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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Poverty is Alive and Kicking



My children scarfed down a huge meal last night. Macaroni and cheese, barbecue meatballs, peas, and sliced tomatoes. All topped off with a butter pecan ice cream cone treat. Did I mention they also each ate an entire peanut butter and jelly sandwich an hour before their dinner? Then they woke up and each ate one sunnyside up egg, buttered toast, a whole pear, and bowl of yogurt. They count their servings of fruits and vegetables everyday to ensure we don't gyp them of their five servings. I have written before of what super champ eaters I have. I have also written about how much I love food and how much of it I eat. Food is a part of our family's brand DNA.

I am grateful. Grateful for the healthy options we have, for Farmer Tom and the insanely delicious organic veggies he provides us, for the family meal times we share, for food coma, for smeared chocolate on my kids faces, for drips of syrup on my pajamas, for sticky fingers, for flour in the crevices of my stove, for a full belly.

We have so much.

We have so much more than most.

Children in our proverbial and literal own backyards are hungry. They fall asleep to the grumble of their bellies and awake to the nausea of hunger. They eat meals at school and go without on weekends. They know nothing of organic strawberries and pulled pork simmering in sauce. They learn to live without while we cut off crusts and pour out half drunk apple juice boxes.

We can help those kids. Help them grow and learn and have faith in the power and goodness of others. Inspire them and your own kids to take note of hunger and more importantly, take action.

Today is Blog Action Day. Bloggers big and small are using our voices to speak out on eradicating poverty. I pledge to donate $1 to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina for every single comment I get on this post. I totally filched this fabulous idea from Magpie Musing. I don't think she'll mind.

So what are you waiting for? Leave a comment and forward this to everyone you know. I promise you there is no easier way to help the poor. Your words equal my money. Now that's putting your money where another's mouth is.



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27 comments:

Magpie said...

Hi - and thanks for filching!

Amy said...

Love your blog - read it all the time. Am happy to post a comment for a good cause!

Also still working on a good photo with an Obama shirt - am trying to get my cousin (who works here in Chicago at Obama's headquarters) to get me a good shirt no one's seen before!

Anonymous said...

Of course, I have to comment! Thakns for sharing through your blog!

Anonymous said...

I don't teach in the neighborhood where I live...I teach in a neighborhood where I don't want to live.

Mayberry said...

Commenting ... and I'll mention you in my own B.A.D. post, where I also have links to Magpie & PunditMom.

The Tutugirl said...

I think this is a great idea! In addition to the amount of food we eat, its also horrible the amount of food that we waste! (I'm terribly guilty of this).

Anora McGaha said...

Way to go with your generosity!

Amy in Ohio said...

Fantastic! I'm off to spread the word!

Amie Adams said...

It does get me how much goes to waste in my house.

I'm tempted to leave 10 comments. ;)

Great post and great idea.

PsychMamma said...

Go donate! Great post! I'm loving reading all the Blog Action Day viewpoints. I have one up too, if you're interested.

Way to go for doing something. I'm off to "tweet" your efforts.

Anora McGaha said...

I've posted your offer on the News & Observer site, hoping to draw you more visitors!
http://share.triangle.com/node/19789

Patois42 said...

Great of you to filch a good idea and run with it.

Anonymous said...

This is the first time I've commented on a blog, but it's a very good cause! BTW, thank you Mac Daddy for calling me back when I called the house to ask for directions on how to leave a comment on this blog. : )

Anonymous said...

OK, I think I've got the hang of this. We need to stamp out hunger! We also need to see more blogs devoted to your incredibly beautiful, sexy neighbor. No, not that one. the other one. me.

Anonymous said...

It is awesome you are supporting such a great cause. Most of us are very fortunate!!!!

Anonymous said...

Way to go!

Anonymous said...

Great idea!! I am also at fault for the waste of food, I am all about eating leftovers, especially sweets!!

Anonymous said...

Love you blog, Ilina. Every dollar counts.

Anora McGaha said...

Ilina,
I see you have green interests on your blog. Have you heard about the Nov 1 Sierra Club Socks Sock-athon introducing a new line of eco-friendly socks.

The Sock-athon will raise 10% of all sales as a donation to the Sierra Club, and for every pair of socks sold, a pair will be distributed to the National Coalition for the Homeless.

If that interests you, please help spread the word. We're supporting the initiative of a 7 year old girl, Catrina, who wants to see how many pairs get donated from her participation. sierra club socks dot com

Anonymous said...

So great you posted about this. (Yesterday was crazy and I never got one done.) What a great reminder to everyone!

BTW, I'm cheering on your kids for being such great eaters!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing and donating - people don't realize how over stressed our food banks are during this economic downturn.

The Cube Monkey said...

"Pony up" girlie!
I gave a homeless man $20 the other day. Never done that before.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful article.Love you

From Nani

Rock and Roll Mama said...

Very true- a lot goes to waste in our house, too. This reminds me to keep an eye on our consumption, and to share what we have with others Thanks for that. :) Lindsay

alejna said...

It's good to remind ourselves about how lucky we are. And how many others aren't so lucky. Great post.

(I snagged Magpie's idea, too.)

Anonymous said...

Does it still count if I'm a day late?

Anonymous said...

Two days late? Erin Duffy