06/09/2026
One of my favorite old short stories is called Stone Soup. There are a couple variations out there, but the jist of it is as follows. An old traveler and their grandson come to an old town. They are hungry, so they start knocking on doors asking for food. But they are turned away from each house because the inhabitants don’t have much to share. One house only has a few carrots. Another house only has some potatoes. Another, only onions. After being turned away by everyone, the travelers have an idea. They gather wood and start a fire where everyone can see them. They find a big pot, fill it with some water, and place it over the fire. Then they very carefully choose a special, smooth stone and drop it into the pot. They stir and stir and talk about how yummy their soup is going to be. Gradually the townspeople get curious and ask what they are doing. And gradually, each offers to add their own meagre contributions to the pot... a few potatoes, some carrots, onions and herbs, etc. Eventually, a large pot of soup is shared by all the townspeople.
Why do I love this story? I love how the people come together and develop a community. I love how the whole is greater than the individual parts. I love that everyone can contribute in some way to the grand scheme. I love that everyone benefits. I know it’s just a story, and that reality is much more complicated. But the story still inspires me. And I see how everyone who contributes to BEFP makes a difference in the families who receive from BEFP. And both contributors and receivers benefit. And the volunteers who contribute their time stirring the pot also benefit.
Over the next several weeks, we are going to shine a spotlight on the volunteers who stir the pot in their own different ways. Everything they do contributes to mission of BEFP.
These spotlights are also an invitation to YOU. Join us. Take a turn stirring the pot, especially when our current volunteers need to hand the ladle to someone else.
So stay tuned for our Volunteer Spotlights!
