I ask your indulgence as I revisit my words of last October. They seem appropriate this day:
Hunger does not discriminate; it affects people without regard to background or social status. In our land of plenty, people are hungry every day; they have to decide between paying rent or eating, between medication or food, between staying warm and buying groceries. Of this I am certain: having enough to eat is a right rather than a privilege.
The mission of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is simple: Ending Hunger.
The Foodbank uses its resources well: each dollar that is donated purchases 7 nutritious meals. Meals that provide sustenance to people who are already stressed. No questions asked. When I recently toured the facility, I was amazed by the quantity of food that was ready to distribute to agencies large and small. The facility was immaculate; the people, both volunteers and paid staff, passionate about their purpose.
We are reaching out to others by giving hope. There is, I think, joy and intrinsic satisfaction in helping people who will never know who we are. As members of a world community, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to share our resources and to preserve dignity.
Cups of Kindness is a show and sale of one-of-a-kind craft and art which have been graciously donated by artists from around the country. Many hearts and hands have joined together to support our friends and neighbors in a time of need. It is held in the heart of the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley, at Elements Gallery and the Peninsula Art Academy in Peninsula, Ohio.
Through the generosity of so many people, we have been able to donate enough money to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to purchase over 21,000 meals. Seventy-six artists donated over 150 pieces of artwork; all proceeds from the sale of the art benefits the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
Your purchases will provide food for the growing number of hungry people in our community. With each dollar we raise, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is able to purchase 7 nutritious meals.
If you are able, please donate to your local Foodbank. The need continues to grow. The 2009 Cups of Kindness benefit will premiere on December 5. Please check the Cups of Kindness website for updates. Thank you for your continued support.
What happens when some of the musicians from Stand By Me meet for the first time and perform together? Turn up the volume, let your spirit soar, and know that it is so.
Playing for Change is a pretty amazing thing. Folks from all over this fine blue planet playing music. Being the change, one song at a time.
It is what we, as citizens of the world can do, united in peace by music. Just. Like. That. No boundaries or nationalities. Sharing the vision. One song at a time.
Mark Johnson is the man with the original vision. Others shared it. Take a look at the video posted below. You’ll hear the story, and some mighty fine music.
The weather in my town has been just this side of heavenly—or maybe right smack in the middle of it. So the choice is: work in the garden, enjoy the sunshine, relax or write an in-depth MTM post. The former won, and, once again, You Tube came to my rescue. Actually, I did go to one of the rookeries and I did take pictures, but it was a gray and rainy day. I think that you will enjoy the 2 videos I have posted below.
It’s nesting and courting seasons for Great Blue herons in the Cuyahoga Valley. There are a couple of rookeries where you can see them up close. It is an amazing site: dozens of nests, with the males bringing sticks to the females. Here’s a look:
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Wander on over to Travis Erwin’s site to find links to blogs all over this fine planet.
A little over a year ago, we shared a table at a swim team function with a woman who is on the Board of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank . We started to talk, and I shared my vision of Cups of Kindness, an art show and sale which would benefit the Foodbank. I thought of the words from from that old song, “we take a cup o’kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne.” We decided to, in the words of my English mother-in-law, give it a go.
Seventy -six artists donated over 150 pieces of artwork. The logo, website design and hosting, and photography was donated. Bloggers from near and far wrote about the project. Artwork began arriving from local and national artists. An author donated 2 signed copies of her book. The website went live.
The website is back up and running, with a new look for Spring and with some new pieces. Please take a look. And stay tuned for updates about Cups of Kindness, 2009.
Cups of Kindness is truly a testament to the Power of One. It is what we the people can do for each other. We the people who reach out to our friends and neighbors who are in need. We the people, anonymous all, who, when we help our community, help ourselves. We who are one.
To date, we the people have raised enough money to purchase 22,022.07 meals. That’s not half bad.
There’s a lot of history in my Valley. And history is just that: stories. One of the local PBS stations, Western Reserve PBS is preparing a documentary about the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park. They have been taking oral histories from people who experienced the area in days past. They are also looking for photos, home movies and other memorabilia from the Valley. Western Reserve PBS staff members will be at 2 open houses at CVNP’s Happy Days Lodge on Sundays, April 26, and May 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 pm.
Hop on over to My Town Monday visionary Travis Erwin’s place. You’ll learn a bit about his neck of the woods and find links to other folk’s thoughts about their towns.
The English language is full of wonderful and effective words and phrases. There are words for every occasion. Why then, I ask, do euphemisms like these appear :
** re-homing, as in re-homing an animal. Why not use adopt.
**gone missing. How in heavens name does someone go missing. One either is missing or not. One can go swimming, or fishing but NOT missing.
** Why do folks eliminate the phrase “to be”? The dog needs to be bathed, not the dog needs bathed. The floor needs to be washed (since the dog needs to be bathed).
**And the newest one is re-purposed. A facility was re-purposed.
**What about the apostrophe? Since when are tomato’s on sale?
I ask your indulgence as I revisit my words of last October. They seem appropriate this day:
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