This week…
I had some wonderful encounters thanks to the food rescue volunteering work I do.
When I got to Trader Joe’s in Coral Gables on Wednesday for my weekly pick up, I went inside the actual store to grab a bite to eat. I was so happy to see Manny, one of the staff there, who a while back helped fix my trunk on my old car. I’d left a Starbucks gift card for him with another employee and asked if he’d received it. Thankfully he said yes and he was very appreciative. We ended up having a wonderful conversation and I found out he’s making a move again. Turns out throughout his life, he’s lived all the country and the world and is getting ready to move to Germany.
Just part of this week’s food haul going to Village Freedge
I took the food haul, as I do every week, to Village Freedge where Founder Sherina Jones with her partners Isaiah Thomas and Danny Agnew of Roots Black Collective feed the Liberty City community out of their pantry and kitchen. Sherina is an amazing person and I love seeing her smiling face and all her wonderful volunteers every Wednesday when I arrive with a car full of food for her mission.
On this Wednesday, I happened to see a woman across the street from me waiting for her food donation to be unloaded. I got to talking to her, her name is Ashley and she and her friend are dieticians who run the non-profit Eat Well Exchange. She had a huge haul she was donating from Aldi. We immediately decided to follow each other on Instagram. Can’t wait to find out more about the work they do.
Introduction to tonight’s film screenings at Little Haiti Cultural Center
Aside from this it was a busy work week, a little too busy for my taste actually. I had one article published on Artburst Miami, one that was a bear to write but of which I’m immensely proud. Click here to read about these three amazing social justice documentaries and the filmmakers who put these stories on film. I went to the screening of the three films tonight and it was a truly special night. The subjects of the films and the filmmakers were all present. It was inspiring to experience their courage and grit. They’re fighting the good fight, fighting for their dignity and for what’s owed to them.
Lovely Kennedy Park in Coconut Grove
I was so ready for Friday to get here and this morning I had a delicious frita pastelito and fresh squeezed OJ from Chug’s Diner while sitting at Kennedy Park in Coconut Grove. I then took a nice leisurely walk through the park and it was a wonderful way to kick off the day.
And I leave you with this…I pray every day that we see some relief from all the extreme weather our country and the world is experiencing, for those poor souls in Ukraine, the horrible situation of gang violence and kidnappings in Haiti and the continued human rights violations in Cuba (and so many other parts of the world).
Until next week, thanks for reading and peace to all.
