What's it like to be dirt poor? (Well, I know...)

I was at the gym friday morning, doing cardio and watching a little morning news... when, up popped a segment on GMA (Good Morning America) about spending less on groceries.

They visited a little grocer that sells salvaged goods. Basically, any grocery item that's dinged, dented, crushed or ready to expire.

I quickly recognized the store, because when I was a little boy - from the ages of 7 to 13, we used to shop there. (Here a link to the video/story --> http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MensHealth/story?id=8398640 )

Yep, it was little grocer located in my hometown of Arvada, Colorado.

Back then, it was just my Mother and I. We were dirt poor. Living with a friend of my Moms, and her own three kids. I shared a small room, with two other boys, and slept on an old Army fold-away bed.

Did I care? Not a bit.

Did it bother me to be poor? Well, maybe a little.

But, quite honestly, I didn't know any better.

We also used to visit the local Arvada Food Bank, to stand in line to get powdered milk, a block of cheese and butter and some bread. Hey, it was free, and we needed it!

The Arvada Food Bank's mission... No One Should Go To Bed Hungry!
Man, that is one powerful mission.

http://www.arvadacommunityfoodbank.org/

Fast forward 30 years, I was approached by another local Coloradian CEO, Mike Donner (of Pridemark Paramedics) to see if I wanted to take part in a voluntary program for Arvada Food Bank -- called the Backpack Program.

I was surprised (and shocked) to learn that over 600 school-aged kids go home every weekend, from schools in Arvada alone, with little to no food over the weekend. So, to combat this, their great program puts together a backpack filled with various food items to keep them nourished over the weekend, until they can return to school.

Little did my friend, Mike, know that I had to once rely on the Arvada Food Bank to get food for my Mother and I. So as you can guess, I jumped at the opportunity to help out.

I volunteered to supply every kid's backpack with Voots (our fruit and veggie tarts). I signed us up to supply their Backpack Program for as long as Voots were being made (which, I truly hope, is for a long, long time)!

And make no mistake about it, I didn't do this to get recognized, or receive an honorary award. I gladly took part in this program because it was the "right" thing to do. Because it was my way of giving back. And, gosh darnit, I do it because it just plain makes me feel good about helping out!

In some small way, I am able to help. But more important, my own children can see how blessed they are, and able to learn - firsthand - that giving of yourself is so much better (and more fufilling) than buying something for yourself.

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