11/10/2025
Amber here.
I can recall at least one Thanksgiving as a kid where our dinner had come from a box, possibly even from the Manna House. It was the first time I tried cranberry sauce and my 5yo self wondered the h😫ll is this?!
I've grown up, fought HARD to get out of poverty, and I even kinda like cranberry sauce now. But I have also learned that poverty isn't simple. Financial woes are often mental woes, and oppression is not just inflicted, but is also a mental state that can feel impossible to get out of if you've never known different.
To say "just go get a job" can be sorely undermining.
How much notice did beneficiaries get that their resources were being withheld? How long does it take to apply and hear back from an employer? How many volunteer opportunities are there realistically in our city? How long does it take to get that first check? How much extra time and resources does a single parent have to fit all of that in? In that time, how many children are waiting for food?
The system is obviously broken in multiple ways, but I, for one, was grateful for the resources and the cranberry sauce.
As of right now, the Manna House is asking for regular food items, but we may shift gears if needed for Thanksgiving dinners.
Much love Dodge City. 💖
