My mind works in song, and today I’m singing, “Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands.” For the next eight weeks my Fridays will entail cleaning up breakfast followed by preparing, serving and cleaning up lunch for a summer food site. So, the first thing I needed to do to follow health guidelines was to wash my hands up to my elbows for twenty seconds while singing “Happy Birthday” two times. I chose to sing “Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands” instead. A little rebellious, I know, but I got the job done.
Breakfast was a quick clean and lunch was a fast prep with Miss Bennett’s guidance, which left time between prep and serve to go observe the work being done in the garden. Bridges of Silence is not only a school, child care center and food site, it is also a children’s community garden. Miss Benjamin has taught the children and youth of the programs to dig trenches, plant seeds, pull weeds and water all so they can have a regular farmers market come fall. The Commerce City neighborhood will have a place to purchase organic, local produce at a reasonable price. All of the children and youth gain experience and knowledge from the garden program. While I didn’t get to stay in the garden long (I had to finish with lunch), I feel like the time there was rewarding.
By the time lunch was ready, the children were “starving” as they say, so Miss Bennett and I filled their trays and gave them second helpings as were desired. Todays menu: beef hot dog, salad, corn, peaches, banana smoothie and milk. When all was said and done, Miss Bennett was extremely grateful for the help she received, though I felt she did most of the work. I was glad to see twenty more children and youth receive a free healthy meal. My role this summer: do what ever needs to be done to support the summer food sites… and wash my hands.