Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Last day of my internship at Densho today. I got to close out my quarter by interviewing the lovely and amazing Kay Aiko Abe. Here's a woman who's been feeding the homeless in Seattle for 17 years, completely unfunded by any charitable organizations. She uses her social security payments to buy food to help feed the homeless. She is in her 80s and has had an inspired life. Interned at Minidoka in her teens. When they got out of the camp, her family had nowhere to go and she felt a profound sense of homelessness. This early experience helps her to identify with Seattle's poorest populations. She left the Densho studio to go pick up chicken to cook for tonight's offering. Four nights a week, Monday through Thursday, she serves 200-300 people and has rotating teams of volunteers from area churches to help cook and serve. Kay's eye sparkle with light and compassion and absolutely lit up my spirit. Even in a recession, she said, they have enough food. They never run out of food. I don't share Kay's religious faith, but her stories renewed my faith in basic goodness and doing good.