Brownie, a friend of artist Chris Derby, is less than a foot tall. He loves coming to the Broad Bay Church, playing the guitar, and exploring.

When Brownie learned that 20 percent of children in Maine are hungry, he tugged on my robe and said, “We must do something.” Brownie is saving his money to bring to the church to give to the Waldoboro Food Pantry. The Waldoboro Food Pantry feeds over 100 families every first and third Thursday from 1-6. All the food is donated or purchased at reduced cost from the Good Shepherd Food Bank or at wholesale prices through the Lincoln County Store.

Brownie is persistent. He stopped by the office yesterday, jumped up on my computer and asked, “Why don’t families have enough food? Why can’t parents just go to Hannaford or Waterfront or Renys or Rising Tide and get the food they want to eat?” I explained that the food pantry gives out what they can get inexpensively and what they think most people like.

Brownie said, “Most parents work–even parents of kids who are poor and hungry.” He continued, “why, if parents are working, don’t they have enough money?” I told him that wages are low and food and housing and health care are expensive.

Brownie said, “So why don’t we make more jobs that pay enough money?” I shrugged.

“It’s not right for children to be hungry,” Brownie said. “We’ve got to do something! I am saving money for the Waldoboro Food Pantry and I am going to make good jobs for people.”

“Besides” Brownie said as he sat down on top of the Bible, his legs sprawled over the papers on my desk, “Jesus said to feed the hungry. Remember? The disciples didn’t think it could be done. They just wanted to go off alone with Jesus because they only had five loaves and two fish and Jesus just told them to feed the crowd. Remember, you told me that the disciples came up with every excuse in the book not to feed the hungry but Jesus didn’t back down. After the disciples shared the food and there was plenty of food–some leftover even.” Brownie got so excited, he hopped up again and knocked pencils and pens onto the floor.

“Let’s go,” he said. “I’ve got $1.24. We can feed everyone!”