Heidi Nortonsmith: ‘The solution is all of us together’ Tip of a Pen Mike Watson Images Published: 12/17/2020 2:13:53 PM Modified: 12/17/2020 2:13:43 PM A beloved mentor once advised me to confront challenges with “it’s only a problem” — something simply to be puzzled out and attended to. I think of this wisdom whenever I’m reminded that I can’t experience the satisfaction of resolving a problem without the problem itself. Today at the Northampton Survival Center, a “perfect storm” of circumstances loomed: a large number of volunteers out on quarantine unavailable to bag up groceries, the continuing high volume of client need during this pandemic year, and the literal storm of snow predicted overnight. A stretched-thin crew of staff began the day addressing the tactical issues — moving turkeys out and hams into the refrigerators, receiving deliveries of produce and bread, finding a traffic controller to help clients navigate the narrow driveway. And most confounding: how to create over 1,000 bags of groceries needed for the day’s distribution.