Filed under: Uncategorized
I have been consumed in my work and my activism lately. Since I work in several public schools in Manhattan, I am constantly challenged and enlightened by a menagerie of different lifestyles, thoughts, beliefs and backgrounds. It’s absolutely rewarding, and I am completely blessed to have been placed in this job. Some of the experiences I have with the kids are heartbreaking: pregnancies at 15, with no support from family, meager assistance from health care and goverment- all merely because these girls are raised in a home environment where those conversations aren’t facilitated until she “gets herself knocked up”. It’s an enduring cycle- the cycle of poverty, and it starts with a lack of education and limited access.
The lack of nutrition education astounds me. We, at the Ryan Center, do our best to impart our knowledge and make available as much of our time and resources as we can. The educators do as much as they can. But, sometimes, most of the times, it’s not enough. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t force him to drink, eh? I can teach a lesson about how important healthy foods are, but I can’t force a kid’s parents to spend their food stamp allowance on fresh fruits and veggies instead of processed, prepared meals. I can make sense to them that buying natural foods in bulk is actually cheaper and more beneficial in the long run than spending $2 at McDonald’s a day.
I am doing my best. I want to overhaul the school lunch program, enforce parents to take responsibility for the rates of obesity and force all adult influences to step up and take an active, positive role in investing in the future of these kids’ health! But I know…Oh, I know…it is a symptom of a far greater problem. Much larger than my own arms can reach. And it’s taken so much patience to let go. Just to let go of the pressure to fix everything. I don’t even have that power, so why am I allowing it to consume me? These kids are our future, and the rates of childhood obesity are alarming. Children in lower income families and areas are either getting over fed with crap/fake “foods”, or are simply going hungry. When we can’t even address the hunger issues and food politics in our own backyards and neighborhoods, what hope does that give us for the rest of the world- for Zimbabwe where children are “wasting away”?
I have hope. I have to. Otherwise, what’s left? A big pile of disappointment and nothing. Each time you feed someone, it makes an impact. Every time you engage in conversations with someone about these issues, it aids. Certainly, this is a step in the right direction.
Everyone deserves access to healthy foods. I’m doing what I can to feed physically AND mentally, through knowledge and advice.
Here’s a free healthy food tip for the day: Does anyone want healthy oatmeal for a dollar? Go here- print out a coupon. You will need the coupon and $1.08. Get yourself to the nearest Jamba juice today or tomorrow and take ‘em up on that offer!
Tip #2: What’s a cheap, filling, yummy, complete protein? Rice and beans, my friends, rice and beans. Buying long grain rice and dried beans in bulk is super cheap, super healthy and super diverse in taste. Flavor it up with different spices, broths, veggies, sauces, add ins, etc and you can have a different meal for each day.
Additionally, I have volunteering and become more active in my new church , The Journey, lately, and thus have been provided with more support for what I’m doing, more resources, and a clearer vision of my own faith. That aside, the Journey does incredible and innovative things. This weekend, I, along with about 10 other individuals, handed out free granola bars along with an invitation to join us for Easter Sunday. Then, on Sunday, Nick and I took two more boxes of granola bars after our 1pm service, and did the same thing through the subway cars on our 1 train uptown, and handed out the rest inside the subway station. It was a rainy, somewhat dreary afternoon, and people really appreciate a free snack. After many weeks of giving away free food is numerous ways, I am still struck by how surprised and confused and even awe-stricken people are when you say “nothing” as an answer to their “what’s the catch?” question.
I like those surprises. The ones that say, “here, I don’t know you, but I want you to have this. Everyone needs to eat. It’s free, no catch, just take it, it’s yours. Have a great day.”
xo
Molly
Filed under: Uncategorized
I just wanted to write a quick message to let everyone know the blog may be quiet, but the project is not dead! I just have a lot going on in my personal and professional life that requires my immediate attention. For now, check out some of the older entries, leave a comment, and check out our links. Also, follow us on Twitter!
Filed under: food, hunger, poverty | Tags: brazil, farming, food, government, hunger, politics, poverty
I bet you think I’m making it up. That there’s a catch.
Nope.
The fourth largest city in Brazil, with a population of over 2.5 million, has ended hunger for its citizens. This is a city that went from having 20% of their children hungry, to essentially wiping out the problem. Infant mortality rates are down. Malnutrition is down. People are being fed.
How come they can get it right, but the rest of the world just doesn’t get it?
Politics. Government. Greed.
There is food in the world. Enough food. Our cities, states, and governments just have to look beyond the interest of money-hungry mega-farms. All we have to do is utilize our vast resources to produce food, took out some of the middle-men, and offered good, cheap food to those in need.
And the food in Brazil? It’s healthy, fresh, GOOD food.
And how much is it actually costing the city? About 2% of their budget.
Here’s what Frances Moore Lappe, auther of Diet for a Small Planet, writes:
Belo, a city of 2.5 million people, once had 11 percent of its population living in absolute poverty, and almost 20 percent of its children going hungry. Then in 1993, a newly elected administration declared food a right of citizenship. The officials said, in effect: If you are too poor to buy food in the market—you are no less a citizen. I am still accountable to you.
. . .
The city already involved regular citizens directly in allocating municipal resources—the “participatory budgeting” that started in the 1970s and has since spread across Brazil. During the first six years of Belo’s food-as-a-right policy, perhaps in response to the new emphasis on food security, the number of citizens engaging in the city’s participatory budgeting process doubled to more than 31,000.
The city agency developed dozens of innovations to assure everyone the right to food, especially by weaving together the interests of farmers and consumers. It offered local family farmers dozens of choice spots of public space on which to sell to urban consumers, essentially redistributing retailer mark-ups on produce—which often reached 100 percent—to consumers and the farmers. Farmers’ profits grew, since there was no wholesaler taking a cut. And poor people got access to fresh, healthy food.
. . .
In addition to the farmer-run stands, the city makes good food available by offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to bid on the right to use well-trafficked plots of city land for “ABC” markets, from the Portuguese acronym for “food at low prices.” Today there are 34 such markets where the city determines a set price—about two-thirds of the market price—of about twenty healthy items, mostly from in-state farmers and chosen by store-owners. Everything else they can sell at the market price.
“For ABC sellers with the best spots, there’s another obligation attached to being able to use the city land,” a former manager within this city agency, Adriana Aranha, explained. “Every weekend they have to drive produce-laden trucks to the poor neighborhoods outside of the city center, so everyone can get good produce.”
Another product of food-as-a-right thinking is three large, airy “People’s Restaurants” (Restaurante Popular), plus a few smaller venues, that daily serve 12,000 or more people using mostly locally grown food for the equivalent of less than 50 cents a meal. . .
No one has to prove they’re poor to eat in a People’s Restaurant, although about 85 percent of the diners are. The mixed clientele erases stigma and allows “food with dignity,” say those involved.
Belo’s food security initiatives also include extensive community and school gardens as well as nutrition classes. Plus, money the federal government contributes toward school lunches, once spent on processed, corporate food, now buys whole food mostly from local growers.
. . .
For instance, the city, in partnership with a local university, is working to “keep the market honest in part simply by providing information,” Adriana told us. They survey the price of 45 basic foods and household items at dozens of supermarkets, then post the results at bus stops, online, on television and radio, and in newspapers so people know where the cheapest prices are.
The shift in frame to food as a right also led the Belo hunger-fighters to look for novel solutions. In one successful experiment, egg shells, manioc leaves, and other material normally thrown away were ground and mixed into flour for school kids’ daily bread. This enriched food also goes to nursery school children, who receive three meals a day courtesy of the city.
The result of these and other related innovations?
In just a decade Belo Horizonte cut its infant death rate—widely used as evidence of hunger—by more than half, and today these initiatives benefit almost 40 percent of the city’s 2.5 million population. One six-month period in 1999 saw infant malnutrition in a sample group reduced by 50 percent. And between 1993 and 2002 Belo Horizonte was the only locality in which consumption of fruits and vegetables went up.
The cost of these efforts?
Around $10 million annually, or less than 2 percent of the city budget. That’s about a penny a day per Belo resident.
. . .
“I knew we had so much hunger in the world,” Adriana said. “But what is so upsetting, what I didn’t know when I started this, is it’s so easy. It’s so easy to end it.”
Adriana’s words have stayed with me. They will forever. They hold perhaps Belo’s greatest lesson: that it is easy to end hunger if we are willing to break free of limiting frames and to see with new eyes—if we trust our hard-wired fellow feeling and act, no longer as mere voters or protesters, for or against government, but as problem-solving partners with government accountable to us.
*Edited for length. You can find the whole article here.
**I’d like to thank Dino on the Vegan Freak Forums and author of the Alternative Vegan cookbook for bringing this to my attention.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: beatle bob, dancing, feeding, langhorne slim, music, soul
I know I’ve been very clear that this project is about food. Filling bellies. Ending hunger.
I just wanted to take a quick break and talk a little bit about feeding the soul.
Music feeds my soul.
I have been so worn down and exhausted. As I mentioned previously, I have a lot on my plate right now, but I’m doing my best to just chug on through it. Yesterday, I woke up at 5:15 am after about 3.5 hours of sleep, got ready and went to work, left work at 4 pm and went straight to school for a 2 hour test, and stopped in Dupo to pick up my produce order, getting home around 9 pm. I could have just collapsed then, but I knew I would be kicking myself if I didn’t go see Langhorne Slim at Off Broadway.
It was worth it. I’m tired and my homework still isn’t quite done but I needed it. Right away once I got there I just felt electricity run through my body. He is absolutely my favorite live performer.
When the band came back for the encore, Beatle Bob came with them. That’s what really made me think about this. Dancing feeds Beatle Bob’s soul. Oh, and for those of you outside the St. Louis area, Beatle Bob is a legend around here. If Beatle Bob dances at your show, you really can’t ask for more.
I may be tired tomorrow. I might even fall asleep in class. Totally worth it.
So… what feeds your soul?
Filed under: donation, food, homeless, hunger, poverty, volunteer | Tags: cooking, cupcake, dessert, dinner, donate, food, homeless, serve, vegan, volunteer
Life has been busy lately! Between homework and housework and the project, it’s been difficult to find time to blog, but here I am! Unfortunately, this will have to be brief again.
I don’t remember what day it was last week, but after work, I gathered up all of the items I had intended to give to the needy family and took them to Our Ladys Inn. I think in all, I had 2 loaves of bread, a baguette, oranges, grapefruit, and bananas. They were happy to accept the donation, but I couldn’t get them to keep the grocery bag. I really was fine with them having it. It was just another of the thousands Mitch brings and leaves at my apartment 
I was happy to get it to someone before it was all bad. I’m realizing that there really is no excuse to let fresh food like that go bad in your own home. There is almost certainly someplace within 10 minutes that will gladly put it to use.
Friday was dessert day at work. We used to celebrate birthdays monthly, sometimes with cake, sometimes with pretzels, whatever. With cutbacks, though, we hadn’t celebrated yet this year. They decided to have people sign up to bring in desserts. I made cupcakes!
I used the basic vanilla cupcake recipe with strawberry extract and lemony buttercream frosting from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. I was determined to not screw them up, so of course I left the first batch in for about three minutes too long. They were still yummy, but kind of stuck to the wrappers. Minor obstacle.
Today, I decided to check out Local Harvest for lunch. It’s a cute little cafe not far from my apartment that offers food from mostly local sources. They also have a nice little grocery store across the street. It was pretty good. I’d like to see more vegan options. They have a lot of eggy dishes, and they could easily scramble up some tofu for us.
I also did a little volunteering. I went to Centennary Church in downtown St. Louis to help with their Cares program meal. They provide meals for needy, usually homeless people. I hadn’t been downtown in awhile, but it was a little disconcerting. There were homeless people all over. I don’t remember seeing it before. Was it just because I wasn’t looking?
There were a couple of other groups volunteering with me. One came from LaCrosse, WI on a mission trip. Apparently, Centennary offers boarding and meals for groups on mission trips in St. Louis. It’s kind of funny because I’ve always gone on mission trips to other places, Mexico and Philadelphia. It’s strange to think of people coming here to help us.
I got signed in and got assigned a task. Here’s where it gets a little yucky. I didn’t deal directly with any of the people. Instead, a few other girls and I got the fabulous job of sorting good eggs from the cracked ones in dozens of containers. These weren’t minor cracks. These were “wear plastic gloves and an apron while holding the container over a trash can” cracks. I’m sure I could have requested a different job that didn’t conflict with my personal choices, but I just wanted to do what they needed. I wasn’t going to eat the eggs, and they were already there. Why not salvage the good ones so they don’t all have to be thrown away? After everyone left, I also mopped about half the dining room floor before it was time to go. You don’t have to be on the front lines dishing out the food to feed people. There are positions all over, hidden in the background, that have to be done too.
After that, I went home and got to spend the evening with Mitch. I made a corn, potato, and chipotle pepper (among other veggies) stew. We try to have dinner together every Sunday. It was nice to cook for him; I don’t get to do it often. I also had leftover muffins and a cupcake for him.
Well, that’s where I am now. Time to get the dog and go to bed! Lots more to do tomorrow! You may not hear from me for a few days again. 
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: americorps, feed, food, hunger, panckaes, poverty, project, service, want
During hectic weeks, I sometimes find how much more peace I am with myself and everything in my life. At the culmination on a lazy Saturday afternoon, I’m intent on sincerely attempting to define “cosume” and “feed”, and what this project has really embarked upon.
I HAVE been feeding: all my leftovers have gone to grumbling stomachs and people in need; fresh fruit and bread in my purse has been doled out to anyone on the subway or the street, etc. The constant thought inside my head every time my stomach growls, I feel a bit hungry, or food is placed in front of me is: how much do I eat? what does this food me? am I being nourished? how can I nourish others?
But, I have definitely been struggling with keeping my own “want want want” voice in check, and drop kicking it away from things I do not need to eat, as a reminder of those who are hungry and do not have the luxuries I have. As a stronger statement to myself, I am taking a fast while the sun is up for this entire day, and am really going to work on savoring the food I eat and giving thanks that I can eat whenever I want.
This battle of thought provokes many headaches–a presence for which I am thankful, because it keeps me focused on our goals. If I can’t change the world by one action, I know I am transforming myself, and anything or anyone with whom I interact during and after will subsequently be affected.
I must also say, it’s an odd situation in which I am currently. By giving my oath to AmeriCorps for a year of service, I am on the poverty-level of income now (as defined by the government) and am therefore eligible for Food Stamps. Not to address politics, but I am struggling with whether or not I should apply for them. Yes, this will be a rough year, with such little income, but then again, I did CHOOSE this, so should I take the offer, knowing that I do not necessarily *need* them, though, they could indubitably make my life a little easier?
But, let’s talk about something easy any of us can do. Lazy Saturdays call for a little bit more of a relaxed output, and what is better than Pancakes?
For about $2 you can buy instant pancake mix. All that must be done is adding water and cooking on a skillet for a few minutes. And seriously, they are some of the most filling things you’ll ever have. I make no claims about the “healthfulness” of instant pancake mix, but, as I said…lazy. We all need comfort food sometimes and it’s cold outside still here in New York, so let those bellies be full with hot, steaming, yummy pancakes!
Today I made a dozen and distributed them to people around my neighborhood.
Nothing makes a stranger less strange than a smile from a pancake giveaway.
Filed under: food, homeless, Lent, poverty | Tags: baking, breakfast, food, giving, homeless, muffins, need, soldier, tv, vegan
It’s been a few days. Sorry.
I have a question for you. You know the people standing at intersections with signs? I’ve mentioned them before. Do you ever see them and think, “He doesn’t look that bad off.”
I did today, but only for a second. Then I felt bad. There has to be some reason this person is standing there, begging for anything they can get. I actually saw two people doing it today. I didn’t give them anything, but it was only because I couldn’t reach them. I wish I could have.
That being said, I haven’t been able to feed anyone for the past couple of days. I worked on fixing that tonight. Tomorrow we’re having a breakfast party at work for someone’s birthday. I made the Apple Pie-Crumb Cake Muffins from Vegan with a Vengeance.
I didn't burn them!
Those should feed at least a dozen people and should catch me up for now. I need to find one or two things to do before the next work party Friday. I think I’m going to adopt a soldier soon.
Oh, and does What Would You Do? make anyone else cry?
Filed under: supporters
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Filed under: Uncategorized
Back from Buffalo and looking forward to diggin’ my roots as deep as I can for a while. For the record, this is the first time in my life that I have had the extreme stability of knowing I am in a location and job for an entire year. I must admit that this wardrobe feels unfamiliar and a little uncomfortable, but that I am rather anticipating the benefits and new discoveries of this way of living.
After a week of hotel-dwelling, laughing, learning, being inspired, connecting with new friends and gearing up for my year of service through AmeriCorps, I am in need of a long nap, yet, feel unnerved when I sit still.
Because the majority of my food was provided for me during my orientation, I found it quite easy to share (though perhaps stifled the creativity aspect of this project). I showered the hotel staff with left-0ver goodies every day, ensured that the remainder portions of pasta and bread went to good homes, and offered up any excess to anyone in my path, including one heart-breakingly adorable dog. But, overall, my focus remained steady upon gaining all of the necessary tools for my new job and for my year as a VISTA.
On our last day, we participated in a service project with PUSH (People United for Sustainable Housing), a tremendous organization that happily utilized our physical abilities to get a huge head start on one of their houses. And, surely our laughter and spirit didn’t hurt (believe me, there was a ton of laughter all week: you can feed a million souls with just a good hearty laugh).
Now that I’m back in the city, I’m attempting to readjust and prepare for the weeks ahead. My interactions with folks in Buffalo invigorated me in so many ways, and I look forward to putting together some care packages today, among a slew of other random activities.
My favorite Buffalo experience has to be this: I was sitting in the hotel bar, waiting for a friend to arrive, when a man inquired about my tattoo.
“Animal Liberation”, I responded to his question.
“Why would you get a permanent inking that says that, you’re an animal, too, aren’t you? Do you need a constant reminder to do good?”
I paused, thought about this project, and said, “Everyone needs a reminder, that’s why the words are facing toward others instead of me. When people ask me about it, it is a reminder to me, and those who see it are reminded, as well, but it’s those people who ask me about it that are probably affected the most.”
This is a reminder for us all to do more actions that invoke curiosity and inquisitiveness. This is a reminder of us all to live through our actions instead of thoughts–because, what good is an idea or thought if it is not put forth into action? Think about the hungry, think about poverty, and then do something about it, even if it donating a dollar to Food For Life or giving your leftover bagel to someone who tells you they are hungry.
Don’t forget to set your clocks forward tonight. Daylight savings time begins, and it means we have technically one less hour to accomplish our goals.
xoxo
Molly
Filed under: Consuming, food, hunger, Ideas, Lent, shopping | Tags: bread, eating, focus, food, God, hunger, senior citizens, snacking
A combination of emotional eating and over-reliance on a big feeding opportunity has caused me to lose focus for the past couple of days. I need to get back on track, especially because with the bridal shower I’m attending tomorrow, I don’t have any big volunteer gigs for about a week. I’m hungry, now, but if I eat now, I might not get to eat later. I’m really asking God for strength here.
I did have a couple of opportunities to feed others that I forgot to mention in the past day or two. One morning before work, I was in line at the grocery store in front of an elderly woman with a lot of things in her cart. I only had two things, and the person ahead of me was going to take a few minutes. I helped the woman place her items on the conveyor. That’s not something I would normally do. I’m not really the type to talk to the people in line around me at the grocery store. Also, I’m usually just sort of stuck in my own head I think, unaware of what’s going on around me. Anyway, I think it’s definitely something for which you should watch for an opportunity.
Yesterday was gorgeous outside, so there was no way I was staying in at lunch. I heated up some leftover pizza and made my way to the park. I still had some old bread I needed to unload (and I STILL have more). I walked off the path by the lake a little and tore it up for the birds (or whoever gets to it first).
Then, yesterday afternoon I decided I wanted a snack (like I said, I was eating too much). I went down to the snack machine and karma got ahold of me. I hit the wrong buttons and wound up with pretzels instead of plain potato chips. I don’t like pretzels. At first, I couldn’t find anyone else that liked them either, but Liz said she would take them home to her kids.
People are getting suspicious of me. It’s kind of funny. Someone else brought in popcorn at work, and Stephanie came over and asked warily, “Are you feeding us again?”
I also got my first food donation. I offered to “file for food,” so Brenda brought in a bag of groceries. She has A LOT of filing. I’m happy to do it, though. I appreciate the donation.
I’m going to put more effort into this this weekend. I need to brainstorm more ideas too. I really want this project to help as many people as possible…
