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 | 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: 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, homeless, hunger, Ideas, Lent, poverty | Tags: church, food, God, hunger, irony, Lent, travel, worship
The days really do blend together sometimes, especially while traveling and getting little sleep.
I am sitting in JFK airport, taking full advantage of the luxuries my new job has afforded me: a trip to Buffalo, meals, accommodation and a week’s worth of education, exploration, conversation and new friendly faces with whom to make friends. Typing on my laptop and using free internet most definitely screams of irony at this point. And yet, it hits me harder than ever that this is very much what I am supposed to be doing right now. Sara, perhaps coincidentally–but I am thinkin’ it is probably more of a meaningful connection than it is serendipity–recently wrote about returning back to Church and tuning into to some sort of awakening within her. God, whomever we deem he or she to be, in whatever form, whatever being, whatever meaning, is not as much a compelling force as she or he is a force within us. I am grateful to the Allens for this reminder, and for letting me join them for an 8 o’clock service. Listening to their recounts of missionary work in Jamaica and Honduras, I felt the gentle nudge to not forget my focus, even while away on a pseudo-vacation.
Yesterday morning I found myself taking communion in Indiana. Nick and I drove down to Santa Claus to visit his family and celebrate the new chapter in his father’s life (retirement and the beginning of a new career). Honestly, before yesterday morning, I hadn’t been to a church service in a years. The last I can remember was probably when my father was still alive and when I still lived in Waco. Somehow, with minimum contact, Sara and I managed to mosey into a place of worship around the same time during this project. I must admit- this is quite moving. As I stood in Santa Claus United Methodist, front pew, piano’s melody carrying me away, I quietly thought of my father and asked myself what he would think of this project. Would he participate? Would he “get” it? Would he encourage me? Would he be proud?
Yes.
With all of this said, adhering to our guidelines proved to be not necessarily a problem over the weekend, but something to keep at the forefront of my mind during my visit. I consumed more than my fair share, yes, out of celebration and camaraderie, but I know that there was something Greater happening while I was there. And I know as I was fed spiritually moreso, that I would be enabled to spread even Greater aid to others upon my return to the city, and onward to Buffalo.
I just gave my bagel to a little boy. I will be participating in a week of service and seminars in Buffalo and am anticipating incredible correlations and inspiration in respect to this project. My stomach is full for now, but even when it is not, I shall take a moment of silence and remember how much I can feed myself, and others, with prayer and positive thought. Actions can create the mightiest ripple of change, but sometimes it is our inaction that speaks loudest–it is the malleability of our ideas that can yield the most needed result.
for everyone, including you, even if you or he or she is not deemed deserving,
xoxo molly
Filed under: Uncategorized
I have this issue with low blood sugar – if I don’t eat a little something every 3 hours, I get light headed and cranky. So needless to mention, this is going to be increasingly challenging for me (and those surrounding me, sorry Nick!). But of course, the benefits of meditation, focusing on the goal at hand, breathing, remembering patience and counting my blessings will be worth it and no doubt will alleviate those issues.
An email from my sister, Raven, yesterday morning entitled “Because we could all use a free meal” was quite the perfect timing. By the time I had logged onto WordPress to begin my update, the Million Subs that Quiznos was giving away were already gone! I did manage to feed two people (and a stray cat) with that promotion.
Because of my sporadic schedule and the traveling I’ll be doing for the next week and a half, I’ve made the decision that this project will be most beneficial and practical for me in a slightly altered way. It is most important to me that I:
A) Only eat what I need to nourish my body, not over-consume and not impulse buy
B) Feed, donate or volunteer at least once a day (or make up for it within the week)
For me, the most recognizable change will be in my day-to-day, thoughtless behavior. See, I am a big snack eater. I was contemplating how much food I could save and give away if I merely ceased to snack. It was challenging yesterday to not eat that trail mix just because it was there, and to preserve it for someone else who was actually hungry. I think, on a large scale, that is one small action that can make a phenomenal dent in waste: to revert back to the basic reason why we eat, which is for nourishment. Also, it is important that we remember to not let ourselves get distracted by excess, as well as keeping in mind the difference between “need” and “want”. As long as I am constantly aware of my own intake, and am consistently giving back, then I think this will be a success.
Additionally, I sent out a massive email to all of my friends and received back a couple of stellar responses that I’d like to share:
From my friend Cody: “So on Sunday, a friend and I picked up an entire station wagon full of bananas, bread, and nuts donated by Trader Joe’s and brought it to the free market, where a couple hundred very happy people descended on it like pigeons on falafel crumblings. of course, the food would have been garbage otherwise, so that was great to see”
And from lovely Gita (who runs the Ginger Cat Bed and Breakfast): I daily feed the birds, a couple of stray cats and a very opportunistic opossum. I share food with my friends and the shelter staff when I’m doing my volunteer day at FS or at the spay/neuter clinics… I have a big veggie garden but that won’t be producing until summer and I’ll be feeding B&B guests vegan food daily and hoping to change hearts and minds via their stomaches, if they’re not already vegan.
To Cody and Gita- you are both truly inspirational friends to have and thank you for sharing your thoughts 
New York City is the most oblivious, yet, simultaneously enlightened city. On one hand, there is so much outlandish excess to this place- the entertainment, the wealth, the life, the traffic, the noise, the overabundance of THINGS to buy! But, there is also this wonderful, astounding collective of progressive individuals giving back, conserving, creating, caring, and revolutionizing. Participating in this project whilst living in the big apple will have its immensely difficult parts: it’s hard sometimes just to walk down the street to the subway station without randomly purchasing (or feeling pressured to purchase) something, whether it be a coffee, a bagel or a magazine. But I look at it in the way that one must: the more I say “no”, the more I am aware and the more I am able to focus on how vital this movement is.
If anyone has any more stories to share about how they give back, how they feed, or any suggestions, I urge you to please email me or leave them in the comments; I’d love to post them here! mollywadzeck@gmail.com
As for today, I’m heading to Harlem to volunteer at the Food Bank.
xoxo
Molly
Filed under: Introduction
When Sara initially posted a blog about wanting to do something meaningful for Lent, I swelled with excitement. As one of my former interns when I worked at Farm Sanctuary, Sara has always inspired me. Luckily, we have the technology to keep in contact via Facebook and e-mail and have been able to work together to start up this project. At first I only lent my support, saying I would do whatever I could to assist with any ideas she came up with. But then, my own strings were being tugged by a force—or God’s will—and I knew I couldn’t merely sit back, watch and say good job.
Being a child of activism, just like Sara, I realized that this was my chance to really bring optimism and conspicuous purpose back into my life. The economy, among other things, had gotten me down lately. And aside from listing off the 5 things I am thankful for every night before I sleep, deep breathing, writing, Ella Fitzgerald-listening, and lots of reading, I hadn’t been doing much to remedy the situation. I’d let my activities flounder-skipping out on protests, ignoring fundraisers, and generally slacking in my day-to-day activism. This was my chance to jump start back into helping to change the world, and giving back joy and good vibes. You gotta put it out there if you’ve got it; what’s good about hoarding all that happiness?
Luckily, I have an incredible boyfriend who builds my faith and joy back up when it’s down, and constantly reminds me that gloomin’ around and feeling sorry for oneself never helped anyone. That smiling-above everything else-is the most effective way to be joyful. And luckily, I am surrounded directly by friends and indirectly via internet social stratosphere that inspire me, as well.
To be honest, I’m a little bit nervous of being 100% on this. Nick and I are going to Indiana at the end of the week and immediately when I return, I’ll be going to Buffalo for a week. Traveling around will make it a bit more challenging to keep my focus, plan when I have my meals and really construct a set schedule to ensure that I’ll be able to meet my goals. And because of my financial situation, barely being able to feed myself and my dog, I am nervous about what this will mean for my budget. But letting those worries plague me defeats the purpose of all of this. I am sure it will make me a more resourceful, creative, imaginative and fulfilled person I have the faith and the determination that it will be both enlightening and successful. For me, I must remind myself that every little thing counts and that we have the power to change and improve this world with each passing decision or action
It’s important to bring myself back into the consciousness of my own consumerism, and to be made more cognizant of the waste I knowingly but lazily produce every day. It’s time to sincerely ruminate on my own contribution to this planet’s problems, and for, at the very least, take 40 days to make it a priority.
I suspect that upon completion of this project, I will indubitably be changed for ever.
I chose Food For Life. See, they are this really stellar vegetarian food relief program. It’s the brilliant marrying of two incredible causes: all vegetarians know that we can “solve” world hunger if people switched to a plant based diet. We waste so much land and resources funneling our nutrients through animals, breeding them and raising them for food, so to feed the world’s hungry with a plant based diet is the most incredible revolutionary commonsense school of thought. I am thrilled to be raising money for ‘em.
I hope you will join us- in any capacity of which you are capable. and if you don’t have the time or ability to particpate directly, you can donate food or money to the project. Or better yet-do your own actions when you can, and nourish someone’s body, mind or spirit.
xoxo
Molly
