July 14, 2014
On June 23, 2014, I entered Glide Church to participate in a free community meal.
On the way to the dining hall I noticed a flyer posted on the wall that stated the next morning at 8:30 a.m., vouchers for the Farmers Market would be available in Freedom Hall, first come first served. I returned the next morning at 7:30 a.m., with confidence that I would be able to partake in the morning breakfast that starts at 8:00 a.m. and still have ample time to stand in line for a voucher. At 8:00 a.m. the line began to move. After receiving a ticket for the meal and walking into the building at 8:09 a.m., all guests within hearing distance, including myself, were informed that all the vouchers had been dispensed.
Upon being seated for the meal, I noticed a poster on the wall in regard to making grievances about service or treatment in the free meals program. I recorded that information with my camera phone and tried my best to enjoy the meal.
For many years I’ve noticed that the trays the meals are served on are worn to the point of holes being in them, even including the segments where food is placed, which causes food to come in direct contact with the counter. I had the intention of complaining not only about the conflict regarding vouchers and their disbursement during a meal, but also the poor condition of the trays.
By the next morning the trays had been replaced with new trays with no holes.
I saw no point in complaining about the trays at this point and figured that I would just get the run around as per usual in any bureaucratic setting in regard to the vouchers.