Thanks to you The Cooperative Feeding Program was able to send 1000 Broward County kids back to school last week with brand new backpacks filled with school supplies. A number of these families are homeless and also needed help accessing addittional resources for new uniforms and immunizations. Many of you donated school supplies your own children selected while picking out their own supplies. It was great to see all of you who dropped off backpacks and supplies. Of course we also have to thank those of you who helped us purchase more supplies by donating or buying virtual supplies through our Changing The Present site.
Thanks again. We couldn’t do it without you!
The new faces of the homeless look pretty familiar
July 24, 2008
During the Great Depression, the homeless and down-and-out ended up living in shantytowns or tent cities. They were called Hoovervilles, after the president who lorded over the economic collapse, Herbert Hoover.
Certainly we’d never slip back to that reality. Right?
After all, we’re the living-large culture. Two TVs and three PCs in every home.
But at some point you begin to wonder … Manufacturing collapse. Housing collapse. Banking collapse.
Hmmm.
How far are we, really, from Bushvilles?
We may already be seeing the first ones.
But our modern version of a shantytown is much different than those from the last century. Hey, the average middle-class American couldn’t survive in a tent unless it had central air, a Wii and plasma TV. With remote.
Tents would never do.
The 21st century Bushvilles are full of the very symbol of American middle-class abundance: cars.
Tony Santa Barbara, Calif., has opened 12 car lots where the newly homeless can safely park at night. The lots are open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and are monitored by a homeless advocacy group to make sure they’re safe and secure.
“The way that the economy is going, it’s just amazing the people that are becoming homeless,” Nancy Kapp, a lot coordinator, told CNN. “It’s hit the middle class.”
Don’t fool yourself into thinking this is an only-in-California thing. We’re seeing the same middle-class migration to homelessness here.
“All of our beds are full and they’re not full of people you think of when you say, ‘homeless,'” said Sally Gress, spokeswoman with the Salvation Army in Broward. “One section of beds that were hardly ever full before was our section for single women. Now those beds are almost always full.”
They’re full of the working homeless. Secretaries and teachers. People getting salaries that no longer keep up with housing, insurance, food, utilities and gas.
“We offer rent and mortgage assistance,” Gress said. “And before, the calls were always for help with rent. Now, the calls are for mortgage assistance. And they’re coming from all over the place.”
And, of course, with tighter family budgets, there’s also been a drop in giving. In a report by Christian fundraising group Dunham and Co., 46 percent of Christian adults said they had reduced charitable contributions.
Even those at the higher end have been affected. Thirty-one percent of those making more than $100,000 said the economy was stifling their charity.
Another perfect storm in this season of economic hurricanes.
And we’re just beginning to feel the damaging storm surge.
“It’s just now starting to affect people with higher incomes,” Gress said. “It almost makes you think it could happen to just about anybody who loses a job.”
So now, more than ever, it’s time for those of us who aren’t living out of our car, or a cardboard box, to step it up.
And I’m not talking about handing your wallet to the alcoholic vagrant on the corner.
It’s about supporting already-established programs such as the Broward Coalition to End Homelessness and the Salvation Army in both Broward and Palm Beach counties.
You don’t have to be rich. Every Thursday morning this summer, my wife has been taking our kids to work at the Cooperative Feeding Program.
The kiddos complained at first, but have come to enjoy it. It didn’t hurt that they were allowed to dole out the desserts.
Besides, feeling a sense of purpose through service can be addictive.
Particularly when the people you’re helping don’t look so different from you.
Ralph De La Cruz can be reached at rdelacruz@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4727 and 561-243-6522.
PS – In case you are wondering – no Cooperative Feeding did not know that one of our volunteer’s spouses was a Sun-Sentinel columnist. He mentioned us all on his onsies….Sure is one small world……
With jobless rates still rising in Florida (we were up .5% from April – May 08 and up 1.6% for the year) and food costs going even higher, more and more working poor are falling in to crises. According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) from March 2007-March 2008, the price of milk has risen 13.3%, egg prices rose 30%, cheese increased by 12.5% and bread costs 15% more. Caught in the squeeze many families are for the first time ever needing to reach out for help.
FRAC reports that 1.5 million more people nationwide participated in the USDA’s food stamp program in March 2008 as compared to March 2007. In Florida we saw an increase of 19% for the same time period. That’s an increase of more than a quarter million persons for our state alone. From March 2003 – March 2008 we Florida saw a staggering increase of 37.5% in the number of persons participating in the program. What is even more amazing is that the USDA estimates that approximately 1/3 of all eligible households have not even applied for benefits.
Besides helping families purchase nutritious food, the food stamp program provides local economic stimulus. According to the USDA, for every $5 in new food stamp benefits, $9.20 is generated in local community spending. (Click here for the story from the USDA) They further estimate that a 5% increase in the national participation rate would create 2.5 billion in new nationwide economic activity.
Navigating the system can be tricky for first time users. If you, or someone you know, wants to find out about eligibility they can either come on down to The Cooperative Feeding Program (we operate a satellite food stamp office on our campus) or check out DCF’s website for eligibility guidelines and other information.
In case you somehow missed it, this past weekend was the NALC’s 16th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive. Across the country people were asked to donate non perishable food by leaving it at their mailbox for their letter carrier to pick up. In Broward County, that would be members of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 2550. The response was fantastic, with almost 250,000 pounds of food donated to The Cooperative Feeding Program! (The final numbers aren’t quite ready yet as some branches have continued to receive donations and some of the smaller branches donations were given to other local agencies. )
What a lot of people don’t realize is how much volunteerism is involved in this project. This is a tremendous effort that is spearheaded by the NALC but involves people across the postal service and other AFL-CIO unions. Individual letter carriers lugged donations back to their branches on Saturday, May 10th. NALC members, their families and community volunteers sorted, boxed and sealed the food for transport to CFP. Amazingly they managed to process all that food and get it on to 10 tractor trailers. The food was delivered to CFP throughout the day on Sunday, May 11th – Mother’s Day.
Fortunately we didn’t have to unload that all ourselves! NALC members and Target team members were on hand to help unload the trucks and stock the warehouse throughout the 11 hour day. Tammie Cadwell, the coordinator for Broward County, even got in a little forklift practice (see pic above). In between deliveries they cleaned and stocked the pantry, sorted out the warehouse and did a host of other projects that needed doing. It was a long day of work that netted huge results. I would say you all made your mothers proud!
Put your money where your mouth is!
March 27, 2008
It’s been in the news a lot lately… fears of rising unemployment, economic stagnation and mortgage woes. We’re seeing it at The Cooperative Feeding Program. Where we used to provide 300-400 hot meals a day we’ve been well over 400 for a while now and have had a number of days in the 550 range.
It can be quite overwhelming and a lot of times individuals feel they have no power to effect change. Everyone is looking for someone else to have answer, the President’s stimulus package, a bail out of Bears Stearns, or some solution to the mortgage debacle. While we certainly need some leadership in these areas at the end of the day there is something you can do – put your money where your mouth is.
Money definitely talks in our society. If you don’t like what a company does, don’t support them. Just as importantly though if a company is doing great things – supporting the community, treating their employees fairly or building a more sustainable corporate environment – help grow that by choosing to buy from them. There are lots of great companies, big and small, doing some great things. You’ve seen a few of them mentioned in this blog or on our website –UPS, Target, Transworld Business Brokers, Jarden Consumer Solutions, CASF, BankAtlantic, First Data, ABB Con-Cise – they’re all doing things right now!
I’ll make it easy for you to get started. On April 1st (no, it’s not a prank) at 7 P.M. Dorian Cirrone, a local author, will be at the Barnes & Nobles at the Broward Mall to sign her new book – Prom Kings and Drama Queens – a story about high school students staging an alternative prom. Come out to the store and support a local author working to empower youth to make better decisions and….. if you use this nifty voucher when you purchase something, Barnes & Noble will donate a portion of the proceeds to Cooperative Feeding. If you can’t make it that night, the voucher is good through April 4th. See how easy that is?
Andy’s Family Pasta Dinner
February 6, 2008
The quickest blog post ever….. Andy Cagnetta (CFP Board member) is holding his annual “Andy’s Family Pasta Dinner”, a fundraiser benefiting The Cooperative Feeding Program in our efforts to end hunger in Broward County. This year’s event is February 17, 2008 at the Signature Grand. Adult tickets are only $25 and youth are free if they bring a bag of food or hold a personal fundraiser through Firstgiving. This a great way to spend your Sunday afternoon and help defeat hunger.
Here’s a letter from Andy (copy/paste makes for way easy blogging) with all the details.
Dear Friends and Family,
How’s this stat “1 in 6 Broward residents go hungry every day”!! Many of them kids! Can you imagine trying to get good grades being hungry!!!
Here are some easy instructions on how to get involved (I will send a few emails out describing the event). First step is I need more sponsors. Especially the presenting sponsor! I am about to hit the airwaves and print and would like to mention the presenting sponsor on the air!!! So call me now if you want to be the presenting sponsor!
Or follow step one.
1) Sponsor the event! The Presenting Sponsorship is $10,000, and we have levels at $5,000, $2,500, $1,000, $500, $250, $100. Download this form here or go to http://www.firstgiving.com/pastadinner and just use a credit card.
I would like to thank our Major Sponsors thus far:
South Florida Sinus and Allergy Center
Bank of America
Transworld Business Brokers
The Signature Grand –
Solomon Snow Advertsing
Miller Construction
WQAM
The next emails will outline the next steps of getting your kids involved, donating if you can’t come anyway, auction items, buying tickets. The short story is below.
2) Get YOUR kids/young adults involved now! Call me or all the information is here http://www.tworld.com/pastaforms/2008VolunteerGuide.doc
3) Not going? Live far away? Help me anyway! Just Donate here now! http://www.firstgiving.com/pastadinner (or use Lauren/Rachel’s site http://www.firstgiving.com/cagnettagirls )
4) Send or help gather auction items. http://www.tworld.com/pastaforms/AuctionItemPasta2008.doc
5) BUY TICKETS AND JOIN US!!! Go to the website http://www.feedingbroward.org/help_EventAndysFamilyPastaDinner.asp or the main site and click tickets.
Still confused? Email me back and I will help you help me!
I look forward to a record year in raising money, gathering food, and involving our young people in community service.
Andy Cagnetta
Transworld Business Brokers
Which world do you live in?
February 2, 2008
If you are like 60% of the world’s population you live in the 3rd world. On January 23rd Nova Southeastern University illustrated this by hosting their annual Hunger Banquet. Each guest drew a lot upon entering the banquet, held on campus at The Commons. Just like the real world, 60% of the guests sat on the floor, ate rice with their hands and had only water to drink. 25% were lucky enough to have chairs and basic utensils and were able to have beans with their rice portions. A very lucky few – 15% – had a full meal at a table set with proper plates and utensils. I think I even spied a little dessert there!
The weather that evening provided a great backdrop, as one of our famous tropical rainstorms provided a downpour that ended up dripping on those seated on the floor of the tent in the third world ~ another reminder of how lucky so very many of us are. Cooperative Feeding staff were on hand to provide information on the ongoing hunger right here in Broward County. One staff, Gwen Perry, even shared her personal and moving story of hunger. The floor was then opened for discussion about poverty, homelessness and hunger.
One interesting thing that came out of the evening was a comment by one of the group representing the third world. Seems that their fellow students seated at the first world table felt enough compassion to sneak them a few forks and paper plates, vastly improving their experience. An interesting parallel to the real world perhaps ~ when truly faced with the reality of hunger and poverty, most of us will act and the action does not have to be monumental to make a difference. A simple act of compassion, sharing your excess with those less fortunate, does effect change.
Today take this challenge. Just as the students opened their eyes and saw the need right in front of them, open yours. What do you see? Do you see the elderly gentleman who looks just a bit too thin? Maybe the grandmother who has taken in her grandchildren and only has social security? Or maybe you see the family with all of their possessions in the car because they have no place to live. Now look at your own life. What do you have that you can share? Food, clothing, household items, cash, or maybe time and talent? Just like the students at Nova, you don’t have to go far to share.
Where did the teens go? (and what are they doing???)
January 4, 2008
They’re here…….doing all sorts of things. Things you should know about.
Teens are here leading. Yesterday The Cooperative Feeding Program posted appeals in several places for help to refill the pantry’s very empty shelves. Who was the very first person to jump in to action? Jenna Iden, a high school student at University School of Nova Southeastern. Yup, you read it right. The leader so far in this critical drive is too young to vote, run for office or miss curfew. She forwarded the info to loads of people, encouraged them to participate, and was the first person to donate through our online virtual food drive . Well done Jenna.
Teens are here caring. Today the Harold Reitman Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County came to help us hand out coats (yes, it even gets cold in Ft. Lauderdale) and spread a little cheer during the grey, chilly morning. The coats came primarily from 2 sources; The Good Morning America/Burlington Coat Factory coat drive through One Warm Coat and the teens’ own coat drive. They came. They gave. They cheered. This isn’t the first time either. We’ve been very privileged to have them with us before. In fact they were just here on Christmas Day handing out hygiene kits and shirts. Imagine that. A bunch of teenagers giving up their Christmas morning and doing so fully equipped with big smiles, cheerful faces and a happy to be here attitude. We can’t wait to have them back here again.
The teens are here. Not just here as in a physical location. They’re here – leading, caring, helping to shape a more just and sustainable future. They are here helping in the pantry, serving on the line, taking a turn at the front desk, even sorting mail. They’re here at their schools, their clubs and homes.
The teens are here. Where are you?
P is for peanut butter, and pasta, and peas, and….
January 3, 2008
It’s also for plenty, which is what we don’t have right now. The holidays are over, but hunger isn’t. In 2 months The Cooperative Feeding Program moved over 210,000 pounds of food, which is over 6000 emergency boxes. It’s a fantastic thing to be able to put such a basic necessity of life into so many hands, but all the hard work has left our shelves empty and warehouse depleted. I know, it’s a bit depressing, but around here there is no time for depressing! We’ve pulled on our bootstraps, circled the wagons and are sending out the word – Virtual Food Drives now! Here’s how you can participate in the drive and restock those shelves.
1. Jump on our website and click on the virtual food drive link (it’s on the left). You’ll be redirected to our secure server where you can shop in our virtual grocery store.
2. Go to our Firstgiving page and do a personal fundraising campaign. You can do it all on your onsies or challenge your friends to a fundraising duel.
3. If you’re a local, shake down your cupboards, your mom’s kitchen (with her permission of course), your friends’ pantries (you should ask them first too), anywhere some non-perishable food might be hiding out and bring it on over. We’ll be sure it goes to a good home.
4. Pass it on. Forward this blog to all of your contacts. You never know who just might have 6 or 7 pallets of peanut butter lying about waiting for us to come get!
Wheee Doggies!
January 2, 2008
Oh and you social networking volunteers? I haven’t forgotten you. In fact I’m probably calling you right now…….
Best of all things good and sustainable in 2008!
Maureen Meyer's Blog 