It’s somewhere between fear and shame.

“What if someone sees me? What will people think?”

These questions swirl in my head as I climb the steps of the Belmont Street building. Opening the door, I give a sigh of relief to know I’m not alone.

At 10 a.m. there are 20 people already waiting in the line for emergency food.

I take my place at the back of the queue and wait to be called.

Today, my assignment is to apply for an emergency food hamper for a family of four – two adults and two children — as part of The Guardian’s Poverty Project.