The Words of the Macijeski Family
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The Words of the Macijeski Family |
L.
to R.: Robert Maynard, James Porter, and Kelly Neville supervise the
unloading.
In spite of the fact that Vermont has thousands of acres of unspoiled arable land, the state long renowned as one of America's most scenic natural retreats suffers from food shortages. The per capita income is well below the national average, and many families require some kind of public assistance in order to survive. There are numerous church and social agencies throughout the state dedicated to feeding the poor, but still more help is needed, especially since government cutbacks in social programs loom on the horizon.
Young Robert Maynard, a native Vermonter from a farming family near Lake Champlain in the north of the state, has experienced Vermont's suffering and hunger firsthand, and after joining the Unification Church in November of 1983 he determined to do something about it. When Vermont received its delivery of IRFF trucks in the fall of 1984, Robert immediately got to work. During the past year, Robert has developed a social action network with connections to churches and community groups all over the state.
Each week, Robert and his volunteer coworkers receive surplus food from NCCSA regional headquarters in Boston, which they then distribute to their growing network of recipient organizations. One such organization is the Central Vermont Community Action Council, which connects local citizens with available social services. Its outreach coordinator, Joseph Gainza, a close friend of Robert's, sacrificed a lucrative career as state energy coordinator in favor of serving the area's poor. "Government cheese programs are not the answer;' says Joseph." We need to educate low-income families to meet their own needs" Joseph helped Robert organize a committee responsible to form a statewide food bank -- something Vermont has never had -- which they hope will be fully operational shortly. Robert has located initial warehouse space for the food bank in White River Junction.
Robert has consistently welcomed anyone who shares his enthusiasm for social service to join him in his work. For James Porter, an American Legion disabled veteran from the "Northeast Kingdom" (Vermont's vast reserve of untouched wilderness), helping Robert has given him an exciting new way to get involved in his community. "It just gives me a good feeling," he says. "I've been on welfare, unemployment, all that; I know what it's like not to be able to feed your family at night. It helps other people pull themselves up -- it's the right thing to do' says Robert of his work, "The biggest inspiration that kept me going when things looked like they might fall apart has been the example of the Japanese sisters. They don't speak English very well or know very much about American culture and society, but they never give up, and they never complain. With that kind of example, how could I give up?"