We’re All in This Together

We’re all feeling the strain of the pandemic, and it’s more important now than ever to be present for each other. A friendly word or sign of caring may make a difference for someone who is struggling financially, mentally, or emotionally.

Laura Hodo of the CALS McMath Library told us a story recently about an encounter with one of our library visitors.

Hodo was working at our socially distanced food distribution program that helps feed kids and teens at risk for food insecurity, an effort coordinated by Be Mighty Little Rock here at our library branches.

“I serve Food for Good each Thursday at my branch,” Hodo said. “Over the last month, I’ve come to recognize some of the parents who pick up food.

“I saw one of our parents coming down the sidewalk, so I called out, ‘Hi, Ms. _____! How many today?’ She gave me the information, and I began filling out the paperwork.

“After receiving her food from my coworker, she approached the table where I was sitting, stopped at a socially acceptable distance, and started to cry. I was taken aback.

“Then she said, ‘I’m having a really hard time right now, and it’s important to hear someone say your name. So thank you for being here and knowing who I am.’

“I was at a loss for words. But then I thanked her for her kind words and assured her that’s WHY we are here.”

We’re all in this together. We’ll keep reaching out in safe ways to help people feel seen and heard and valued.  Masks and distance keep us safe, but friendly words can still cross that distance at just the right time for someone who’s feeling alone.

If your family needs help feeding your children at this time, check out our meal distribution locations at the Be Mighty Little Rock website.