Greetings once again. And, again, after a long absence. I have been far too busy for far too long. Thankfully that is changing, and I'll tell you about that some other time, I'm sure. Today, however, I wanted to call your attention to the problem of global hunger and poverty. I know - the economy is on thin ice right now, and that's actually one of the reasons for this post. Let me explain:
Jim Wallis is an evangelical minister with a liberal bent. He often takes to task the far Right evangelicals who, he believes, are too strict in their interpretations of the Bible, and too strict in the religiously based laws thet attempt to have passed. I receive an e-letter from his Sojourners organization regularly, and often find myself nodding in agreement to what I read.
Today, Jim offered this article, which is also on his blog (to which I've linked). After reading the article, I decided ,for the first time, to post a response on his blog. By the time I hit the fifth or sixth paragraph, I decided it was rude to post that much of my own opinion on his web site. So I'm writing this post, and will then return to his blog to post a comment with a link for those who want to read more.
If you'd like to read the full article, please do so now.
For those who prefer a poor synopsis, Jim wrote about the letter recently released by MICAH Challenge USA.Part of the MICAH Network, a global Christian organization, they called to American Christians to help reduce poverty worldwide. It's an extremely important goal, and I support it. I believe that our government should support all such efforts, not only with financial aid, but also in collaring those corporations that do severe economic, evironmental, and social damage abroad, all in the name of profit (spelled g-r-e-e-d).
However, now more than ever, what with the economy struggling, and the drastic effect it's already having on our communities. And it's going to get worse before it gets better. Here then, is the response I almost left on Jim's blog.
---------
I agree completely that the US should lead the way in eliminating poverty around the world. And while I agree that we should all contribute to the rest of the world, I am currently focused on the United States itself. Especially now, with the economy in shambles with more fallout coming, there will more and more people who need help to feed their families. In my small town of Danville, population about 30,000, our food pantry served more than 8000 people last year. People laid off from factories with no notice. Seniors who have had to welcome their children and grandchildren into their home due to some economic distress, now having to feed extra mouths from a fixed income.
I became aware of our local food pantry when my band released its first CD. We wanted to commemorate the event with something special, and decided a benefit for our community was the best way to do that. And, looking around the community, we believed that there was no cause more worthy than helping those who couldn't feed their families. This is how Foodstock Charities was formed. It began with a hastily coordinated benefit concert. Instead of raising $500 -- as estimated by many (pessimistically) -- we managed to raise just over FIVE THOUSAND dollars in food and donations. And every penny and every pea collected went directly to the food pantry.
Those who performed did so for free, in a hall donated by the local community college, through a PA system rented by sponsors. Dozens of local businesses donated goods to gift baskets raffled or auctioned at the event. The expenses that cropped up at the last minute were covered by the band itself; and we also donated food and all proceeds from CD and merchandise sales the day of the event.
Now, eight months later, we're producing an even larger event. The Foodstock Fall Festival will be held Saturday, October 11th, 10-7. More bands, more food more fun! And the community is making an even stronger showing of support. More radio stations and tv affiliates are interested. More businesses are donating to the raffles. And we hope to raise a LOT more money! Our goal is $52,000 a year - a thousand a week, to help feed those in the greatest need. We may not make it this year, even with two events. But we're going to get a LOT closer than we imagined for the first year.
Even better is that we now have friends, all musicians, in other cities around the country who want to mount local Foodstock events. Sacramento and Nashville are already in pre-production. San Francisco, Chicago, Indianapolis, Champaign (IL) and others are all talking seriously about next year. So we set up a new site to serve as an umbrella for everyone who chooses to participate.
Why are people so positive in their response? I think there are a few reasons. First, EVERY penny a person contributes goes directly to the program we're supporting. NO ONE is making a dime. We're paying for the web sites, and pretty much everything else necessary to mount the event. Even the businesses know that it's ALL to help us feed babies! How can you not like that?
I've worked in the non-profit world for many years, and I realize that there are costs involved. I applaud all organizations that contain their expenses according to NICB guidelines. It's tough to do. And I mean no disrespect. But when everyone involved knows it's ALL for the cause, it adds to the excitement.
Second is that it started with just four people. Ordinary citizens....mostly lower middle class, with low class roots. A band... a bunch of musicians. And not Jazz musicians. Not Gospel. Nothing upscale, in other words. A Blues band of all things. Two geezers and the son of the youngest of the two, plus the close friend who does graphics and videos for us. And we did it all with the help of a handful of people to help us. Every business that took part spoke with one of us. Every sponsor, every contact, it all came through a small group of folks. It's was so totally "homey", which made people feel directly involved in a community sort of way.
Starting so small also showed that a few people could create great change. It didn't take a huge organization. It only took a little determination, and a drive to do something positive for our community. It gave people a sense of empowerment, especially since they were contributing to their own community.
For those interested, I hope you'll check out Danville Foodstock, perhaps make a donation to our October drive. We have a permanent account that goes directly to the food pantry via PayPal. It's their account; we just have a donation button to send you there. We greatly appreciate all contributions!!
If you prefer, take a look at Foodstock Charities. This site is brand new and very small, but bookmark it for later, because it looks as if it will grow very quickly. This is where you'll find information about Foodstock events around the US.
The point of this post, however, is to point out two things:
1. Yes, poverty is a global problem. And, yes, the US should do a lot more to help reduce it.
2. We need to work in our own country at least as dilligently, and it doesn't take that many people to get something really good started.
You can be the catalyst for change in your community. You can be the one that says, "hey, here's something that needs doing" and get it done. And here's the kicker - that's what living a life with Spirit is all about.
Jim Wallis is an evangelical minister with a liberal bent. He often takes to task the far Right evangelicals who, he believes, are too strict in their interpretations of the Bible, and too strict in the religiously based laws thet attempt to have passed. I receive an e-letter from his Sojourners organization regularly, and often find myself nodding in agreement to what I read.
Today, Jim offered this article, which is also on his blog (to which I've linked). After reading the article, I decided ,for the first time, to post a response on his blog. By the time I hit the fifth or sixth paragraph, I decided it was rude to post that much of my own opinion on his web site. So I'm writing this post, and will then return to his blog to post a comment with a link for those who want to read more.
If you'd like to read the full article, please do so now.
For those who prefer a poor synopsis, Jim wrote about the letter recently released by MICAH Challenge USA.Part of the MICAH Network, a global Christian organization, they called to American Christians to help reduce poverty worldwide. It's an extremely important goal, and I support it. I believe that our government should support all such efforts, not only with financial aid, but also in collaring those corporations that do severe economic, evironmental, and social damage abroad, all in the name of profit (spelled g-r-e-e-d).
However, now more than ever, what with the economy struggling, and the drastic effect it's already having on our communities. And it's going to get worse before it gets better. Here then, is the response I almost left on Jim's blog.
---------
I agree completely that the US should lead the way in eliminating poverty around the world. And while I agree that we should all contribute to the rest of the world, I am currently focused on the United States itself. Especially now, with the economy in shambles with more fallout coming, there will more and more people who need help to feed their families. In my small town of Danville, population about 30,000, our food pantry served more than 8000 people last year. People laid off from factories with no notice. Seniors who have had to welcome their children and grandchildren into their home due to some economic distress, now having to feed extra mouths from a fixed income.
I became aware of our local food pantry when my band released its first CD. We wanted to commemorate the event with something special, and decided a benefit for our community was the best way to do that. And, looking around the community, we believed that there was no cause more worthy than helping those who couldn't feed their families. This is how Foodstock Charities was formed. It began with a hastily coordinated benefit concert. Instead of raising $500 -- as estimated by many (pessimistically) -- we managed to raise just over FIVE THOUSAND dollars in food and donations. And every penny and every pea collected went directly to the food pantry.
Those who performed did so for free, in a hall donated by the local community college, through a PA system rented by sponsors. Dozens of local businesses donated goods to gift baskets raffled or auctioned at the event. The expenses that cropped up at the last minute were covered by the band itself; and we also donated food and all proceeds from CD and merchandise sales the day of the event.
Now, eight months later, we're producing an even larger event. The Foodstock Fall Festival will be held Saturday, October 11th, 10-7. More bands, more food more fun! And the community is making an even stronger showing of support. More radio stations and tv affiliates are interested. More businesses are donating to the raffles. And we hope to raise a LOT more money! Our goal is $52,000 a year - a thousand a week, to help feed those in the greatest need. We may not make it this year, even with two events. But we're going to get a LOT closer than we imagined for the first year.
Even better is that we now have friends, all musicians, in other cities around the country who want to mount local Foodstock events. Sacramento and Nashville are already in pre-production. San Francisco, Chicago, Indianapolis, Champaign (IL) and others are all talking seriously about next year. So we set up a new site to serve as an umbrella for everyone who chooses to participate.
Why are people so positive in their response? I think there are a few reasons. First, EVERY penny a person contributes goes directly to the program we're supporting. NO ONE is making a dime. We're paying for the web sites, and pretty much everything else necessary to mount the event. Even the businesses know that it's ALL to help us feed babies! How can you not like that?
I've worked in the non-profit world for many years, and I realize that there are costs involved. I applaud all organizations that contain their expenses according to NICB guidelines. It's tough to do. And I mean no disrespect. But when everyone involved knows it's ALL for the cause, it adds to the excitement.
Second is that it started with just four people. Ordinary citizens....mostly lower middle class, with low class roots. A band... a bunch of musicians. And not Jazz musicians. Not Gospel. Nothing upscale, in other words. A Blues band of all things. Two geezers and the son of the youngest of the two, plus the close friend who does graphics and videos for us. And we did it all with the help of a handful of people to help us. Every business that took part spoke with one of us. Every sponsor, every contact, it all came through a small group of folks. It's was so totally "homey", which made people feel directly involved in a community sort of way.
Starting so small also showed that a few people could create great change. It didn't take a huge organization. It only took a little determination, and a drive to do something positive for our community. It gave people a sense of empowerment, especially since they were contributing to their own community.
For those interested, I hope you'll check out Danville Foodstock, perhaps make a donation to our October drive. We have a permanent account that goes directly to the food pantry via PayPal. It's their account; we just have a donation button to send you there. We greatly appreciate all contributions!!
If you prefer, take a look at Foodstock Charities. This site is brand new and very small, but bookmark it for later, because it looks as if it will grow very quickly. This is where you'll find information about Foodstock events around the US.
The point of this post, however, is to point out two things:
1. Yes, poverty is a global problem. And, yes, the US should do a lot more to help reduce it.
2. We need to work in our own country at least as dilligently, and it doesn't take that many people to get something really good started.
You can be the catalyst for change in your community. You can be the one that says, "hey, here's something that needs doing" and get it done. And here's the kicker - that's what living a life with Spirit is all about.
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1 comment:
Thanks for your efforts & understanding of the poverty among us. Many are in denial, but when grocery chains get involved by soliciting you to add a dollar or five to your bill, that builds awareness that may not otherwise have existed. Food banks, nationwide, have been stretched by greater demand for the last couple of years, and the "working poor" have put aside their pride to try to meet their bare-bones needs. And when states like NJ & PA put food stamps & welfare aid on ATM-like cards, it reduces anger from those behind them in line as it makes less conspicuous the process.
PHILABUNDANCE [my charity of choice] started by collecting food from restaurants & the produce distribution warehouse and getting it in the hands of the poor & needy. As the need has grown, so have they, but entirely on a 'free' & non-profit basis. Less than 2 weeks ago, a front page Philadelphia Inquirer article heralded the ending of a milk-delivery operation to daycare & after-school centers because of the ascending price of milk. Most of those served would have milk no other way than if not gotten at these centers. The response has been great, once the need was published, & that phase of Philabundance's operation may be saved, at least for now. It prompted me to give, as I have before, a memorial $100 gift in the name of a colleague. I had been remiss in catching up on that, and this prompting was all too clear what I should do.
We need to follow the ONE Campaign to address the direst in the world but with the long-term goal of eliminating 'hunger' per se. Think of it as an investment, not charity. Nothing like being fed & having healthcare will reduce terrorist recruitment in Africa, Asia or here. But we also need to oversee the same problems closer to our doorstep: guess what accompanies the housing & foreclosure mess! I doubt that it was ever true that this could be isolated to innercities, for rural poverty has a different face with which to deal. We took a "leaf-peeper" trip to Vermont 3 Octobers ago & had that baptism by fire. In the richest [at least once] country in the world, it's a sin for 1 in 5 children to go to bed hungry, for more families to disappear off our radar, for wealth displacement to race to the richest 2% as the middle class disappears, for the wife & kids of a Nat'l Guard deployment to be destitute, for pets to be surrendered to shelters in dire straights, for "the least of these" to be humiliated & ridiculted for an economy that failed them, and the beat goes on. We are our brothers keepers. It's that simple.
[sorry for using so much of your space: keep up the good work!
Arden C. Hander {retired professor} Philadelphia Suburbs]
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