It provides food. You have a list of canned goods, from canned meats, soups, etc, to flour, rice, frozen meats, milk, bread, and produce and your every necessity need. The orders are made for every two weeks and a truck delivers the food to your stake center from the Bishop's storehouse.
A truck is what comes to our area and the people assigned to help off load the truck and set up the "market" inside is rotated monthly through different wards. You need so many men and women to help this run smoothly. It is very efficient and such a wonderful blessing to have for those who need it.
Things are labeled on the table cloths and items are placed. The orders which were placed for the entire stake are then given to the person who placed the order and another person to help guide. You can not take more than you ordered or an item that was not on your sheet. If you do, this will leave another person short on their order. There are even regular grocery carts there. In a small way, it reminds me of shopping at Aldi's or something like that.
At the end once all orders have been filled we then have to itemize any food items left over. Everything is counted for. If someone would like to take that item then it is written down along with your name. If you are a helper and not receiving food from the bishops store house you can and are allowed to take an extra item. If there are many extra items than the food items are again written down with the quantity and given to a local shelter or women's home and marked as charitable.
We had been on the bishops food order for a number of weeks. My first experience was absolute humiliation. Your name is seen at the top of the list on your food order and all can see. I am sure this humiliation was absolute denial. I still couldn't believe that we were at this point and needed this assistance. Two weeks later, I had grown a stronger testimony of love and service and how beautiful our Church and it's welfare system is set up!
I truly believe that if the government would run their welfare program like the Church does that we would have less on welfare and more actively striving to get off. It is good that service and time is required to help at these. The food will sustain life and is good but it isn't the greatest either. Please do not misunderstand. We were so thankful, it was money that could be spent elsewhere and not on food. But, it wasn't like I was getting steaks, or the quality food that I was used to purchasing. It forced one to be creative and truly try to think how you could make a dish different or more flavorful.
I also loved the friendship and bonding that was created as we soon grew in love and hoped and prayed for one another who were also receiving this assistance. As we heard of those who were interviewing our hearts lept for one another, as we heard of others who joined our unique club we sorrowed with them. I know Mr. Incredible truly felt and prayed for each family who was there and gained such a tender bond with other men who were jobless and suffered the same pangs and worries about their families as he did his.
As opportunities would come to others we rejoiced and when it was finally our turn to leave this group it was a bitter sweet moment. Sweet because we could contribute back and so bitter as we left the faces we came to love and seek refuge in. These families truly understood and it also became a most wonderful opportunity to hear of their recipes that they had concocted which were far better and sometimes worse than the recipes in the book. By the way, each of the General Authorities were prepared meals from this food. Most of the labels on the food are named Deseret or beehive, but I have to tell you the item I miss the most on the list was their bags of flour and no you can't purchase it at the cannery!! I wonder how each of those families are doing now, since it has been a year since we were pushing walking down the made shift aisles at the Stake Center. Our prayers continue to bless those who fall on hard times both financially and spiritually.
