PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
She layered their shirts and pants before putting their threadbare thrift store coats on them. The oversized boots they’d had to choose because that’s all that was left were an advantage in winter. More room for layers of socks. Their hats, scarves, and mittens, donated by the ladies of the nearby nursing home, were thick and warm.
Every morning by eight-thirty, she and the children waited in the park. At eight forty-five they crossed the street and got in line. At exactly nine, the door under the welcoming stone archway opened to warm air and the happy smells of breakfast.
[100 words]
Learn more about food insecurity here.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the inspiring host of Friday Fictioneers. I must also give a nod to Dale Rogerson’s lovely photo today! Wow!
Tao Talk 
Very heart searing, Well written story.
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Thank you, Neel. The picture really inspired me.
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Her love, tenderness and care shines through so warmly in your words. I can see them all so clearly in my mind and it breaks my heart for them all the more.
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❤ Thank you. Mine too.
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Evocative and truthful. I know some such children. I’ve fed some such children. The care and tenderness is palpable. And underneath it, the desperate determination. Well done! Such an important reality to raise awareness to.
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Thank you, Na’ama.
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Kids that organised are going to grow up to make a change in things
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🙂 Yes! Maybe one day they will the director of the place.
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Lisa, I love the inherent resilience and joy in this story: funny, those of us who don’t have to rely on the generosity of strangers are rather more prone to self-pity than gratitude for all we have.
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Indeed, Dora. Wonderful comment.
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A family surviving on the breadline. Sometimes that’s all there is, but there should be more.
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Yes, Iain, there should be more.
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Bittersweet story, Jade.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you, Susan.
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At my last apartment the line to the local city food distribution center always stretched around the block. I hope they are still doing it. No one should have to be hungry in this country. (K)
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You are SO right, Kerfe. There is no excuse for it.
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p.s. The trend around here now is food trucks, where the semis park in a large parking lot and people either walk up or pull up with their cars. I’ve seen some of the stuff on food trucks. It will keep you alive but none of it looked that great. It’s a shame that the castoffs are given to the desperate and then the company writes it off as charity 😦 I hope your soup kitchens are better there.
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The ones run by the city were coordinated with school breakfast and lunch programs. I’m not sure they were great, but they were not “leftovers”. There are also lots of different soup kitchens, many run by churches, but I don’t know where they get their food. I know restaurants give their leftovers to some organization but I’m not sure how it gets distributed. It’s so awful people feel ashamed to ask for help in this country…one of our worst cultural faults.
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Lisa, this is such a heartwarming story about a struggling family, thankful for what they have because of the kindness and generosity of others.
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Thank you very much, Magarisa.
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A lovely story Li.
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Thank you much, Sadje.
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You’re welcome
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It had shades of a Charles Dicken type story…
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Thank you, Max, I’m honored to be compared in any degree to Dickens.
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a true to life story. a bit of humanity more treasured with the less fortunate.
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Thank you, Plaridel, yes. Things people with more take for granted.
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At least they have somewhere to go for their breakfast.
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Exactly, Ali. Many kids look at school lunch the same way (when school isn’t shut down due to covid, that is.)
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Why oh why are so many still reliant on charity these days? Sadly it’s on the increase as the current situation robs people of their jobs and income.
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Middle class is being elbowed into the lower class and the rich aren’t giving away much of anything, especially when the leaders refuse to tax them appropriately. This leaves so many scrabbling to survive. Compound it all with covid and you’ve got a catastrophe.
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Dear Lisa,
Heartbreakingly real. I could feel the cold. Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thank you. This is going to be a long cold winter.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Wet take a lot for granted, don’t we.
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That’s a beautifully written bittersweet story. I remember standing in line at the food bank as a kid to get those big-ass blocks of government cheese.
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Thank you, Nobbin. My aunt got the cheese (and the canned meat) and gave it to us.
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A sad reality of our times. This was written with such a sense
of dignity for the mother. I could feel her pride in her children despite
the tattered clothing. A well-fed child needed to follow your super descriptions.
Nicely written … Be Safe … Isadora 😎
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Isadora, thank you very much.
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A warm place and early breakfast are wonderful things to look forward too. There is so much we take for granted, while for others it is there only saviour.
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Thank you, James, yes.
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Oh, how heartbreaking because it is the reality for far too many. Beautifully written, Lisa.
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Thank you, Dale, yes it is.
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A touching and heartbreaking story because it is a true one. You conveyed their desperate situation very gracefully. I felt their cold and their hunger. Thank you for including the link.
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Many thanks, Brenda. I wish it wasn’t so 😦
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Well this certainly tugs at the heartstrings, well done.
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❤ Thank you, Michael.
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You capture the ambivalence of the situation very well. There is the struggle to provide adequate clothing, the kindness of many, the pleasure of a good breakfast, and through it all comes the mother’s pride in making sure that her children are adequately clothed and fed whatever that takes. And what you don’t say is as telling as what you do say.
Good, subtle writing. A story with a warm heart.
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Penny thank you so much for your feedback, it is appreciated 🙂 ❤
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Beautifully written
Such brave souls. Good people trying to make the best of a bad situation.
This is heartfelt and heartbreaking. Well done.
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Thank you Laurie!
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