Once a month Oct-March or so, the Montreat Retreat Association has a pancake breakfast and asks for donations for it's "Employee Emergency Fund".
I am staring at my paper (yes I write with pen and paper) and practicing sending MRA loving kindness.
I have been an employee, and was given funds, once, from this fund to pay a doctor bill as I had no health insurance.
I was also turned down once when I asked, being told there was no money available.
Most the the people who prepare and cook the food, do the cleaning and other hospitality work do not make a living wage and do not have health insurance or any paid sick days or vacation days.
They also have not had a meaningful raise in many years.
The Assembly Inn was recently redecorated with donated funds.
MRA chooses buildings over benefits for its bottom workers.
Maybe the development office could ask donors, to give, to pay a living wage.
You could put up a plaque by the time clock.
There is enough.
If MRA can't afford to run the center except by exploiting it's workers something is wrong.
Kindness.
Many wonderful and compassionate people work here, you know who you are and who you are not.
These good folks of the community come and enjoy fellowship and help the least of these.
The breakfast is all you can eat buffet.
The pancakes are made fresh- from a mix that has some whole grains and they use real eggs.
A buttery oil and sugar syrup- those in the know brown bag their own maple. There is real Butter and a marg on the side.
A potato and egg casserole.
If there are home fries, made by Ronnie from left over potato bar, you want to be there!
Grits- not local and they are well cooked- no dairy.
Sausage- what do I know?
A decent plain yogurt , granola and fresh fruit.
Jen ,the amazing head of food service and dining, does buy local when she can.
This is my meal, with a cup of herb tea and orange juice(frozen).
I didn't come to eat.
Kindness.
In the words of the great philosopher Ani DiFranco
"You may have a great philosophy.
and if you can't be kind to people everyday
you know it doesn't mean that much to me."
Linking up with T is for Tuesday to see what others are up to re food and drink around the world.
We have much to be thankful for.
Let's share it.
Comments and Questions always welcome!
15 comments:
Hello and Happy T Day! What a wonderful idea this is, love when others help others. WOW, everything looks so good and plenty of it too. Now I'm hungry and it's almost bedtime, lol.
Thanks for sharing and have a good week.
It's too bad that buildings are chosen over benefits. That is so sad. As someone who knows what these workers are going through, I applaud you for taking us to this breakfast. It all looks SO wonderful (except the sausage, of course).
Thanks for sharing this, your loving act of kindness, and breakfast with us for T this week.
Oh gosh I am so hungry now Robyn!
Happy T-Day!
What a sumptuous meal, love all the food that is served. hope they get more donations to help the workers
Bridget #1
This would be so worthy if the MRA were also helping their workers..instead, it becomes an indictment of their poor employee policy; asking under paid workers to support a charity that they will likely need to use is a bit of an ironic insult. Meanwhile though, of course you are there and donating and most of all, enjoying the fellowship, from which all good comes if you ask me. Happy T Day.
"If MRA can't afford to run the center except by exploiting it's workers something is wrong." Amen! Too many workers are scheduled for part-time so the business doesn't have to provide benefits and then paid starvation wages on top of that, adding insult to injury. Luxury always seems to be able to be provided for those at the top. A look at those wages and benefits would be an eye-opener, I dare say.
Yes, the first practice is to show up! May we all be who we say we are in this season of thanks and giving!
thankful for you Julia!
Yes, I was keeping it short and letting folks draw their own conclusions. All the admins have full benefits and pension plans and very good hourly wage and salaries. What would Jesus do?
Great concept, but I so heartedly agree with you about the building before the employees!! This is one reason I NEVER vote for school funds anymore, they are always used to "beautify" the buildings and grounds, nothing makes it to the classrooms, where it is so desperately needed.
The accounting books for the MRA should be thrown open to all the donating people so they can see just where their money is really going.
So enough negative........after all it is Thanksgiving time, and some of those bottom employees are most likely thankful for the employment.
The food looks very inviting and the fellowship form the event is always a plus.
Happy Thanksgiving Robin.
Now I'm hungry for breakfast foods... :)
wow, I've never heard of such a thing...will provide no insurance, but will have a benefit. weird. The pancakes look wonderful, but not sure I would frequent the establishment. happy T day...thankful for our blessings!
This seems a great cause though ironic that buildings come before workers.
Great looking breakfast though I am not sure I will try the sausages!
Hugs
xx
Thank you for taking us to breakfast. Hugs! deb
Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving. Sorry I am so late in visiting this week.
Sad that a place that helps people can't pay their own people a decent wage with benefits. Such is life. To often. But I am glad this place is there and it looks like quite a spread. :)
Happy Belated T-Day! :)
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