Define it
April 24, 2008
How many of you looked at this picture and thought get a job, get rid of the dog or go home to your folks? How many of you looked at it and thought these two need help, who can help them? If you are in the second group Cooperative Feeding can help and so can you by volunteering, doing food drives (which can include pet food) or just by spreading the word. If you are in the first group, maybe you need to come spend a little time with us in the food pantry or community kitchen and look at how you define home, need, unconditional.
Looking at this picture we can’t really know anything about this person or his furry companion, but I’m sure we all look at it, make assumptions, and react. None of us know what has brought them here, what other options they might have, or where “here” even is and that’s rather the point. You don’t know.
What I find most intriguing about this picture is that it raises the idea of defining homelessness and what homeless persons (the furry sort too) need or want. I think most Americans think of the homeless rather like this picture. The truth might surprise you.
Many of our homeless clients you would walk by on the street and never know they were living in their car, sleeping on friends’ couches, staying in one of the county’s shelters or living on the streets. Then there are those that have shelter, but worry each month if they will lose it, or perhaps they live with family or in a motel. Not technically homeless, but definitely not housing secure and they too often find themselves not paying utilities or buying food so that they can pay the rent.
They often have jobs, education, families. A health emergency, an accident, a bad decision, an addiction… things that could happen to any of us move them from living pay check to pay check to needing public assistance or being out on the streets. Sometimes what they need isn’t what you think. It could be that getting food stamps would have been enough to put food on the table and pay the rent. Maybe mental health counseling would help them move forward and maybe a beloved dog is what is giving them the stability and love they need to make it through one more day.
Maybe just a bag of dog food a month and a hot meal a day would help these two make it through life a little easier. Maybe just a kind word directing them to a place like Cooperative Feeding is all they need to help re-define home. They seem to have the unconditional part down pretty well.
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?
This Valentine’s show them how you feel….with PB&J!
February 12, 2008
This Valentine’s Day show people where your heart really is and say no to stale grocery store chocolates and flowers that will just die anyway. Join us over at Changing the Present and send your special someones a virtual gift that benefits The Cooperative Feeding Program. For just a buck you can send your sweetie a PB&J, your brother a toothbrush or your grandma a pair of scoks to pay her back for all of those holiday ones she gave you. $5 will grab you school supplies for needy kids and for $10 you can pick between sending someone to the showers or helping them get an ID. Donate $20 and you can do lunch for 10 and $50 will feed a family. Of course you could go for broke and donate $1,000 for a van load of food. All fine choices and all way better than that stale box of chocolates.
If you are a Facebook user, you can send it direct to another friend on Facebook and let the whole of Facebook know where your heart lies. Just look for the Changing the Present icon.
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.
On December 29, 2007 Governor, Charlie Crist declared January “Help the Homeless” month in Florida. Here’s 5 fast ways you can make a difference.
1. Clean out your closet. Can you imagine going to fill out applications and the only thing you have to wear is what you’ve been wearing for a few days? You may not wear those khakis, polos, and jeans any longer but they are the perfect thing for someone who is trying to get a job. Clean clothing – especially work wear, men’s clothes, socks and shoes are always in big demand. Drop them off at CFP and help someone get a job.
2. Open up your schedule. Come volunteer with us and bring your friends, co-workers and families. Volunteering isn’t just good for the cause, it’s good for you! Call Chris, our Volunteer Coordinator, at 954.792.2328 or e-mail him – chris@feedingbroward.org and find out about all the great opportunities there are. Think you’re too busy to come to our site? There are loads of ways you can help from home, your office or place of worship.
3. Get informed. Homelessness is a complicated issue, but there are answers. Jump on our website for information on how it affects our community. Click here to see some national stats and information.
4. Talk it up. Put all that good information gathering to use! In our society we often try to hide poverty and homelessness. Bring it out into the open by discussing the statistics, causes and possible solutions with your family, friends and people you meet. You may be surprised by people’s opinions or experiences.
5. Vote. It’s a bit early, but by starting today you can impact the next election. Find out where your legislators stand on the issue and what they are doing to help. Call and e-mail them with your comments on what you want to see done or not done. Ask them to sponsor legislation, back upcoming bills for positive change and get involved. Start an e-mail campaign and invite everyone you know to join in. The more your elected officials hear about an issue, the more they’ll know to take notice. By election day they should have a full plan of action to help those who are on the streets now and to prevent future generations from getting there.
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!
Spam hurts
November 27, 2007
It really does, especially a few cases of it in a crate wielded by Jillian, Cooperative Feeding’s Deputy Director, as she collides with you on her way to fill the pantry shelves. Of course the Spam in question is the real world, potted meat kind and we’ve gone through an amazing amount of it this month. Just to give you an idea…between November 1st and the time we went home on November 21st (the day before Thanksgiving) we gave out over 2900 food boxes. Usually in that same number of days about 1800 boxes would be given out. How did we do it all? One word (no, not Spam) – volunteers.
The week of Thanksgiving volunteers from all over were doing food drives, receiving and sorting food donations, packing food boxes, working in the kitchen, making hygiene kits, rolling forks, stuffing envelopes and a whole host of other things. University School of Nova Southeastern University, Northeastern High’s Spanish Club, Doric Masonic Lodge #140, BCC Sociology, Archbishop McCarthy High School, E Sciences Inc., Representative Ron Klein and staff, Interact Club, Ramat Shalom Synagogue and Marlow, Connell, Valerius, Abrams, Adler, Newman & Lewis were all here along with many others.
On Thanksgiving Day, 100 Target volunteers gave up their day off to run the festivities here. They did everything from cooking and serving in the kitchen to cleaning and sorting in the pantry. They also provided a very generous donation to offset the expenses of the day and handed out hygiene kits and supplies. The Sun-Sentinel included them in a Thanksgiving story you can read here.
Our volunteers are amazing. So amazing in fact that last year they accounted for more than 40% of the labor needed to operate Cooperative Feeding. That’s not just Thanksgiving time, that’s 365 days a year. If you weren’t able to be with us last week, what are you doing tomorrow, next month or the middle of July? Our volunteers are here then too. Maybe you can be one of them. Watch out for flying Spam though. It really does hurt and I have the bruises to prove it.
