One of my most talented musician friends, Katie Thompson, (speaking of great gifts, go and buy this girl's CDs cuz she is seriously fierce) wrote this hilarious song "I love Christmas for the food," and she's not wrong. We ALL love Christmas for the food. But, recently I read these news stories that report a 50% jump in use of food banks since 2006 (up 90% this year! Hello, recession!) but that nearly 60% of the food kitchens and pantries in the city don't have enough food. I am terrible at math, and I even I know that that does not add up.
So help your local food bank this Christmas. People will go there to get their Christmas meal tomorrow, and they need food. They need support. They need volunteers. They need money. They need you. I am going to give you a brief list of the few that I have supported over the years in a second, but the most important thing is to find one in your community and get out and actually do something to help this year. Tonight, tomorrow, or any day of the year. I can not express how important it is that we all do something to help the people around us that need the most basic things - like food. And now, the list:
Detroit peeps - check out Gleaner's Community Food Bank. Last year, Gleaners distributed more than 36 million pounds of emergency food to over 484 partner soup kitchens, shelters and pantries in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties. Of every dollar donated, Gleaners uses 96 cents for food and food programs. One dollar provides three meals for a hungry neighbor.
NYC - this organization actually takes their trucks out into the streets of NYC and rescues food that is still good to help fight hunger in NYC. City Harvest is the world's first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city's hungry men, women, and children. Donate food or money. Whatevs...it all helps.
Everywhere in America - FeedingAmerica can guide you to a local food bank and tell you ways you can help.
Cheers, everyone. And peace on this Christmas.
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