Food, water and air - the three things we all need to survive.
I have been noticing many stories lately about ways people are helping, and it warms my heart.
PACK THE PANTRIES - is an event that happens every so often in our area. Many of the local TV stations have food gathering events and many other organizations do as well.
Many holiday events (that charge for admission) have been donating a percentage of each entry price to Gleaner's. There are so many in need, and these organizations help so much.
South of us, in another county, there is the GOOD CHEER FUND. This was started by a child and has spread over the years. They now fill and donate over 800 bushel baskets of food to give to those in need. Those will be passed out this Saturday and on Christmas Eve.
Aunt Millie's bread has just donated over 2,000 loaves of fresh bread to pantries in the state. Most pantries here, only get bread that has been frozen, so fresh is quite a luxury.
Some area school teachers have asked for NO gifts to be given by the children (to the teacher). They want the kids to bring in non-perishables to give to the pantries. WIN-WIN-WIN. Teachers don't get things they don't need and they are teaching the children a great lesson in helping and people are getting food! I love this idea and think more teachers should do this.
Many of our area schools do have food drives, which I think is wonderful.
We have many areas here in my city (which is amazing to me) that are considered 'food deserts'. That means there is no real grocery store within a reasonable distance to homes. There are thrifty marts and corner stores that sell junk food, but no good groceries. These areas are generally lower income neighborhoods, and stores have all moved from the area. It seems like IF just one store came in the area - it would do great. People need to be able to buy food, so why would stores leave?
Buses are costly, and many people have no other option than to buy the junk food or take an expensive bus to another area.
Now there is a program by Lyft (kind of like Uber), and for a $2 fee - people will have the option to ride to one of 6 different grocery stores. That fee covers both ways. I have heard stories that some drivers have provided the service for free - just to help out.
I love that the people in these areas now have an option.
Last year the organic grocery store up the road from us, went out of business. Hubs and I were original investors in that, as the area was a food desert, and this place was providing healthy options. Well, it kind of lost it's vision - and became the 'preppy' store for all the new age health nuts and got very expensive. Again, the people in the neighborhood couldn't afford it.
The store remained closed for about a year. Just recently a farmer from a northern county - opened it back up and is selling excess farm produce and great markdown deals for very little money.
He is donating a great amount of fresh produce from his farm. He said that he feels it his duty to help! He has gotten lots of other items donated and is getting many deals from manufacturers. The people in the area finally have a place they can afford and can get REAL food!!!
Praise the Lord.
Don't forget others. I know we are all wound up in holiday events and activities - but so many don't have the means for even a warm meal. We have many soup kitchens and missions around, and lots of churches serve at the holidays - BUT people are hungry every day!
Just my little reminder to you - IF it all possible, think about spending just a little extra each month to donate goods to your area food pantry. $5 or $10 can provide a lots of basics.
IF EACH AND EVERY ONE of us did this - what a difference it would make.
Blessings to you all!
Mornings with Granny,on YouTube, reads from the book Starving in the Shadow of Plenty every so often. It is an older book from the 80s, by Rebecca Schwartz-Nobel, but the statistics have sadly increased. The stories are very moving.
ReplyDeleteSorry, should say, Loretta Schwartz-Nobel.
DeleteThank you - I will definitely look that up. It is amazing how the world today can have hungry people. I know it is sometimes their fault - some people just want handouts - but for the most part it is finances, jobs, and a few bad decisions or just unexpected illness. Children should never have to suffer!
DeleteGreat reminder!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about Lyft providing transportation to grocery stores for a small fee. That's great! I'm glad that many organizations are helping the hungry, and you are right, people are hungry every day, not just at Christmas.
Hopefully reminding folks, will get us all more involved more often.
DeleteI saw the story about Lyft on the news this week. Not sure if it is like that every where or not.
Great post and I love the idea of the teachers requesting no gifts be given to them but bring non perishable foods to be donated to a food pantry. I know that today is our town's food pantry day and I am praying they have lots of goodies for everyone that needs them.
DeleteI thought the teachers request was pretty cool.
DeleteI hope they were able to help lots of people!
I live in a very large and expensive city - but it is still shocking that so many need help just to get enough to eat.
ReplyDeleteMy church runs a breakfast all year round on a Tuesday morning for over 100 people. During the winter months we also feed around 300 each Monday evening - and many start lining up first thing in the morning. This church sits squarely between the Entertainment district (full of restaurants, theatres and very expensive condos) and the financial district (the head office towers of all the major banks) but it is also where you will find many homeless and many who make minimum wage. We fundraise all year round to keep these programs going.
We also keep some shelves in our walk-in pantry full for drop-ins - those who come to see one of our ministers when things are really dire - mostly families who have run out of food at home. I try to add a few things each week from my own shopping - whatever is on sale - although I do try to donate a few items at a time that would make a meal. It's not much but I do try to do it on a regular basis. It frightens me that one day that might be me needing that sort of help.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thanks to your church family as well.
DeleteSadly the waste and good food thrown away by all those restaurants would probably feed everyone well! We are such a wasteful society.
"It's not much" - anything you do is wonderful. If all gave a little, there would be no problem.
Only by the grace of God....
Thanks for a great post.I will check iof our area has lyft drivers,what a wonderful service!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. I hope that idea helps someone in another city. It is a neat idea for sure.
DeleteIt's hard, sometimes, to remember what are the donation days for local food pantries. My BFF's husband runs their community food pantry. Every week, he has to come up with the $$$ to buy milk and other fresh items. I am sure this is not unique. Money is always a welcome donation!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!!!! Cash is also needed.
DeleteI think so many people just feel better getting a few extra items or taking a donation of food from their pantries. By saying 'feeling better' - I mean it seems to be easier.
I think many people feel that giving money is dipping into their funds - where buying a few canned goods doesn't seem to bother them. I don't understand that - but I think some feel that way. Plus they know how the money is spent - they have control. Just my theory.
We need to give any way we can. It all helps.
Sadly the stores here who have come into the food desert areas still do not sell the healthy food that they stock. If you go in those stores the produce is all but rotten because no one buys it and carts are still loaded with frozen meals, sugary drinks and snacks and chips because they do not have the equipment or often even a stove or the basic knowledge of how to prepare those healthier foods. Our church is in the inner city and we such sad things but how can they pull themselves up by their bootstraps if they never even had a pair of boots to begin with?
ReplyDeleteEducation is key. We do have some area organizations that offer cooking and nutrition classes for free.
DeleteSurprisingly, the youngsters are the ones leading the fight in our city. Many young folks have started community gardens on vacant lots providing the food for free or a days labor in the garden. I love this concept.
We also have an organization called Second Helpings - they receive food leftover from area restaurants and learn how to remake into new dishes. Many of the 'employees' are homeless, and they get the opportunity to learn a trade with cooking skills.
There are options - communities just need to step up!
I hate that people who are on food stamps can't get to a real grocery store and those small convenience stores just take advantage of them and the government. I really think commodities are the answer.
ReplyDeleteWe need some grocery to stand up and make a difference. There needs to be a grocery who is willing to take a risk on go into some of the lower economic areas.
DeleteI wish there was an easy answer.
Your area is very blessed. My area donations are down. The charities are begging for donations this year. Every single Salvation Army bucket I see I put some change in- Quarter's, Dimes, Nickels, Dollars. This year when I put my change in I can hear it hitting the bottom of the metal bucket. How sad is that? All the donations that DH & I make every year to our various charities were so grateful. Told us we were the only very few and even regulars stop donating.
ReplyDeleteI am low income and live in a food desert. WalMart is to blame for our desert. They run the regular stores out of business. It's not worth the competition. I always shopped at the smaller stores and owners over the years have become friends. Each had the same story- WalMart. We just had a large size Aldi open up in our town. It's the third Aldi's. The Aldi's is on the rich side of town and hardly any buses go that route. The other two are also on the richer side of town. Lyft is not an option here.
Something needs to be done about these food deserts.
I hear that Salvation Army is having trouble in our area this year as well. I have always dropped something in every bucket I walk past. Many say with Thanksgiving and Christmas being closer this year, has cut down on those donations. I don't know.
DeleteAt least you do have a WM that you can shop. I know it isn't a small business, but it is better than the corner gas/convenience store. Many areas here have no WM close either.
My area has a lot of PRIVATE organizations helping with the problem as much as possible. Many are church and school operated or just individuals stepping up. I love that.
I sure wish I had the answer!
I love this idea, Cheryl. How neat that they are donating food to the local pantries instead.
ReplyDeleteSome area school teachers have asked for NO gifts to be given by the children.
I thought you might like that idea. Maybe you can get that started at your school for next year. Food instead of gifts. I think it would be neat to do a couple times a year - maybe around Easter as well.
Delete