“I’m sure we’re going to run out of food today, before we serve all the people that are in line.”

That’s Mary-Sharon Howland, director of a food bank near New Orleans.1 But the same problem is plaguing food banks and soup kitchens across America. This winter, a record 49 million Americans are going hungry because of the economy.2
Our country needs change that gets to the root of the problem, but we also need to help people survive the immediate crisis.

Here’s a way to help: Feeding America is the nation’s leading network of food banks—including one near you, Food Lifeline. For every $1 you donate, Feeding America can help provide 7 meals to men, women, and children facing hunger in our country.

Please contribute to Feeding America as generously as you can. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation before the end of the year:

http://help.feedingamerica.org/moveon

As progressives, we share a core belief that we’re all in this together. We’ll continue to fight for lasting change—and help each other weather this economic downturn.
Thanks for all you do, and happy New Year!

–Justin, Adam, Amy, Anna, Annie, Carrie, Christopher, Daniel, Danielle, Eli, Emily, Gail, Ian, Ilya, Ilyse, Joan, Jodeen, Kat, Keauna, Laura, Lenore, Marika, Matt, Matthew, Melanie, Michael, Nita, Noah, Peter, Scott, Stephen, Steven, Susannah, Tim, and Wes

Sources:
1. “Kenner Food Bank may have to turn away needy,” WWLTV Eyewitness News (Louisiana), December 23, 2009
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Kenner-Food-Bank-80023467.html

2. “Hunger in U.S. at a 14-Year High,” The New York Times, November 16, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/us/17hunger.html

I tried hitting up the local businesses for a $300.00 dollar donation and only two of the 10 that I went to became a sponsor.
I emailed Mark to see if he would be interested in a donation. When he told me he’d get back to me, I thought that was it, but then received an email to call him. And when I did Mark told me he would not be donating 300 bucks but that he would be more than willing to donate 2 reverse osmosis systems to raffle or sell.

Thanks once again Mark for your generosity and with your donation, you helped my program get $1,300 worth of equipment that will help us become competitive.

I know you can poke fun at me like I am a bad guy, and it actually makes me laugh when I am viewed that way, when actually I am quite generous and follow thru on what I say. As you have noticed I have a tendency to stand up and not to back down to insults, cheapshots and general nastiness in others. My tact has always been to point out absurdity with even deeper absurdity. However, I am changing my tone in posts, because electronic conversations definitely lose something in the translation and seem to cause grief and anxiety. So nastiness is out, zingers, one-liners, sarcasm are in (in a loving and kind way).

So again, let’s not focus on that stuff, let’s focus on the other posts that I have made in the last few days. There is plenty of time to pick on me, but for now – Do a nice-ee to someone else. Who knows the one that gets the biggest joy may just be you.

Love and Go Giants South

I started to put it back in my pocket, but thought, what the hell. He’s asking for money and I have some here. Who am I to judge what he needs? My stomach is full and I have a warm home.

So I rolled up the twenty and gave it to him through the passenger window. He took it and thanked me. I said:”God bless you,” (like I usually do), and I moved up as the traffic went forward towards the right turn onto the main street.

He came running up to the passenger door and banged on the window. I rolled it down and he handed the bill back and said “You gave me a twenty, man!”

I said “Yes I know I did, (handing it back to him again), God bless you!”

He started to cry and said: “Oh, man, thank you! You just got me off the street tonight and into a warm room!”

I can’t begin to tell you guys how that felt. It’s a feeling every human being should feel. There’s no other way to have it happen to you than by giving to beggars who you happen to run into as you drive through life.