No room for Lauren to volunteer at a church sponsored food pantry

 

           The Church at Auvers, Vincent Van Gogh 1890

Lauren and her supported living coach reached out to a local church sponsored food pantry regarding volunteer opportunities for Lauren.  After learning that Lauren is disabled, the Volunteer Director's response was, "I don't think this is a good place for her".

In spite of this response, Lauren's supported living coach pushed for an interview and opportunity to meet Lauren. The interview was short and resulted in being told that the program wasn't in need of any volunteers. The door was closed....no trial opportunity....just the clear message-- you are not welcome here.

In Amanda Gorman's poignant 2021 inaugural poem, "The Hill We Climb" she stated, 

"Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid.

If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we’ve made.

 That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb,
if only we dare it, because being American is more than a pride we inherit —
it’s the past we step into
and how we repair it."

So I ask, how can we help to "repair" our religious institutions and make them more accessible to all among us? The hill remains steep for inclusion and acceptance. 

Keeping it real,

Donna