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Bloggers Unite: Hunger and Hope
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.
We believe that no one should have to go hungry in our “land of plenty.” Children shouldn’t have to go to bed hungry; families shouldn’t have to decide between buying food and paying rent; and seniors shouldn’t have to choose between paying for medication and having a warm meal to eat.
Ending hunger is more than just our mission; it’s something we strive to do everyday. It’s a pledge we have made to our community to end hunger in Summit, Stark, Portage, Medina, Wayne, Holmes, Tuscarawas and Carroll counties. In 1982, based on a commitment by community leaders to help the increasing number of families requesting food assistance, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed. In 2007, the Foodbank distributed over 12 million pounds of food and provided meals for over 163,000 people in need in Northeast Ohio.
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.
Thanks to Karen DeGroot Carter for sharing information about Bloggers Unite.
Cups of Kindness: The Power of One
Friends and neighbors helping each other
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.
We hung the show at our Elements Gallery, and at the Peninsula Art Academy. The opening celebration coincided with Christmas in Peninsula, and it was wonderful!
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.
Cups of Kindness Countdown
72 artists
135 pieces of artwork
6 days until the opening celebration
8 days until you can purchase artwork onlineEach dollar raised purchased 7 nutritious meals.
The Power of One: Cups of Kindness
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank does amazing work. Just because. Their mission is simple: ENDING HUNGER.
I’ve discovered some astounding statistics:
**as of a couple of weeks ago, the Foodbank had distributed over 1,000,000 pounds more food than they distributed for the entire year in 2007.
**so far this year, there has been a 29% increase of families with children who need the Foodbank’s services.
**each dollar ($1) donated provides 7 nutritious meals.
Right here in these United States. The people who are in need are our friends and neighbors; folks just like you and like me. Folks who have to decide between medical care and food; between heat and electricity or food.
We the people can make a difference. Over 60 artists from points near and far have donated small scale works of art to help us help the Foodbank. Cups of Kindness is a show and sale of these pieces. All proceeds from the sale of these works will benefit the Foodbank. Please take a look at our website, http://www.cupsofkindness.net. Help us raise a cup of kindness for auld lang syne.
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