a 'Tis the Season Meme

[lagilman]

I'm about to hijack my own LJ to accost my readership (meaning you people, yes). I hereby ask my own pardon.
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Did you have a good meal tonight? I did. Quite yummy, and healthy, and there are leftovers for lunch.

Not everyone's so lucky.

MANCHESTER, N.H., Nov. 26 — Food banks around the country are reporting critical shortages that have forced them to ration supplies, distribute staples usually reserved for disaster relief and in some instances close.

"It’s one of the most demanding years I’ve seen in my 30 years" in the field, said Catherine D’Amato, president and chief executive of the Greater Boston Food Bank, comparing the situation to the recession of the late 1970s.

"We don’t have nearly what people need, and that’s all there is to it," said Greg Bryant, director of the food pantry in Sheffield, Vt. "We’re one step from running out."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/us/30food.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


The past few years I've made a decision to cut back on sending out holiday cards, and donate that money to charity, instead. I'll be doing that again this year, and I'm asking you to consider it as well. Send someone an e-mail that says you're thinking of them, and donate the $1 a card and postage would have cost to a local food bank instead. Multiply that by a few friends, and you just fed a kid for the day. You can donate cash, or hit CostCo or Sam's Club and donate a bulk shopping order, I'm told either will be welcomed. $5 or $50, whatever you feel comfortable with.

Meme it on. It's a mitzvah.

Comments

[pxcampbell.livejournal.com]

I give goats for presents.

The kids of many of my friends have more toys and gadgets and clothes than human beings reasonably need. So, when we do gift exchanges, I give a goat in their name -- to a family in Uganda.

http://www.christianchildrensfund.org/giftcatalog/giftcatalog.aspx

It works out, because my friends usually give my kids trees.

For folks at home, here in our community, we give generously to the family that my daughter's classroom "adopts" for the season.

Whatever way we do it -- when we think of presents, be it a card or a gift, we should all be sure to set aside enough for a stranger or ten.

[knitmeapony.livejournal.com]

Meme'd and posted in my journal -- I'll be giving to these folk: http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

My family has relied on a local food bank in the past. We're planning to make a donation in the next week or so, but we should probably increase the amount we were going to give.

Thanks for the pointer.

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

I think this is an awesome idea. I'm not one for sending out holiday cards... but I think I can make a similar donation pretending I was going to send out cards ;)

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

Just as a thought - different food banks require different things (this should be a big duh, but sometimes it's not), so contacting the place you want to donate to before you go shopping is always a good idea. And often they can do more with a monetary donation than you can (some can get it for them wholesale).

Just two cents. Thanks for the post!!!! I was going out today and doing some of this but now I won't feel so lonely.

[editrx.livejournal.com]

Speaking as someone who lives in the town next to Manchester, NH, this area has been economically depressed for a long time now, and this year it's worse than ever. Moreover, there are no overnight shelters in southern NH, which means if you're unhoused and it's 18 degrees outside (like tonight), you run a good chance of frostbite.

Elric and I are unemployed (except for contracts that either haven't paid yet or won't pay for months) as of this week (he had to quit his job in DC -- long story I'll blog about when I can). I have $1000 in vet bills as of tonight because another cat developed bad jaundice and his liver seems to have shut down for no apparent reason (and he's in the hospital all weekend). We are planning for maybe a tree this Christmas, and nothing else. AND WE'RE LUCKY. We have a house and canned food in the pantry from when people helped us out earlier this year.

A lot of people are looking towards Manchester, NH, right now because of the primary and very few are reporting how bad conditions are for the unemployed, underemployed, and the homeless (or those living, like some are in this area, in tents [I kid you not] at campgrounds even in this weather). They've focusing instead on the circus-like conditions of the primary season.

Donating is important. So is working food kitchens, at homeless shelters, and writing to your Congress-critters about changing the economic climate of the US. We are in a recession, folks. If not a depression. It's time people started talking about it and ignoring the men behind the curtain who claim false statistics based on trumped-up employment numbers.

[betheliz.livejournal.com]

I also like to participate in ShareColorado (http://www.sharecolorado.com/index.cfm?action=homepage). They purchase groceries at bulk to provide low cost options. For a $32 check, I provided an entire Thanksgiving dinner including 14 pound turkey.