Last weekend, I created the Food Insecurity Network, which I later changed to the Food Security Network. The idea is that people of means schedule a time at a local breakfast & lunch place (or other restaurant) and invite people struggling with food insecurity to show up and get their meal paid for.
Friends have pointed out to me that my money would be better spent by giving it to food pantries, where they can buy food at bulk prices. But this is more than just about a free breakfast for someone in need. It's an effort to build community; to get people together who would have otherwise not known each other, or if they did, understand better their unique circumstances and challenges. Most of us who are not on disability benefits or SNAP often have very little knowledge of what it's like to have to apply (and re-apply) for assistance via today's complex bureaucracies. And, of course, there's the shame of asking for help while living in a culture that prizes self reliance, individual initiative, and competition. I think the best way to build a new culture that emphasizes generosity, sharing, and mutual support is to just start doing exactly that, in whatever way seems possible.
Please see my post under "Events ---> Upcoming Events" here on this web site for details.
Friends have pointed out to me that my money would be better spent by giving it to food pantries, where they can buy food at bulk prices. But this is more than just about a free breakfast for someone in need. It's an effort to build community; to get people together who would have otherwise not known each other, or if they did, understand better their unique circumstances and challenges. Most of us who are not on disability benefits or SNAP often have very little knowledge of what it's like to have to apply (and re-apply) for assistance via today's complex bureaucracies. And, of course, there's the shame of asking for help while living in a culture that prizes self reliance, individual initiative, and competition. I think the best way to build a new culture that emphasizes generosity, sharing, and mutual support is to just start doing exactly that, in whatever way seems possible.
Please see my post under "Events ---> Upcoming Events" here on this web site for details.
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