty cupboards. Times are tough.
Maria’s husband is in jail. She spends her days caring for the three
grandchildren while her daughter works hard to provide for the family. Taking
her five-year-old grandson Andy by the hand, she decided to take a walk
and think. When coming to City Heights Park volunteers welcomed the two
into Operation Blessing’s Supper Bowl IX!
Maria was astonished at what surrounded her. Over 1,000 volunteers where
insuring that more than 11,500 adult and child guests were having a great
time at this free Official Sanctioned Event of the San Diego Super Bowl
XXXVII Host Committee. People were able to choose from over 20,000 donated
coats, have their hair cut, be pampered with a manicure, and get their
blood pressure checked under a large yellow and white-striped tent.
Over in the far right corner children could climb on several large blown-up
obstacle courses, get their faces painted and get balloon sculptures by
clowns. Looking to her far left, Maria saw children and teens taking part
in one of several football clinics taught by former Pittsburgh Steelers’
Robin Cole. However, right behind this grandmother there was a line for
free groceries!
Two bags of food were soon handed to Maria. She opened them up and saw
pasta, soap, onions, potatoes, yogurt as well as canned fruit and vegetables.
“I know whatever I have it’s because of God,” commented
the Spanish-speaking woman. She was one of 2,950 families that attended
Supper Bowl IX. Every one of the approximately 5,900 bags of groceries
where given during the course of the event.
As a first-time volunteer, Cyrilla bagged and gave out groceries. “[The
Supper Bowl] was amazing,” she said. “God laid it on my heart
to volunteer.”
Her husband Curtis helped with security and added, “I wanted to
do a good thing and I’ve seen a lot of happy faces.”
As a single parent working and going to school, another woman named Maria
was one of those happy faces. Lifting up her groceries she commented,
“This bag is worth a thousand words.”
Operation Blessing wishes to thank our local volunteer team, Ridgeway
International, the City of San Diego, numerous companies that donated
product, churches including Foothills Christian Fellowship, The Rock Church,
and Horizon Christian Fellowship as well as the professional athletes
and countless volunteers who helped us in caring for those living in San
Diego’s low-income households. Since 1995, more than 912,000 pounds
of donated food products have been distributed to low-income families
during Supper Bowl events.
You can be a part of feeding America’s hungry. Just $25 will feed
a family of four for one month!
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