the 941

On a recent Friday night, I finished work around 9 p.m. and drove to Publix to grab a sandwich and some coffee for the morning. I picked out my few groceries and got in line to pay.

The man in front of me was all smiles: simply, but neatly, dressed in flip-flops, shorts and a T-shirt. The cashier rang the man’s single item up. He swiped his card to pay. It was denied.

A second try. The cashier reassuring: “This happens all the time.” A third try — nothing. The man grew increasingly embarrassed. I opened my wallet to pay for his purchase at the same time the cashier said she’d get it herself. The man protested. “No, let’s just forget it,” he said.

I said, “Look, it’s no problem. Let me.” The man demurred at first, then looked at me again, then back at the cashier, and said, “OK, thank you both,” and took his bag with the single item in it and left. The cashier, who had been digging into her own pocket for money, said to me, as she scooped up the money I’d already placed on the counter, “OK, I’ll let this be your good deed for today.”

“We all know what it’s like,” I said. But she shook her head. “I’ve never been that down,” she said.

I have.

I remember going to Wendy’s restaurants in my 20s and not ordering anything, just bypassing the line, and grabbing the free crackers they used to have at the condiment station. That was dinner. But that was years ago. And truly, I could have easily called my mom or any friend and had a decent meal, if I hadn’t let my stubborn, so-called pride get in the way.

After the man left, I, too, paid for my groceries and left. But I kept thinking about him. What was his life like? Where would he go after leaving Publix? How long would that single purchase ward off hunger? Was it for him or for a child at home, or even for a parent?

I want something so simple: a world where no man has to be humbled by the attempted purchase of a single can of Chef Boyardee. I want us all to have something to eat after a long day. I want no one to feel real, gnawing, demoralizing hunger

If you’d like to help combat hunger in the Sarasota area, I invite you to join me in my annual All Faiths Food Bank fundraising drive. Since 2006, readers of my print and online columns have generously donated to All Faiths each November, raising a total of nearly $9,000 to date.

Here’s how the 2009 drive works:

Make a donation to All Faiths Food Bank in any amount from $5 to $50 or more if your pocketbook allows. On your donation, write the words “MC Reality.” This notation allows All Faiths to track donations associated with this drive and provides a mechanism for entering donors into a drawing for special thank-you gifts. All Faiths never tells me how much is donated by any individual — I only receive totals for the drive overall. The thank-you gifts and drawing are explained on my blog at mcrealityonline.com — just look for the All Faiths category on the left.

You can make a donation online to All Faiths with your credit card at allfaithsfoodbank.org — just be sure to put the words “MC Reality” in the “Enter Special Instructions Here” box. Or, mail a check with the same notation to All Faiths Food Bank, 8171 Blaikie Court, Sarasota, Florida 34240-8321. Includee an email or phone number with your donation — in case you win a drawing, I’ll have a way to contact you. If you don’t want your name entered in the drawing, just add “No Drawing” to your “MC Reality” notation.

The drive ends Nov. 18 so online payments and snail mail checks must be received by that date as well. On Nov. 19, I’ll announce results and drawing winners on the CL website and on my own blog.

I know times are tight for nearly all of us right now, but if you can participate in this little drive that would be great — no amount is too small. If you can’t donate and need help yourself, call up All Faiths and learn how they can help you and your family, and know that there are lots of us out here doing what we can — keeping our faith, so you can keep yours.

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