There’s a hushed tranqulity that blankets us as the snow blankets the park in front of our house. The gray green dying grass is revitalized by a cloak of snow. It’s oddly serene and calm. Even my sons have stopped bickering for the moment, both huddled under the comfort of their favorite fuzzy blankets reading a Rick Riordan book. The dog lies atop the couch, head rested upon his paws as he gazes at the snowfall, eager to run laps and lap up the falling flakes. I sit here bedecked in fleece and shearling slippers, my second cup of coffee steaming beside me. There is warmth of all forms around us.
Soon there will be a cackling pinprick to burst the peace. The dog will howl at passersby. The boys will fight. The back porch will be muddied with boots from neighborhood kids. Footprints in the park will unearth the mud beneath. The white canvas of snow absorbs life’s messes for now, and I brace myself for what will come. Already I hear a chain saw and trucks. The constant click-clack-click of my sons’ Rubiks cubes set the percussion rhythm of my day.
My mind wanders as I think about what to cook on this cold wintry day. My palate tingles as I daydream about comfort food – bison chili, paella, dal, egg curry. And then I think about baking with my kids to thwart their plans to be planted in front of a screen. The pantry is stocked. The fridge overfloweth. We want for nothing and are able to indulge in this snow day. Days like today bring their share of both purity and peace to a home that’s otherwise marked by dirt and noise.
Yet I cannot shake what it’s like for families who do not share our trappings of comfort. The children who missed a week of school breakfast and lunch last week. And the Backpack Buddies kids who missed their Friday delivery. The soundtrack of snow days for these children is set to the rhythm of a grumbling belly. The tenor of a home where food stress hits is not a place of peace. Tempers swell as hunger rises. The children want for just a bite while the parents sacrifice to give what they can, passing up meals themselves. It’s grim. It’s sad. It’s unspeakable that this is the reality of our community.
Let’s pause for a moment during the din of snow day frolicking to help those in need. Here are organizations you can support in the Triangle area. Please add others in the comments. Homelessness and hunger don’t get snow days.
Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
Multiple faith groups listed here.