Food (and toy) distribution

I dragged out of bed at 4:15 for today’s food distribution. We were on the road to the site by 5:00 and ready to start at 6:30.  We gave out the last bags at 10:30. There was a strong military presence, including both the U.S. military and a U.N. peacekeeping group from Jordan. Using a system that no one seems to quite understand, tickets are distributed for a specific day and distribution site. In order to enter, a valid ticket must be presented. Today was Day 8 of the 14 days of distributions. Each day, more difficult to detect counterfeit tickets are turning up. The time required to check each ticket and deal with individuals who either produced or were given a counterfeit ticket slows the process significantly. Here’s what a legitimate ticket for today looks like:

The pick-ups are made by women. Today, we tried for the first time a double distribution. The rice was in 50 kg bags, with each intended for two recipients. This required women to come through in pairs, secure a bag, then divided it in half. In order to make the double distribution work, trucks were arrayed so that women, as they entered, would form two lines. My job was to keep the lines orderly and moving. Here are the lines nearing the trucks where the food is given:

We distributed food for five to each of 3,344 women. There’s a lot more I could share about the experience, but I’ll leave that for another time.

I was on a personal mission to distribute some toys. My daughter, Jessie,  sent some of her stuffed animal collection for me to give to some children here who looked as if they might love them and give them a good home. Here they are posing before they went out with me to be delivered to their new homes.

Here is the first one going to her (it’s a girl) new home:

Here are some proud beneficiaries of Jessie’s generosity:

Finally, here’s a picture of some children who just wanted to pose for the photographer:

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