The '1 of 52' Hunger Network Newsletter
Volume #21 September, 2009 by Stephen M. Maciel, President, End Hunger Foundation, Inc. 501(c)(3) c2001, Founder '1 of 52' Hunger Network c1988
401-368-1325, endhunger@cox.net, www.1of52.net
175 Hazard Rd. W. Greenwich, RI USA 02817-1970
Hi & welcome to our 21st '1 of 52' Hunger Network Newsletter.
We've been diligently working behind the scenes with hunger and business organizations building programs that help create community wealth to address the root cause of hunger: poverty. Some of the progress seems glacially slow though hopefully, the impact will be as powerful as a glacier's wake. One aspect of our recent work is promoting the connection of local farms - the very source of food within a community - with consumers in very significant ways. This powerful connection cannot be over emphasized as a direct action to help end hunger in the community.*
A reinforcing article in the Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition estimated if the residents of Michigan ate the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables and bought them from local, seasonal sources, it could add nearly 2,000 jobs and $200 million to the state's economy. To make the point crystal clear, visit this website: http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/food-for-everyone/the-city-that-ended-hunger. It tells a story about a South American city that has virtually ended hunger with one of its main thrusts being to forge a stronger link between local farmers and consumers.
This is an area where collectively, we can have a major impact by utilizing our talents to focus mass attention on this seemingly simple solution. While researching, I spoke with folks at Farm Aid and asked if the have a local Farm Aid contingency. They don't at this time, though they do get many inquiries on the subject. They certainly encourage grassroots action to help local farms - with the caveat that their registered Farm Aid name not be used without their express permission. Allow me to suggest we continually move in a direction of proliferating 'Local Food Aid' through our individual example, consumer purchasing power, networking and performances.
*Please see the press release below about fellow '1 of 52' member Santana Roberts. She is staging an event that taps her agricultural 4-H roots in a very unique event that benefits local food pantries and brings attention to local farms. Feel free to forward it to any of your SE New England press contacts and please consider attending if you happen to be in the area. (There's also an interesting twist to Santana's event called 'My Purpose PartyTM' that's a worthwhile message to help spread nationwide!)
As always, we encourage you to: inform us of your '1 of 52' actions so we can post them on our website, spread the '1 of 52' concept by inviting others to join us, and visit fellow '1 of 52' member Alan Shawn Feinstein's website at feinsteinfoundation.org to learn how to maximize your fundraising efforts.
PS: September is national 'Hunger Action Month' - visit feedingamerica.com for details.
Stay in touch! Peace, Steve
09/01/09
FOR ADVANCE PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT FOR PUBLICITY PHOTO / INTERVIEW: STEVE MACIEL 401-368-1325
Purpose Party to Help End Hunger
W. GREENWICH RI - 10/11/09: Fifteen year old actress and singer Santana Roberts is utilizing her talents to rally the cause of ending hunger and to support local farms in her community She has organized a multi-function event from noon to 4pm on October 11th at the Mishnock Barn in her hometown of West Greenwich. Food and monetary donations will benefit the Exeter and W. Greenwich Food Pantries and local farms will benefit through awareness promotion and product sales at the event. Admission at the door is $5 per person, $15 for families of any size, or a bag of non-perishable food items. Google Mishnock Barn for directions.
This event is Santana's participation in a national movement called "My Purpose PartyTM" created by actress Ari Meyers. These "party" events put a socially conscious spin on what are often lavish teen parties. The core of the concept is to "take what you love and make it of service to others in a creative, communal way".
Santana's course toward this event was an easy one to navigate due to organizations she's been involved with most of her young life. Her experience with the 4-H Club gave her a significant connection to local farms, and her membership in the '1 of 52' Hunger Network - a grassroots roots network that unites 52 actions for each week of the year - tied it all together. Visit www.1of52.net for more information on the hunger network.
Santana has this to say about her connection to these causes and the upcoming event: "Our event will have the theme of "Locally Grown - Locally Given". Helping local farms to flourish helps the local economy and brings better, nutritious food directly to consumers. We want to continually foster the connection of ending hunger to local farming. I consider my role in creating this event as an exciting and personally fulfilling adventure!"
The Exeter and W. Greenwich food pantries serve local families who are having trouble making ends meet. They can be contacted for hours and locations in Exeter at 401-245-7500 and in W. Greenwich at 401-397-4234.
The "My Purpose PartyTM" will feature live entertainment by Santana and her musical partner Chris Lee, who go by the name Aurora. Santana's brother Newell will also be performing a special number------. The bands All Bro's, Big River and headliners Erik Narwhal & the Manatees will round out the bill. There will be singing, dancing, a silent auction of "experience" packages and farmers market vendors - all to create a festive, family friendly event.
Contact Santana Roberts at Santana.Sings@yahoo.com for more details on supporting this cause through her "My Purpose PartyTM".
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