Muskegon - Site Visit

By Sister Carol Coston, OP

September 27, 2014

At 8:15 am in Muskegon, MI, where the "Nuns on the Bus" and their brightly wrapped bus spent the night, we headed out to our first event of the day, being held at the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ.

When we arrived, there was already a huge line of children, women and men waiting to eat. The brochure indicated that the cafeteria-style meal "with no plate limit" began in February 2003 when the church realized the need for a nourishing hot meal on the weekend in downtown Muskegon. Since then, an ecumenical group of volunteers has gathered every Saturday morning to prepare and serve Saturday morning breakfast, including holidays, and despite inclement weather.

This morning's meal included scrambled eggs, sausage, oatmeal, juice, toast and rolls. The volunteers told us that in the past over 300 guests were served, but recently that number has increased. Today, 525 meals were served, a clear sign of unemployment, low income jobs, rising costs for basic human needs.

We nuns and volunteers passed out the "I am a Voter" pins and stickers, and side-by-side comparisons of the two MI senatorial candidates: Gary Peters and Terry Lind Land. This nonpartisan comparison is well researched and documented, which has been NETWORK's style since our beginning in 1972.

As I talked to the guests waiting in line, I was aware of diverse reactions to the pins, stickers and voter information being offered: general enthusiasm for the stickers and pins, especially the children; willingness to accept the "I am a Voter" cards particularly if I had time to describe how the NETWORK staff were going to hand-deliver them to the newly elected Senator in January 2015. However, there were several persons who didn't want any of the materials, saying I don't vote or why bother to vote anyway since the candidates tell you one thing to get elected and then don't do it afterward.

After the breakfast Sr Simone and Pastor Tim talked briefly to the volunteers and a few guests gathered in the parking lot to sign their names on the bus.

I was impressed by the long-haul dedication of the volunteers, as well as the obvious need being met. Child care was provided, books were provided for adults and children to borrow, the meals were served with respect for all. The NETWORK staff had done a good job organizing the event and herding us "Nuns on the Bus” to get back on the bus in a timely way.