Just recently I became aware of a really creative and innovative fundraising effort for food banks, pantries, soup kitchen and larger organizations that give aid to those suffering from hunger. The Empty Bowls Project is the major project of the non profit, Imagine Render, whose mission is to “create positive and lasting change through the arts, education, and projects that build community.” This program is an international effort to raise money and awareness in the fight against hunger. Each empty bowls fundraiser varies from community to community as organizations adapt this program to suit their group and community.
Here in my community a local food bank is partnering with the local Arts’ Alliance organization to sponsor this event. People wishing to participate can go to the Arts Alliance building during a series of Saturdays. After paying $20, they receive a blank ceramic bowl which they sign and decorate any way they choose. The Arts Alliance organization will fire all the decorated bowls. On the day of the event, participants will go to the local fire hall, find their bowl and use it to be served a simple meal of soup and bread. For those people who wish to participate in the fundraiser, but not decorate a bowl, some decorated bowls will be
available the day of the event as long as supplies last. Once the soup has been consumed, the bowl is yours to take home to serve as a reminder that hunger exists in our world.
I love the creativity of this fundraiser, both in the uniqueness of the fundraising activity and in the fact that participants get to be creative and create something to take away. I also like the idea of coming together as a community and eating a meal together. I live in a small town, so chances are I will know several people as I sit down to eat my soup and bread. Finally I like that the meal is simple, because for people experiencing hunger, simple is how they eat, when they eat. I am often torn by the large gala fundraisers, often featuring celebrity chefs, that are thrown to raise money for organizations fighting hunger. I guess that may be what is needed to get some to give money to fight hunger. I just like that this event not only raises money for those who are hungry, but it helps to raise awareness of what someone who is experiencing hunger might eat.
This past Saturday my family went to decorate our bowls, some more enthusiastically than others. (It’s hard to get enthusiasm out of teenagers sometimes!) We got our bowls, chose our color palette and got to work. We all had different styles and ideas. I had been stressing over what to paint, as I am not artistic at all. In the end, I decided it was best to keep it simple and went with stripes and polka dots. When these bowls are fired the colors will darken a bit. Since finishing our bowls we have all mentioned how excited we are to see our finished products. Check back after February 20th and I will have pictures of the fired bowls! There are two more Saturdays left to decorate bowls, so if you live in my community and are looking for a fun, creative, socially aware event to do with your family or just on your own, head on down to the Arts’ Alliance building and get a bowl of your own!
hearings and visiting numerous programs in both the government and public sector, the Commission compiled 20 sensible recommendations to reduce hunger.
rural areas, which would benefit my rural community. Most importantly, the Commission suggests lowering the area eligibility for reimbursement for summer meals from 50% of children eligible for free or reduced school meals to 40 percent. This change would mean that more children, in areas where poverty is less concentrated, would qualify for free summer meals. The other recommendation concerning summer feeding programs encouraging to me is the suggestion to issue EBT cards for summer meals in communities where barriers to congregate feeding sites, like neighborhood violence or transportation issues related to remote living conditions, can clearly be demonstrated. In USDA pilot programs issuing EBT cards to children at risk for hunger in these communities has been proven to reduce hunger.
Happy New Year and welcome to day 190 without a state budget here in Pennsylvania. If you are keeping track, and I am, that is just over half of the 2015-16 fiscal year without a budget and almost that long without any funds being released at all. Governor Wolfe’s refusal to approve of any stop gap funding in lieu of a passed budget came to an end just before 2015 did. On December 29 the Governor announced he would line item veto the state budget sent to him by the legislature. This action allows for $23.4 billion in emergency funds to be released. These funds will flow to school districts, human service agencies and county governments. Of that $23.4 billion, $18.4 million will go to the State Food Purchase Program. Through this program cash grants are awarded to lead agencies in each county, allowing them to buy items in bulk, which are then distributed to smaller emergency food providers–food pantries and cupboards–within the county.
volunteering at the local food pantry after having taken last week off. I was shocked at how empty the shelves were. We were down to just three types canned vegetables from our usual five or more. We had only one type of cold cereal or oatmeal instead of several selections of cereal, oatmeal, and pancake mix from which clients can choose. We had no spaghetti or dried beans and were almost out of rice, both white and brown.
in these boxes, and while soup may seem like, and is, a good thing to donate to a food drive, canned soup contains an outrageous amount of sodium. Giving a client several extra cans of soup to make up for lacking items which could be used in meals clients prepare, like dried beans, means they are most certainly eating a more unhealthy diet this month.
decorations and the act of giving, presents, time, love and caring. I grew up in the country and have fond memories from when I was a child of caroling on country roads in the back of a hay wagon being pulled by a local farmer’s tractor. One year I remember making stops at a few houses so that my dad could run a bag of groceries up to the front steps. I have always been touched by that small gesture that probably meant a great deal to the person receiving the unexpected gift.
boots! As with the night caroling, I was struck by the realization of how much these items will mean to the children receiving them on Christmas morning. I am glad this organization and many others like it exist and I am gratified to assist them.
societal safety net programs. This article caused him to ask the question “Who is the typical person receiving welfare?” We have since had a few conversations on both the topic of why some people are voting against their own best interests and who the typical public assistance recipient is. When we have a minute or two, both of us have been searching for an answers to his question.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). She was forced to give up the WIC benefits because she lacked daycare for her kids so that she could attend the classes required by the program. Her SNAP benefits took 6 months to get because of a delay due to an in-house paperwork backup. In the end, her SNAP benefit is so low she is still forced to go to a food pantry monthly to have enough food for her family.
been waiting 18 months to see a specialist. The receptionist confided in her that he would probably never see the specialist, because privately insured patients would constantly be moved ahead of him.
free during the school year, lose that access they are more likely to rely on cheap, calorie dense foods which provide little nutritious value. This switch in diet can lead to a weight gain in the summer among food insecure children that is two to three times higher than their weight gain during the school year. Providing nutritious summer lunches in place of cheap, calorie dense foods can mitigate this weight gain and reduce the susceptibility to chronic diseases like, asthma, type 2 diabetes and heart disease for these children. Additionally, decreasing food insecurity can lessen rates of mental illness and risk of hospitalization for chronic diseases.
most evident in reading achievement. According to the study having enough nutritious food to eat helps combat cognitive decline which can lessen summer learning loss. Decrease in summer slide can save schools significant funds, as it is estimated to cost $1,540 per student to re-teach a student struggling with summer learning loss.
Impact Analysis, schools offering a summer lunch program experienced a 5.3% increase in students graduating from high school. As high school graduates typically earn approximately $10,090 more per year than non graduates and experience a 4% higher employment rate, these summer lunch programs will not only beneficially impact the student who graduates, but will also serve to strengthen the economy in the long term, as these students are better able to be productive members of society.
I recently read the book, 
reflect on that for which I am thankful. I have so much to be thankful for, as do most Americans. I am thankful for the big things–my family and friends, health and home. But I am also thankful for little things that make each day a gift, like the bird that comes to my feeder or the beautiful full moon that greeted me as I took the dog out early this morning or a funny story from one of my sons shared at the dinner table.
From a Simmer to a Boil 