Dr. Conner was troubled by the fact that in a county of affluence and abundance, thousands of people still go hungry, and many more suffer from inadequate, unhealthy diets. At the same time, grocers, retailers, farmers, and restaurants regularly discard tons of high-quality, fresh food due to artificially created sell-by dates, excess inventory, or simply because it does not meet presentation standards.
Dr. Conner’s solution was to start a volunteer-powered food recovery program that delivers surplus, high-quality foods to organizations that serve people in need.
In Dr. Conner’s words:
“America has so much material wealth that no one in our nation needs to go to bed without proper food, clothing, or shelter. The White Pony Express offers a simple and practical model of life for the present and future, a “circle of giving” based on volunteerism and shared abundance, in which “all of us take care of all of us.” This is not charity work; for me, those now “marginalized” are our neighbors and members of our one family.
I have seen that when one appeals to the best and highest in people, they most often respond positively. I have also learned, from a lifetime of experience, to keep saying “Yes” to a call for service.
I have been greatly aided in this work by dedicated colleagues who share my inner conviction that this work is meant to be done, and that the basic energies of life themselves support it. I trust that inner sense and have found it unerringly true.
I am inspired to find people from diverse communities joining together in service. The joy of this work is life-renewing. It cuts across illusory boundaries of culture, ethnicity, age, and gender. And while forming new friendships, we have discovered within ourselves new qualities of compassion, strength, and love. As we do not know our capacity until we test it, we are surprised at how much, at any age, we can contribute to life.
At its core, this is a work of love. There is nothing love cannot achieve, and nothing it cannot sacrifice. It gives freely – without concern for return. This central principle lies behind all we do. Love eventually transforms everything. In this way, we all hasten the coming of a new spiritual age, foretold by worldwide authorities, characterized by inclusion, unity, and lasting happiness.”
