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“There were so many people involved in the project I’m not sure I deserve to be singled out,” Jenny said.

“You deserve it and more,” Carl said from beside her. “Don’t be humble. You worked hard and should be thanked.”

“Thanked I can handle but all of this?” Jenny nodded toward the lavish reception which followed the surprise presentation. “Like I said in my speech there were many hands and gifts that went to make this outreach effort possible.”

“Yes there were but you led it and like it or not you’re the public face of the outreach effort that brought together five very different churches.” Carl smiled at her. “We are richly blessed because of you.”

Jenny felt her face grow warm at his praise. “I didn’t do anything that remarkable.”

“I think all of us would disagree.” Carl pointed to the award that had been presented to her. “Take the praise because it’s well earned. I’ll see you on Monday?”

“Absolutely.” Jenny turned and found her way blocked by an elderly woman.

“Congratulations,” Betty said. “You’ve made such a difference here.”

“Oh Betty, this award really belongs to everyone who worked on making the effort happen and on people like you who ensure it continues to run.”

“Don’t be modest.” Betty patted her hands. “You made this happen. Sure you had help but you kept us going. The thanks are richly deserved.”

Jenny smiled. “Thank you.”

“Did you get anything to eat?” Betty asked.

“I had a few sandwiches in between chatting with people.” Jenny looked at the table of food which was almost bare as the crowd began to thin. “I’ll be fine.”

“I figured you wouldn’t get a chance to eat with all that was going on.” Betty pushed a small package into her hands. “The chicken salad sandwiches you like and some chocolate squares and cookies as well.”

 “Thank you.” Jenny hugged the older woman. “You are so thoughtful.”

“Happy to help,” Betty said. “Now why don’t you go get the bus and head home. I’ve got plenty of volunteers to help clean up.”

“Are you sure?”

Betty smiled. “I’m certain. I’ll see you on Monday.”

Jenny waved and headed toward the door. She had done something great and the outreach effort was making a difference for the poor of that end of the city. As she walked toward the bus stop she thought about the countless meetings and discussions that had led to the creation of the outreach project. She had done a great thing. She looked at the award in her bag and felt herself proud of what she had done and more than a little pleased that finally she was being recognized for all that work.

When she arrived at the bus stop she saw a couple of people from the neighbourhood who greeted her. A man in a tattered coat nodded to her and she nodded back. Her fingers touched the shiny award they had given her and she smiled to herself. She pulled out the package of food that Betty had gotten for her and unwrapped it.

“That looks good if you don’t mind me saying so,” the man in the tattered coat said.

Jenny looked at the award sitting at the top of her bag, “Thanks I got the award tonight from the area churches for the outreach effort we’re doing in this part of town. Maybe you’ve heard of the Baskets of Plenty Ministry?”

“Maybe.” The man frowned. “Is that the one over on Fifth Street that has the wonderful soup?”

Jenny shook her head. “No, that’s Southside Soup.”

“Ah,” the man said. “Then you must be the folks who run the shelter near the docks.”

“No, that’s another group although we do work with them. We run the education program, after school outreach, clothing depot, and all sorts of other things in Redeemer Church.”

The man nodded. “Yeah, I got this coat there. Nice folks.”

“Thanks,” Jenny took a bite of a sandwich. It was her favourite and nobody else could cook quite like Betty. She noticed the man staring at her. She wondered if she had something on her face and then it clicked. “You were talking about the food and not the award, weren’t you?”

“I haven’t had much today cause I got there too late for supper at the Soup kitchen.” The man looked away. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything.”

Jenny looked at the food that had been carefully prepared for her. The sandwiches she loved, the squares that were her favorites and the cookies that were to die for. She kept the sandwich she had already started to eat but wrapped the other food back up and handed them over to the man. “This should help tide you over.”

“Are you sure, miss?”

Jenny nodded. “Positive.”

“Thanks.” His eyes lit up. “This sure will help.”

The bus arrived and she lined up with the others. The man had leaned against the bus shelter and was starting to eat.

“Are you coming?” she asked him.

He shook his head. “They don’t like it when people like me eat on the bus so I’ll get the next one. God bless you.”

“God bless you, too.” Jenny got on the bus and took her seat.

She watched the man waving to someone in the background and saw a shabbily dressed woman come forward to get a share of the food. She realized that she felt better about herself at that moment than she did the whole time she was being recognized for her work on the outreach ministry. She paid no attention to the award in her bag as she made a note to start looking into offering a meal at the Baskets of Plenty ministry.


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StoryShare, November 1, 2020 issue.

Copyright 2020 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

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