Last week, I overheard a conversation in which an enormous, middle-aged man -- not just tall, but carrying enough girth to be easily considered morbidly obese -- was talking about weight loss with a few other men. They were sitting around a table at Bethesda Cares' Drop-In Center for the homeless.
"Yeah, I was doing okay for a while, there, but then the winter just messed me up. It was just such a bad winter, so cold, so hard to keep your head together, you know? Like, losing weight was the last thing on my mind."
The other men nodded, muttered in agreement.
"I'm on it, now, though," the large man continued. "I'm going to come in here every day, get me some oatmeal for breakfast, then just have some of your salad at lunch," he said, nodding at Blake, Bethesda Cares' long-time lunch coordinator.
"I got no salad today, my friend" Blake replied. "Today's Chinese food, that family that sets us up every year for a Chinese New Year lunch, they're coming in today, because last month, Chinese New Year, they got snowed out."
"Oh! Those people? They put it out," another man said. "We're talking a feast."
The large man's face fell, but Blake, noticing, reassured him. "It's alright. I'll take care of you. I'll make sure I save you some steamed broccoli, that'll be good for you. No salad today, but the broccoli will do you right."
The man thanked Blake, and the room fell silent. Then the man spoke again. "Hey. Did you hear that 'Steve' is getting a key today? He's getting a place of his own?"
Yep, everyone in the room knew that Bethesda Cares was helping Steve move in to an efficiency that afternoon, after more than a decade on the street.
"I need to get me a place," the large man said. "I'm waiting on a key. I can't take one more winter like this year, I can't live outside no more. I'm waiting on a key. I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't get me a place before next winter," he said. "But this body of mine just can't take another winter outside. I can't do it."
After some nods of agreement, the conversation moved on to sports statistics, so I admit, I tuned the men out.
The man in question has been homeless, except for a few stretches, for pretty much his entire adult life. He's struggling to control his diabetes and his weight, either of which could kill him. He sleeps at a Metro station, gets only whatever breakfast and lunch we're able to provide for him, and does who-knows-what for dinner.
At Bethesda Cares, we do our best to supply our clients with fresh produce and lean protein whenever we can, and our daily program always offers a balanced hot meal. But the fact is, much of the food donated to us is starchy; we get a lot of day-old pastries, and give out a lot non-perishables, for clients to take with them in case they are hungry overnight. And even our best efforts are nowhere near as useful as a carefully-stocked fridge always a few steps away. In reality, people with little or no income are forced to take what they can get, regardless of their preferences or health issues.
A matter of vanity, rather than life-or-death, I myself have been in a half-hearted struggle to lose a few pounds for the last year or so. I have ready access to good, fresh produce and a refrigerator in which to store it; I could even probably exercise every day, were I so inclined.
In all these months, with all these resources, I haven't managed to make the loss happen. How in the world could he?
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.