![[Bloglines]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
![[del.icio.us]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Google]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[kirtsy]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/kirtsy.png)
![[LinkedIn]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Reddit]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/reddit.png)
![[Squidoo]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/squidoo.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
Raising a Cup of Kindness
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: Feed People. Fight Hunger.
The Foodbank uses its resources well: each dollar that is donated purchases $7 worth of food and grocery products to those in need. 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.
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is located in Akron, Ohio. It serves 8 Ohio counties: Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne. It distributes food to more than 400 member agencies that provide food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other emergency hunger-relief programs.
The statistics are mind boggling:
the Foodbank serves over 163,000 people annually.
*1 out of every 3 are children under age 18
*1 out of every 10 is a senior citizen
*One in eight Ohioans lives in poverty
*Ohio ranks third in childhood food insecurity for children under 5 — hungry or at risk for hunger
*One in eight Ohioans use the Food Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)
*Every $1 donated to the Foodbank provides $7 worth of food and grocery products for people in need.
*There has been a 23% increase for food requests for food at food pantries over the requests in 2008.
*In 2008, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank distributed 16 million pounds of food.
*In 2009, the Foodbank is on pace to distribute 17.5 million pounds of food.
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 now in it’s second year. This year, we are pleased to join with the Peninsula Art Academy, the Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, local, regional and national artists and a group of dedicated volunteers to support the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
Local, national and regional artists — over 70, have raised a cup of kindness by donating over 125 pieces of artwork; the proceeds from the sale of the work will benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
If you are in our neck of the woods on Saturday, December 5, from 10-2, join us for light refreshments at our opening reception. The show will run until January 10, 2010.
Take a look at our website to see some of the beautiful pieces of art that have been donated. Items will be available for purchase online on the evening of Sunday, December 6.
We the People have proved the Power. Of. One. — over and over again. We have shown that we can, with our hands and hearts, help our friends and neighbors in a time of need. As Margaret Mead said, “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
We can do this: One. Cup. At. A. Time.
Raising a Cup of Kindness in 2009
photos courtesy Ron Wayton, photographer
Last year 76 artists and authors, and assorted web designers, sign makers, muffin bakers, photographers and patrons raised a Cup of Kindness as they donated over 150 pieces of work and countless other services to benefit friends and neighbors in need. Through the generosity of these fine folks and people all over the country, we have raised enough money for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to provide around 28,000 meals. That is an astounding figure: twenty-eight thousand meals. That is enough to feed each of the 601 people in the Village of Peninsula 46.6 times.
Artwork is coming in and is being cataloged and packed to go to be photographed for this year’s show, which will open on Saturday, December 5th, from 10:00am-2:00pm, at our Elements Gallery and at the Peninsula Art Academy across the street, and will continue through January 10, 2010. Check back for more details about online purchases and other ways to help.
We the people have demonstrated the Power of One. And one more. And one more. This is how we make a difference in the world. One. Cup. At. A. Time.
Raising a Cup of Kindness
Cups of Kindness, a show and sale to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, has raised enough money to purchase around 27,000 meals—that’s almost 45 meals for the 600 and some folks who live in the Village of Peninsula, Ohio.
Over 70 artists donated pieces of art, 160 pieces in all. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork has benefited the hungry in the 8 Ohio counties that the Foodbank serves. The show opened in early December of 2008, and continues.
Diane Keske Talmadge has been drawing and painting since she was a child. She is an accomplished portrait, landscape and still life painter. Her paintings have a wonderful luminous quality about them, quietly showing how she sees the world. Diane teaches painting and drawing in her home studio and at the Peninsula Art Academy.
Diane has a collection of 25 or so antique teacups, and she puts at least 1 antique piece in each of her still life paintings. When she was asked if she would donate a piece to Cups of Kindness, Diane didn’t hesitate. She painted two of her antique teacups, which are displayed on lovely small easels. This piece, along with it’s companion pink teacup are available here. Please visit Elements Gallery in the Village of Peninsula, Ohio, or the Cups of Kindness website to see this and other beautiful pieces of artwork. Every dollar raised purchases 7 nutritious meals for NE Ohio’s hungry, folks like you and me, who need a hand.
Cups of Kindness: Friends and neighbors helping each other.
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.
All content copyrighted. Please don't steal. It's not nice.