OCTOBER 20, 2023 VENDOR VOICES Truth or lies: Amelia's birthday wish It was Amelia‘s 91st birthday. She was born in 1901 and reared in New York and New Jersey. She was the youngest of four children — two brothers and one sister. She was still residing at the family estate to be passed to her daughter, Maria. Her body often shook uncontrollably due to Parkinson’s disease. It had plagued her for the last 30 years. She was reminiscing on her 60th birthday when she last saw all her children alive and family together. Amelia had outlived two sons and three daughters. The only one left was her youngest daughter, Maria, who presented her mother with a birthday cake with flashing candles, a nine and a number one. They were special candles that did not require a fire. "Happy Birthday Mama, now make a wish." Amelia puckered her lips together to blow out the flashing candles. Amelia wished that she did not have Parkinson’s and could see her family again. Later that evening, while her daughter tucked her in bed, she said, “You know those candles were made at the flea market. The woman said ‘remember all wishes come true, and yours, can, too.’” Amelia smiled and nodded her head. The very next morning she woke up with no pain or shaking. She could move very gracefully and she could FELICIA WILBERT Groundcover vendor No. 234 her mind. It had been nearly a year. She still was feeling young. It was one month before her 92nd birthday — Amelia kept going to the flea market to try and find the candles. However, she never found the lady with the candles. She asked Maria to help her find the remember back to her childhood. Her sight and hearing improved also. She did not tell anyone about the change she felt the whole day, thinking that it would go away. Amelia quickly made plans to go to the museum the next day with her grandchildren. She was standing upright and walking as though she had never been sick. She stayed at the museum all day with the children until after six p.m. Her daughter was amazed and concerned that her mother was overdoing herself. After returning home with her daughter, Amelia waited to tell her before bed. Amelia explained to her daughter how great she felt. She felt like a 40-year-old woman. As the days and months passed, Amelia enjoyed her new health and youthful body. However, the thought of the return of the Parkinson’s was always on lady with the candles. Unfortunately, they never found her. During the last two weeks before her birthday, she started to feel a slow decline in her health. The last week before her birthday, she started seeing the children that preceded her. She never told Maria what was going on or what she was seeing. When Maria asked her what she wanted to do for her 92nd birthday, Amelia answered her saying she just wanted to love on her while she could. Three days before her 92nd birthday, the Parkinson’s symptoms returned. She asked her daughter Maria to make sure that everything was in order with her affairs. Maria did not want to accept the fact that her mother’s health had taken such a drastic turn. She went to the flea market one more time in hopes of finding the lady with the candles. No one at the flea market remembered the lady with the candles, or even heard of her. Maria felt desperate and that evening when she went to bed; she had a dream about the lady with the candles. The lady explained to her that you only have one wish per lifetime. The next morning when she awakened, she rushed to her mother's side and hugged her, letting her know how much she loved her and appreciated her. Amelia’s 92nd birthday was on a Sunday morning. At breakfast, Amelia explained to her daughter that she understood about the candles. Later that evening she was lying in her bed with all her children surrounding her, ushering her to the light. Amelia told Maria how grateful she was to see her children who were surrounding her bedside. She passed away that evening, happy and satisfied with the joy and love that she received in life. Is "Amelia's Birthday Wish" TRUTH or LIES? Go online at groundcovernews.org to cast your vote! The Quest, published September 22, was FALSE. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 9 BREAKFAST from page 4 problems that arise there are the same that arise everywhere else. " In 2021, Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution for an unarmed safety response program, possibly similar to the existing Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office pairing an officer with a community mental health expert. Currently, there are several ways the general public can positively engage with the Ann Arbor police and multiple programs for engagement with the Sheriff's Department. Some homeless guests now offer friendly greetings and introductions to those they recognize by sight and homeless group leaders discuss, offer and implement non-violent and first responder solutions among themselves, with social workers and even the police. The Breakfast Program is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization and separate from the Church, which enables Nishi to work with Food Gatherers and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. TEFAP is part of the United States Department of Agriculture which requires a separation of Church and State. Religion is never mentioned unless conversation is initiated by the guest or someone reads the biblical phrase, “Jesus said, ‘Come and have breakfast,’ - John 21:21,” painted on the wall over the kitchen. Ethics of various religions, the driving force behind the Breakfast Program, are shown through the behavior of Frolick, Nishi and the volunteers. "Our connection to the church is fragile but important," Halloran said. "I can't picture the Church or the Breakfast Program one without the other," Frolick added. The Parish Profile states, "We are well-positioned to take on new and expanded ministries and to reach out of our established zone. There are opportunities here that haven’t been dreamed of yet, and we hope to grow together as a community into realizing those new opportunities. " According to information from a congregational survey and small group meetings, the parishioners and 12-member Board of Directors want the Breakfast Program to improve. Not because it doesn't have a stellar reputation but because as a team, the parishioners believe in continuous improvement. In 2022, a donation allowed air scrubbers, machines to clean up to 99.99% of 0.3-micron-sized particles, mold and bacteria from the air and surrounding surfaces, to be added when indoor service resumed following COVID-19. The air scrubber information is courtesy of Hepacart. St. Andrew's did not miss a day of service during the pandemic. This is one reason why Nishi and Frolick take time to speak with each guest and Nishi has changed the menu to bring in more nutritious foods while minimizing food waste. Nishi added items to the menu such as different types and sizes of sausage (pork, chicken or turkey), cheese, meat sticks, yogurt, nuts, dried and seasonal fresh fruit, in addition to the staples of milk, eggs, cold cereal, grits, oatmeal, peanut butter, jelly, pastries, toast, different juices, coffee, tea and water. There is also a cart for guests to make their own "To Go Bag." Some items, like sugar-free apple sauce, are free through Food Gatherers while other normally expensive items like nutritional drinks are purchased wholesale. Nishi has a photo of her Mom, sister and herself in her car with 180 pounds of blueberries for the Breakfast Program. "Sue gets paid because the responsibilities have increased," Halloran said of the only part-time paid position. "It's a hard job." Nishi works with volunteer coordinator Susette Jaquette and about seven to ten volunteers at a time, easily over 100 for the year. The Breakfast is advertised as free daily for anyone in need, 365 days a year, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in a room that fits up to 80 people with 14 tables and 55 chairs currently in use. Nishi is paid for five days a week, overseeing the program, planning the menu, budgeting, ordering food and fundraising. The expenses for 2020, according to Cause IQ, a website that provides information on non-profit see BREAKFAST page 11
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