“Yes!!!”

That’s the reply I got after asking if you’d like to help me at the Seacoast Family Food Pantry (GATHER) in Portsmouth.  So many people don’t know where they’ll get their next meal.

I’ve been working with their Board of Directors and agreed to help raise money from local businesses.  It’s a big community fund raiser where the food collected is placed in every seat of the Music Hall.  The “Fill The Hall” event gets food to kids during the summer months between school ending and beginning.

I picked you up in the Explorer and soon we were zipping along Rt. 9 in Dover, headed toward Portsmouth, Emma riding shotgun, Molly in the back seat.  I was talking about what the day would bring, what you’d have to do, where we’d go.

A voice from the back seat:

“Papa, don’t we have to bring something?”

A voice from the front seat:

“Yeah, like aren’t we going to the grocery store to get food?”

Doh!  In the hectic excitement I had forgotten the most important thing of all:  what we’d be bringing to the event!   I was so focused on what we’d be doing I had forgotten the most important thing of all – our food contribution.  Good thing you were with me; thanks Emma & Molly, you are such kind-hearted young souls.

Off to Hannaford’s we went.  Emma, you checked GATHER’s list of recommended food from their web site and wrote up our shopping list:

Having bought hundreds of dollars of food items, we were off to the Music Hall.  When we got there, volunteers eagerly unloaded our donations. I introduced you to people I knew and took this photo:

Soon we were assigned box making duties.  There was a live camera streaming the event as people did their thing.

Now you can say you’ve been on stage at the Portsmouth Music Hall – how cool was that? Many famous people have spoken, played and sung on that stage.

We worked until no boxes were left, then headed across the street to eat yummy subs at Bennett’s as we watched people walk by on the sidewalk.

Bellies full, we walked over to the Portsmouth African American Burial ground and I explained the history.  “You mean their bodies are under our feet?” Molly asked.  Yes that’s right!  It’s wonderful they were able to honor these people by making an outdoor museum; they even closed the street to make it happen.  I love how the hands from the man and woman are reaching out for each other; she often has fresh flowers in her hand.

Before leaving my favorite city, we got waffle cones from Kilwin’s, one of the best ice cream shops in the Seacoast.  What a fantastic day; thanks for being with me and helping make the world a better place.  I know you will always be kind, compassionate souls, bringing joy and happiness to others.