Food Boxes and St. Vincent de Paul

Part (the better part) of this week’s post was written by my good friend Renee.  Renee is one of the members of a 30-week compassion class I took at my church.  Recently, we (our group) started volunteering for a local parish who is involved with St. Vincent de Paul’s “food box” program. 

 I’ll give a quick rundown of what we do for the food box delivery program.  We contacted SVdP to get recommendations of parishes that needed volunteer help with the program.  Once we chose the parish, we contacted the person in charge of the program, in our case, Max.  On the day we deliver, it takes about 1 ½ hours from start to finish.  We pack a car of 8 to 10 boxes filled with food, drive around to the given addresses, ring/knock on doors, have people sign a sheet stating they have received their box, and bring the box to their door.  I have actually been mouthy enough to ask them to get their box and they comply with a smile when they see that I’m ready to give birth at any minute.

St. Vincent de Paul is an international organization that provides so many wonderful services including the following:

·         Hearts and Hands Day (a volunteer program for families!)

·         All other opportunities to serve are listed in this brochure:

http://stvincentdepaul.net/pdf/SVP0097%2009%20Volunteer%20Brochure%205c.pdf

Here is the website for St. Vincent de Paul: http://www.stvincentdepaul.net/index.htm

How can we get involved?: 

• Check to see if there are any programs such as these in your area as many organizations, religious and nonreligious have similar services
• Especially if you’re local, take the time to read what Renee has to say about the experience and sign up!

Renee’s post is a wonderful tribute to the man who really runs the food box program for his church.  He’s seventy years old but has the spirit of a teenager.

Do you know how many hungry families there are in Phoenix?  No one really knows for sure; but, according to Max, the number has certainly risen in the past 5 years.  However, there is an organization that is doing something about it:  St. Mark’s Catholic Church.

Max, the coordinator, of St. Mark's Food Bank (not to be confused with St. Mary’s) in Phoenix makes sure that many people with few means don't go hungry.  Long before anyone arrives to assist him, Max sorts out the paperwork according to neighborhoods so that no time, effort nor energy is wasted.  Max organizes the food boxes so that everyone gets some of everything available, but that families get a little extra (food) to feed the little ones.  Max then patiently loads all the boxes into his spacious, but outdated truck.  Lastly, Max grabs a few refrigerated items to add to each box before he begins his deliveries. 

Max knows the neighborhoods well; so, with a little help, he's done distributing the boxes in about an hour and a half.  Of course, if he has no help, he takes quite a bit longer. 

Afterwards, just like many of the recipients served, he thanks everyone involved and then gets right back to work, as he knows that the number of hungry people in Phoenix will continue to grow…..

If you would like to help, St. Mark’s accepts donations of food and/or money M-F during regular business hours.  St. Mark’s is located at:  400 N 30th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008.  The phone number is (602) 267-0503.  Also, you may sign up for a timeslot to deliver at:  http://doodle.com/7zvidpkr8tzveseg#cmt11488542

RESULTS:  You feel great, people in need are fed, hope is restored, families are empowered……

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”                                                                                                                                                                                         Matthew 25
Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance, And feed them, and carry them to the age! Psalm 28:9

National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day

“September 24 is National Public Lands Day, a volunteer-run event dedicated to cleaning up and preserving everything from neighborhood green spaces to national parks.”(Parents, September 2011, p. 34)  Parents magazine really has a lot of great ideas for family philanthropy. 

Last year, I didn’t realize I was participating in National Public Lands Day but I think I was.  My husband, kids and I all went to Lake Pleasant to help pick up trash for a few hours.  Actually, Mike did a lot of the picking up while the kids and I played in the water.  Nevertheless, we had a great time!

Check out the website to find out where you can volunteer in your area.  The website is so easy to navigate and it lists things to do throughout the year, not just on September 24, if you happen to be busy that day.

http://www.publiclandsday.org/

Examples of what you may be asked to do?

·         Pick up litter

·         Paint over graffiti

·         Fix trails

·         Plant plants and trees

How can we get involved?:

·         Check out the site and volunteer your time if you can: http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites

“This land is your land, this land is my land, from California to the New York Island, from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters, this land was made for you and me.” ~Woody Guthrie

Chicks4Children

Can chickens save the world?  According to this non-profit, they can do a great deal of good by saving lives.  “Chicks4Children is a sustainable campaign from Global Family Philanthropy to end hunger and poverty worldwide.” (chicks4children.org)

Chicks4Children is very similar to Heifer International in that they both work towards sustainability and sharing.  With chicks4children, we’re talking only about chickens.  Recipients of the chickens are educated in the areas of sustainability, farming, agriculture and business.  The idea is for families to eventually have their own coops and share the offspring with others.

The website is very cute and informative:  http://chicks4children.org/

The following website is for Global Family Philanthropy.  This organization continues to help those in Haiti.  There is so much to learn from this site:  http://www.globalfamilyphilanthropy.org/

How can we get involved?:

·         For $10, share a hen

·         For $25, buy a flock

·         For $100, fill a coop

·         For $500, build a coop

·         For $1,000, provide a sustainable program

“Results to be proud of.  Children are nourished.  Gardens flourish.  Families are empowered.  Communities are built.  We all win.  We all give.  We are grateful.” (chicks4children.org/about/)

I've Been Talking to Your Kids

This is an awesome forum/blog my friend Brad created to help others.  When I first started the blog and was looking for charities to highlight, I could’ve just had lunch with Brad and he would’ve been able to give me 52 with no problem…I just know it!

Anyway, this is a great site for parents or for anyone who works with kids.  I’ve been meaning to highlight it for a while now.

Check it out:

http://ivebeentalkingtoyourkids.com/

Look at Brad’s bio and you will feel good about his credibility.  He is as kind as he is brilliant.

Enjoy!

Missed Opportunities

Have you ever turned your back, literally, on someone who was looking for a handout?  For the last seven months, I’ve been highlighting different charities, non-profits, organizations and people that make a difference.  Although I’ve learned so much, I had an experience a couple of days ago that made me realize I still have a very long way to go. 

As I was unloading my kids in the parking lot of a grocery store, one of my biggest fears was almost realized.  I had unclipped Mia (from her car-seat) who is very independent and assumed she was right behind me while I loaded Mikey into the stroller.  After I clipped him in, Mia hadn’t climbed in yet.  When I turned around, I couldn’t see her and I absolutely freaked!  But, there she was about 20 feet away from me in a “safety zone” (curbed area with gravel and a tree) looking back at me as if to say “what’s your problem?”  As I was going after her to get her into the stroller, I looked up and there was a young woman holding a baby and a sign, staring at me.  I didn’t even take the time to read the sign before I started shaking my head no.  I pushed Mia and Mikey into the store and instead of thinking about the fact that it was 4:00 in the afternoon in Arizona, and how that woman needed something…anything to help her and her baby…I found myself angry with her.  Couldn’t she see how stressed I was and that she shouldn’t distract me from keeping my kids safe?

Late that night Mia woke me up and I couldn’t stop thinking about the woman, her baby, these posts and what a hypocrite I am.  What good is it to write about these organizations and learn about all the wonderful things out there that I can do to help others, if I can turn my back on someone standing right in front of me who needed help?

Panhandlers are a pretty controversial subject with many and each of us has our own philosophy as to what we should do when someone asks us for a few dollars.  Some people give without judgment, others hand out resources, such as where people can go to get a meal or shelter and many people work hard for systemic change.  I’ve heard of people who keep nonperishable items in their car at all times to give to those who stand out by freeways.

Over the years I have given but I have also walked away too.  I have to admit I don’t remember the faces of the people whom I gave as much as the faces of those whom I turned my back. 

I read that Mother Teresa had a private vow for years, she would deny Jesus nothing.  I really didn’t understand what she meant until a few days ago and how hard that vow must have been to fulfill.  Our priest just gave a homily about how our faith is like that of Horton the Elephant’s, “I meant what I said, I said what I meant, an elephant’s faithful 100%” and my husband and I discussed how it’s impossible for anyone to do it with 100% accuracy but I think Horton must have been modeled after Mother Teresa.

I write this blog with the intention to have as a resource for myself in the future but I also need this reflection to be included as a reminder and a smack upside the head of its core purpose.

“I shall pass through this world but once.  Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now.  Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” ~ Stephen Grellet

Backpack Drives

Today, we were supposed to bring a backpack for the Backpack Drive at our church and I completely forgot!  So, this week’s post highlights local “Back to School” drives or “Backpack” drives. 

Although school has begun in a few of the districts, drives continue to be held around the Valley.  This post is a quickie because instead of writing, I need to go out and get a backpack!

Here are a few links to some drives maybe happening in your area:

Promises 2 Kids: San Diego

http://www.promises2kids.org/news-events/events/backpack-and-flash-drive

Rowan County, North Carolina

http://www.salisburypost.com/News/071711-RSS-School-supply-drive-qcd

Volunteers of America:  Operation Backpack

http://www.voa.org/support-operation-backpack

Phoenix Area:

http://www.kpho.com/story/14978291/donate-items

Loving Through Literacy

http://lovingthroughliteracy.com/july2011.html

How can we get involved?:

·         Check out the links…Operation Backpack includes drop-off locations in numerous states

·         Search your area for local Back to School or Backpack drives and donate if you can!

·         Host a backpack drive (most likely for next year)

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.  Without them humanity cannot survive.” ~ Dalai Lama

Homeless Sleeping Mat Project

This is so cool!  Read about how people around the states are making sleeping mats out plastic bags for the Homeless. 
The following article explains one woman's experience with this project.

St Paul’s Catholic Church Homeless Sleeping Mat Project      

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”  Anne Frank

Fortunately at St Joseph’s Hospital, where I have worked for many years, we are sent daily quotes and prayers.  This one struck a chord with me; “God gives blessing to us so that we can give blessings to others.  The beauty of grace is that you receive blessings without reason.  Gracious Living is to give blessings to others for no reason.”   I had just finished the yearlong Just Faith program at St Paul’s which delved into many social justice issues, along with the fact that my daughter and I had volunteered many hours at Chris Becker Dining Hall through National Charity League, seeing firsthand the homelessness issues.  All these experiences working together brought the Homeless Sleeping Mat Project to existence. 

Nearing the end of 2010, a coworker told me about a church group back east that was taking plastic shopping bags and turning them into sleeping mats to give to homeless people. I was immediately excited about the idea and Google searched it as soon as I returned to my desk after lunch. www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/index.php

Then, I printed off the information and emailed the ladies at the church my questions regarding the project. Our family has been recycling and using canvas shopping bags for years. Luckily, my coworkers and my sister’s coworkers helped me round up the needed 700 to 900 bags to make one sleeping mat. I gradually cut up the bags to turn them into “yarn”, (think intertwining rubber bands) and I used my large P crochet hook to crochet the mat. I also added an attached cord to allow the mat to be rolled and then secured while also having a handle to carry the mat. There is a large pocket at the top of the mat that can be used, when stuffed with clothes, as a pillow. After finishing my first, I discovered that one mat could be completed in approximately fifteen hours. When a person receives a mat, they will also receive a Ziploc bag filled with travel sized toiletries, a letter discussing the process of making the mat, and an information card from St Joseph’s the Worker, an organization which provides job training to the homeless, amongst other resources. I deliver the completed mats to Chris Becker’s Dining Hall clients.

If you would like to help with this project, we meet at St Paul’s Catholic Church from 1 to 3pm the second Saturday of every month in room 10 to cut and create the yarn as well as crochet the mats. All are welcome and encouraged to attend; no prior experience necessary! I hope to have anyone interested in learning this process to come out so they may bring it back to their churches or other organizations. Just imagine how many plastic bags we could keep out of the landfills and how many people we could make just a little more comfortable in their unfortunate situations with just a little bit of time and effort!

Thank you,

Yvette Morelli Giesemann

How can we get involved?:

• If you're interested in making mats or helping out with this particular project and are local, you can contact St. Paul's Parish:  602-942-2608
• Get a group of friends together, find a local shelter and learn how to make mats!:
  http://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/documents/Sleeping%20Mats%20Made%20From%20Plastic%20Bags%20-%20Written%20Directions.pdf