The Foreign Service Journal, April 2021

50 APRIL 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL As I was navigating this new territory—buying and furnishing my first house; learning my new job; trying to meet Americans; joining book clubs, parent-teacher organizations, anything I could think of to reconnect with America—2020 happened. How It All Began During the week of March 15, 2020, I noticed an odd post from a woman on one of the Facebook groups I had joined. It seemed like something was off, so I messaged her privately, only to learn that her family—husband and two kids—hadn’t eaten in four days. It was the result of unfortunate circumstances: a lost job, a dead car, no extended family and COVID-19. I offered to help, and used the Nextdoor neighborhood app to ask for donations of food for the family. Within a matter of days, I had a van full of food and some toys for the children. Someone told me about a church pro- viding free hot meals, so I also picked up meals for the family, plus a few extra. I drove it all to the family at an extended stay hotel on the north side of Charleston. While dropping it off, I saw two older men sitting outside their hotel room and decided to give them the extra meals I had in the car. Then other people asked if I had any more meals. The author, second from left, delivers food to residents at an extended stay hotel in Charleston. Inset: Mr. Henderson “Savannah” Sims, a veteran, talks with the author. COURTESYOFKIMHARMON