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Brenda and Ken Humphry have been making about 100 peanut butter ‘n’ jelly sandwiches for several years now, as part of Zion United Church’s partnership with the John Howard Society to feed the hungry in Moose Jaw.
The couple, who are retired, have made around 14,000 sandwiches at this point. Brenda Humphry said the experience has drastically changed her perspective.
“You know what? It does as much for me, probably, as it does for them,” she explained. “Let me tell you, it puts things in perspective. The homelessness — and we don’t even call it homelessness, it’s the food-insecure, because we see seniors coming from the high rises around, we see young families coming.
“The clientele has changed drastically since we started. When we started, it was 30 people, and now we’re probably close to 80 or 90 every week.”
The Humphreys head to what the community has taken to calling Our Place (the basement kitchen and serving area of Zion United) at 8 a.m. every Monday. Their first task is to turn 10 loaves of bread into 100 PB&Js. Those sandwiches are then taken to John Howard Society’s headquarters at 15 Hochelaga Street West, where they will feed people throughout the week.
“When the city had that town hall meeting (on homelessness), I went to that, and I took issue with people saying things, ‘Oh, well, you think giving them a sandwich is going to fix anything?’
“That’s not at all what it was intended to do. It was intended just to put something in their bellies. It’s not ‘the answer’, it’s not about fixing everything, but by golly, you’re feeding a fellow human being. That’s all it was meant to do.
After they’ve made their weekly hundred sandwiches, the Humphreys help their fellow Zion United church-goers with the weekly lunch. She gave lots of credit to former Pastor Tim Ellis for helping to arrange that.
It’s done in partnership with and sponsored by John Howard Society, whose case workers always stop by to eat a meal with their clients. Community Paramedics from Medavie Health Services West provide wound care and simple prescriptions for pain or infection.
Humphrey joked that when it’s her turn to cook, everyone knows because it’s always a simple food like hotdogs, or a burger and fries.
She’s gotten to know the individuals who stop by for a meal, and she knows personally that it isn’t just the food — it’s about feeling included, having someone to talk to, being people together.
“I'm the first to say I was very judgmental before I started doing this, and now a lot of these people have become — I care about them a lot. And, you know, I've never felt threatened. They've never asked me for money, but they will always say thank you.
“One guy made me cry. I think it was my first time going down there ... and I’m one of the schmoozers, I’m comfortable just going out and talking amongst them all. And I sat down and talked to this young man, and after a while I said, ‘Well, I better get back to work or they’ll fire me.’ And he stopped me and said, ‘Thank you so much for talking and listening to me.’”
Humphrey said she was probably “that person” that would walk past desperate people on the street and be embarrased and judge them. Now, she said, she recognizes that they didn’t choose to end up where they are, and they’re still deserving of compassion.
“They tell you their stories, and they’re somebody’s brother, sister, daughter, mother. It humbles you, for sure. We’re lucky that we’re not faced with that.”
Brenda said anyone is welcome to stop by Zion United on Mondays for lunch, to sit down and have a meal with what has become a tight-knit community. Along with a hearty lunch, there are often baked goodies donated from a congregation that has been supportive from the start, and more help is always needed.