It Humbles Us Every Day...

This the dumpster. The door in the photo is the door to our apartment building. We're on the first floor so our windows are to the right of the front door in the photo. Our dumpster is usually overflowing and has cats and dogs trying to get into it but they emptied it today so you don't get to see that lovely site.
When we were moving in we asked if we were supposed to sort the trash in any way. It was a joke question but the answer was no joke. We were told that "it would be appreciated if when we took our tash to the dumpster we would put all the edibles, food leftovers, peelings, etc, into a separate bag or box and sit it on the cement next to the dumpster. If we would do this then the people who go through the dumpster to find food to eat won't need to dig through the rubbish as much to find the food." We have done this "sorting" of our trash since we have been here. I notice other "sorted trash" there - old moldy bread, spoiled apples, potatoe peelings, and so forth. I am always very humbled when I go back outside an hour or two later and find the food gone. We have run into elderly people going through the dumpster. On our way home one evening there was a very elderly woman trying to get a bag of leftovers out of the dumpster. Tom gave her 100 lei (=$8 in USDollars)and she was so appreciative. I find myself putting food out that is fresh knowing that it will be such a good surprise for them. So- next time your kids don't want to eat their dinner show them this dumpster and let them know that many people don't get a dinner at all unless they dig for it.