D I S H I N G OU T H O P E How a neighbor's public pantry inspired a community
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t ’s b e e n m o r e t h a n a y e a r s i n c e L a k e w o o d n e i g h b o r B e t h B a s i l e fi r s t s e t o u t h e r B l e s s i n g Ta b l e s t o c ke d w i t h f o o d t o f e e d h u n g r y neighbors during the pandemic. The end of the public health crisis is coming, but Basile has no intention of closing her table. “A t fi r s t , I s a i d i t w i l l b e o p e n u n t i l we ge t o u t o f l o c k d o w n ,” B a s i l e s a y s . “A s t h i s d r u g o n , i t b e c a m e a b o u t m o r e t h a n j u s t C O V I D. I t ’s a b o u t t h e c o m m u n i ty, o u r n e i g h b o r s .”
B a s i l e s t a r t e d t h e B l e s s i n g Ta b l e l a s t s p r i n g a f t e r a m a n a s ke d f o r f o o d . S h e gav e h i m i t e m s f r o m h e r p a n t r y a n d s e t o u t t h e B l e s s i n g Ta b l e t h e n e x t d ay. Ne i g h b o r s a r e e n c o u r a ge d t o t a ke w h a t t h e y n e e d a n d l e av e w h a t t h e y c a n . “I knew food insecurity was prevalent, espec i a l l y i n t h i s a r e a ,” s h e s ay s . “ We h av e t h e p e a c e p a n t r i e s at Wo o d r o w a n d L i p s c o m b , b u t f a m i l i e s n o t c o n n e c t e d t o t h e s c h o o l s h av e t o go t o f o o d b a n k s o r Fa i r Pa r k , a n d t h e y d i d n’ t h ave a w ay t o
Story by JAIME DUNAWAY-SEALE | Illustrations by JESSICA TURNER and JYNNETTE NEAL
24 lakewood.advocatemag.com JULY 2021
