The soup cupboard at the mission, is filled with cans and cans of soup, and other non-perishable goods the public has donated during food drives. And even though its sorted on a regular basis there are hundreds of cans of food that have expired. On the day I volunteered I asked the team leader if I could organize it.
“Eileen, can help you.” She pointed to a tall, awkward woman, about 40, who looked like her body went through a growth spurt while she slept. Her sleeves hit way above her wrist and her pants show the tops of her socks. She has on a white sweater that looks like she stole it from a child’s doll. I smile at her and Eileen smiles back at me, a big toothy grin.

The two of us squeeze into the cupboard and begin the cull. As Eileen grabs a big garbage bag to fill, I mutter on about how I don’t know why people bring such out-dated food. Eileen bows her head and watches each soup can being dropped into the garbage bag.

I ask her what she’s been up to lately, and she says she just got out of Quinte Detention Centre.

“Oh, good for you. That’s nice.”

Nice? Damn it. Why don’t I just shut up!

http://kimmett.ca/the-soup-cupboard/

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