Amy Garno

Staff Writer

Ruthie* is a quiet thirty-one year old woman, comfortably dressed in sweats and a grey Mickey Mouse hooded jacket.  She has been coming to the Adrian Daily Bread Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry since 2001.  She feels at home there, knows several of the regular patrons, and the staff call her by name.  “I come here for lunch every day except Monday and Wednesday.  I like seeing the different people that come out here to help.  They are very friendly,” Ruthie explains.

She and her fifty-five year old husband, John*, were married about a year ago but they’ve been together for eight years. Just last Tuesday they celebrated their first anniversary and John’s birthday the same day. They have a five-year-old daughter but don’t see her anymore.  She was five months old when she was taken away.  “It’s better now not to see her because it’s just too hard.  I get sad at times; especially when I watch sad movies and I think of her I cry”.  Even now her deep brown eyes well up with tears. “She has new parents now.” Ruthie says with grief.  Both John and Ruthie are physically disabled from injuries, even though, at a glance, it would be difficult to notice.  Ruthie fell on the ice two years ago and tore the ligaments in her knee.  She also has a pinched nerve in that leg, so she can’t stand or walk for very long.  She is trying to take it easy while waiting for her knee to heal, but she re-tore it while walking, which she has to do to get around.   She’s on Medicaid and waiting for a surgery date.

Ruthie’s husband John has a limited number of jobs he can perform.  He was a cook at a restaurant until he burnt his hand and now is unable to hold objects for very long.  He is waiting to receive Social Security Disability Benefits.  He wants to work but can’t.

Ruthie and John rely on the food pantry and food stamps to get them through each month.  They also get personal hygiene items from the Daily Bread, such as tooth paste, tooth brushes, bar soap, comb, brush and toilet paper.

Despite their economic status, Ruthie and John still dream about moving to Alabama.  John lived and worked in that state years ago and would like to return.  However, it’s just a dream for now. They would have to rent a U-Haul for their furniture and what valuables they have left – a cost they can’t afford.

They’re currently living in a low income apartment on the east side of Adrian where the houses are rather plain; and without fancy landscape.  The neighborhood is quiet with broken windows and graffiti as decorating the streets.  They are within walking distance of the Daily Bread.  For right now this is home.

Ruthie and John aren’t alone in their struggle for food and everyday essentials.  In Lenawee County alone there are over 16,000 residents that receive food assistance per year through the Department of Human Services.  That translates into one in every six people relying on government aid.  The number of persons receiving this aid has grown by more than 10,000 over the last five years.  The rise is mainly due to unemployment and underemployment in the region.

Nonprofits such as The Daily Bread have become crucial tools to meet community needs. Rhoda Clark, executive director of The Daily Bread, notes that, “Through October of this year, The Daily Bread has provided 20,007 meals for families through the food pantry.  That is an average of 2,000 meals a month for families like Ruthie and John.  Last January we averaged 3,000 meals; so it varies depending on the needs”.

On March 1, 2001, the Daily Bread served it first meal and Ruthie was one of the first patrons to eat in the kitchen.  Today, an average of 90 meals a day are served.

*To protect the privacy of Ruthie and John last names are not used in this story.