it's called non-profit for a reason

i am outraged. there is a lunch program here at the senior center where i work (there WAS a breakfast program, piloted by your's truly, but they pulled the plug.) and it's for low-income seniors, so it's a $2 suggested donation (you'll note that it's a suggested donation, meaning not a charge, meaning that you don't have to pay it if you don't want to or can't). there is also an anonymous donation box, where they can slip their money in without anyone knowing how much or if they paid at all.

and there is, as i type, a crowd of 6 or 7 seniors, seemingly sweet, innocent, grandparent-y, call you on your birthday and ask about your love life old folks sitting on the couch, discussing a man that allegedly, and i quote, "hasn't paid a god damn dime since he's come here" and they refer to him as The Freeloader.

so i speak up, and say "you know, it's a donation because not everyone can afford to pay it, and if we needed everyone to pay the $2, then we would charge it, and not say it was a donation" to which they retort "well, you can't just not pay anything" and i say "you can, actually. that's what a donation is. and it's an anonymous box so that no one knows who pays or doesn't, because it's not really your business", which they basically ignore and go on talking about The Freeloader, as if he were dangerous or had a bad natural smell (he doesn't. he's very nice. he calls me young lady.)

you know what, cranky old people, if you can only stand to dine with people who pay for their lunch, then go to the olive garden and get that neverending pasta bowl and don't come back here. they don't let any freeloaders in there, you piles of shit. may you never be short on money and need to rely on places that offer free lunch for those that need it.

and i think my phone is broken. while i can accept the slight possibility that maybe no one calls me, or texts-back (WHO doesn't text back!? it takes 3 seconds.), i really believe that cingular needs to take action here. or i need new friends.