A Thought for Food and Friends: A relationship can give you a new family, whether bound by blood or benevolence

Opinion: Roughly 12 years ago, I was toiling on the floor of a pal's dining room, constructing a banner. I'd just begun dating the man I'd eventually marry, and was keeping myself occupied during our first stretch apart since meeting. He was off riding his bike to raise money for Food & Friends, as I slapped together a ''welcome home'' banner with which to greet him on the National Mall. I've never volunteered for Food & Friends myself, but I've certainly married into the family. Working in LGBT media in D.C., there's actually a sort of prohibition against volunteering for them. I'm not supposed to get that involved with organizations I may be reporting on. And, through the years, I've certainly reported on Food & Friends. I toured the Northeast facility shortly after it opened in 2004. I've collected recipes from staff for a feature story. My favorite Food & Friends story is from 2005, when Councilmember David Catania (I-At Large) tapped the organization at a moment's notice to deliver 400 hot meals to the D.C. Armory to feed Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Other stories – not mine – relating to Food & Friends had to do with Pallotta TeamWorks, which managed the ride my now-husband was on when I made his banner. That relationship ended when Pallotta TeamWorks tanked amid criticism of its business model. Food & Friends Executive Director Craig Shniderman has also taken some flak for his $350,000-plus salary. While in my perfect world charities wouldn't be necessary as government would smoothly and efficiently make best use of taxes to eliminate social ills – and, yes, I know perfection does not exist – I don't have any issue with Shniderman's salary. After all, the guy who runs D.C.-based LivingSocial is reportedly worth $180 million, according to Complex. And plenty of starting K Street lobbyists seem to fare at least as well. Feeding about 3,000 clients across 5,300 square miles – give or take – I think Shniderman certainly earns his keep, whether running around 17th Street in drag during Dining Out for Life, recruiting his family to help prepare Food & Friends' Thanksgiving meals, or just steadily growing an organization that is a lifeline to so many in need. ... (more)

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