May of this year, the monthly intention is for “Working Conditions: We pray that through work, each person might find fulfillment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.”
I have seen hundreds of people walk through our doors at Kinship Community Food Center…some working hard 2-3 jobs at a time with a low wage. Others are without work. Others have a good, steady job, but the cost of living is difficult.
One friend I think of is Patty. She came to shop after being homeless for many years and, after finding more stable housing, developed agoraphobia and was unable to leave the house. Her neighbor saw her need for food and brought her to Kinship. I was in need of extra volunteers that day and pulled her aside to help run one of our departments. She was surprised but happy to help me. Afterwards, she came up to me so grateful and eager to come back. She explained her situation and said she felt human again by helping other people. She was no longer entirely consumed by her fear. But rather by the love of giving people a dignified experience and therefore also herself, she felt needed and capable, which she had not been for a long time.
JPII says man finds himself in a sincere gift of self. True, honest work seeks the good of the person you serve.
When there is little or no relationship to a person or how your product benefits humanity, work is degraded, and thus the worker is degraded.
My friend, without housing or work, was then able to keep volunteering and eventually work with people lacking housing. Then she started studying and is getting her degree in Social Work, which will benefit so many people going forward who were in a situation like hers. Moreover, she is so happy and grateful to have dignified work to serve others, the way she was served by her volunteer work.
We must see all our work as a gift to give back to God, dwelling in each person in the world.
Author: Samantha Vosters
Samantha has been with the Kinship Community Food Center food for over 8 years. She is the founder of the Mission House and is currently the Mission Intern and Formation Manager.
Visit kinshipmke.org to read more about Kinship.