A visit with Bill and Seattle’s Providence Regina House
May 6, 2010
I recently took a trip to Seattle and had the opportunity to stop by the Providence Regina House, an agency of the Food Lifeline food bank. During my many trips to agencies in this area over the last few years, I have been amazed by the wealth of resources this city has for those struggling to make ends meet. The Providence Regina House didn’t fall short of these means, offering weekly access to a food pantry and clothing bank along with guidance to community partners versed in government programs.
During my visit, I was able to watch as a staff of volunteers –many of whom were also food recipients – helped the denizens of Seattle’s South Park community. I spoke to a few clients served by the agency and will share their stories here with you over the next few weeks.
Ten years ago, Bill was making more than $111,000 a year. As the manager of Cincinnati call centers for major computer companies, he had a pretty ideal life. “I was doing very well, I had more money than I knew how to spend, more money than I had time to spend, but I wasn’t thinking about tomorrow, or next week, or next year.” Bill set aside funds in his 401k, and at the time assumed he had another 20 to 30 years to work at a job he loved.
Today, the 52-year-old veteran finds himself at a new job that he loves. He brings his worker dog Honey to the Providence Regina House each week before the pantry distribution begins. Together they hand out the food they are assigned to give each week. After the distribution, Bill takes his own box home.
Bill takes pride in being a volunteer but struggles with the reality of his new life every day. It was a slow spiral, starting with an early retirement when his doctors back in Cincinnati insisted that he leave his high-stress job before his blood pressure killed him. Bill took the advice seriously, believing that he could find something else.
But life often dictates the way without much say from person living it. Bill had to let go of his five-bedroom home in order to keep his cost of living down. Next, a death in the family prompted him to move to Tucson. Then Bill became gravely ill, fortunately receiving assistance from a VA hospital. In the midst of all of this, a car accident cost him the use of his legs. Finally, when the last of his family passed away in Tucson, Bill decided it was time to head north to settle down in some family property in Alaska.
Seattle was a detour that his health wouldn’t permit him to leave. Here he could have access to a local VA hospital, but with no income or savings it also meant he was stuck in the 19th most expensive city in America.
“I am [at] this point below the poverty line, and I will be at this point from this day forwards. And this has been an adjustment on my part. To have gone from one end to the lower end and I wasn’t prepared for it. I still don’t think I am fully prepared for it. I want to live as if I was making $100,000 per year.
His new circumstance hasn’t forced Bill to lose his ambitions. After getting himself into stable situation, he eventually started up a business selling animal supplies and food for working dogs like Honey. He also knows that the shaky economy might slow him down a bit, but his friends at the Providence Regina House are willing to help him launch himself into a hopeful life.
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Comments
This story is a wake up call for anyone who thinks that “it can’t happen to me” and a reality check for those who so easily say “people could get a job if they wanted one” or “people chose to be in the situation they are in”. After working in the food bank industry for 11 years at food banks in three states, I have heard these words from many people, I wish I had been able to share this story with those people.
Posted by Carolyn Russell | May 11, 2010 at 2:29 PM