The Give Blog

Feeding through the Mail

On May 8, mail carriers will be collecting any non-perishable goods that are left for them as a part of their National Food Drive to "Stamp Out Hunger."  In the past, we've talked about the problems that the foodbanks are facing.  Here's an easy way to help out.

From the website of the National Association of Letter Carriers

NALC President Fredric V. Rolando emphasized that as successful as the food drive has been in the past, it simply must be even better this year.  “Millions and millions of families are suffering – struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table,” Rolando said.  “Food banks, pantries and shelters need our help more than ever this year.  As families count on them for support, they’re counting on us and we will not back off on our commitment.” Rolando also noted that donations are particularly critical at this time since most school lunch programs are suspended during the summer months and millions of children must find alternate sources of nutrition. Read the entire article.

 

$550 Khakis

In our past lives, we have spent money on some high-priced items.  We both wish that someone (more wise than us) had told us that there was something more worthwhile on which to spend our money.  

There is something more worthwhile than a $550 pair of khakis, and it will bring more satisfaction. 

New York Times—Why Does This Pair of Pants Cost $550?  By Eric Wilson

EVEN in a season when designers made no secret about reining in prices to appeal to the newly chastened luxury consumer, it is still possible to walk into a store and wonder what exactly they were thinking when a pair of khaki cotton pants — right there on the hanger, no special packaging or 3G plan or anything — can cost as much as an iPad. Never mind that classic button-fly chinos at Abercrombie & Fitch cost $70 or that Gap sells “original khakis” for $44.50. The fact that luxury chinos exist — and in surprising numbers — is another story, one that illustrates the challenge faced by designers to justify the still sky-high prices of their clothes. A distinctive design might strengthen the argument, but is $550 really a fair price for basic pants?  Read the entire story.

On the Ground: Direct Relief International

Direct Relief International is one of the organizations continuing to work in Haiti.  Take a look at this video to see what they are doing over there now, including trying to prepare the Haitians, who are residing in tents, for the upcoming rain and Hurricane seasons.

Also, here's a link to a recent AP story Good Camp, Bad Camp: The Shortfalls of Haiti Aid which was featured in the New York Times.

 

Our Conscious Living: Being and Not Being a Vegetarian

Every time we go out to eat, Suj points out that her food costs less than my food because she's a vegetarian.  She is indeed correct that we do save money this way.  Meat adds to costs at restaurants and at the grocery store.  I eat vegetarian at home for simplicity so we eat the same things, and it does end up being a big savings on costs.  Suj used to eat meat though, and she likes the smells.  On our recent trip, her corn on the cob and biscuit cost a lot less than my five piece chicken meal--see below.  On the other hand, she admits that her meal stunk.

Chicken a la Carte: A Very Powerful True Short Story on Hunger via Video

Chicken a la Carte 

This short six minute film by Ferdinand Dimadura is the one of the most powerful that we have ever seen regarding hunger. 

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081/Chicken-a-la-Carte

Thanks to our friend Margareth for sending this to us.

 

Treasury Secretary Geithner and Bill Gates on Feeding the World

Wall Street Journal--A New Initiative to Feed the World  By Timothy Geithner and Bill Gates

A year ago the world came together in a powerful and coordinated effort to restore the stability of our global economy. Thanks to the actions taken then, the world is beginning to recover from the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression.  But as we work to build a stronger, more stable and balanced global economy, we must renew our commitment to tackle global hunger and poverty. Because a world where more than one billion people suffer from hunger is not a strong or stable world. A world where more than two billion people in rural areas struggle to secure a livelihood is not a balanced one.  Today, the United States, Canada, Spain, South Korea and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are making a commitment to fight the threat of global food insecurity. Together we are launching the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, a new fund to help the world's poorest farmers grow more food and earn more than they do now so they can lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.  Read the entire story.

To the reader: If you can't link to the entire story, try googling it, and you'll be able to access the entire story.

   

Bono on Africa

Bono has done a lot of good work in Africa, including through One.  Here's a story from Bono about his recent trip to Africa.

New York Times—Africa Reboots  By Bono

I SPENT March with a delegation of activists, entrepreneurs and policy wonks roaming western, southern and eastern Africa trying very hard to listen — always hard for a big-mouthed Irishman. With duct tape over my gob, I was able to pick up some interesting melody lines everywhere from palace to pavement ... Despite the almost deafening roar of excitement about Africa’s hosting of soccer’s World Cup this summer, we managed to hear a surprising thing. Harmony ... flowing from two sides that in the past have often been discordant: Africa’s emerging entrepreneurial class and its civil-society activists. It’s no secret that lefty campaigners can be cranky about business elites. And the suspicion is mutual. Worldwide. Civil society as a rule sees business as, well, a little uncivil. Business tends to see activists as, well, a little too active. But in Africa, at least from what I’ve just seen, this is starting to change. The energy of these opposing forces coming together is filling offices, boardrooms and bars. The reason is that both these groups — the private sector and civil society — see poor governance as the biggest obstacle they face. So they are working together on redefining the rules of the African game. Read the entire article.

 

On the Ground: PopUp

Today we feature PopUp, an organization I visited when I was in South Africa in 2007.  We have previously blogged about organizations which provide job training.  PopUp is such an organization in South Africa.  When I visited PopUp, I sat in on one of the classes, which trained participants in computer skills.  Computers are used a lot in South African businesses like in businesses in the United States.  The difference is regular people in South Africa have far less access to computers.  The PopUp classes get people ready to work in business environments.  There are many other classes including home management and catering, and PopUp also works on placing participants in jobs after training them.  Here’s some information from PopUp’s website about a couple of its training programs:

The Computer and Secretarial Skills Programme extends over a period of 11 weeks. During this training the following modules are covered: 1. A general introduction to MS Word, Excell and Powerpoint. 2. Secretarial/Personal Assistant training. 3. Call Centre Training.

Learners who have successfully completed this skills programme can seek employment in any of the following areas: 1. Personal Assistant/Secretary. 2. Administrative/clerical/office duties. 3. Receptionist/switchboard operator/telephonist. 4. Call Centre work. 5. Data capturing/typist.

Home Management is a 6 week Skills Programme (plus a two week practical training period – outside POPUP).  This skills programme includes three modules, i.e. Kitchen, Cleaning and Laundry Skills.  A module on safety measures is now also included in the programme.
Learners who successfully complete this programme will be qualified to work: 1. as home managers/butlers in private homes, guest houses, bed and-breakfast facilities and/or hotels, 2. hospitals, old-age homes and/or similar institutions, as well as 3. for organisations offering cleaning services.

 

Our Conscious Living: Saving on Vacation

We recently took a short vacation. On the trip, we were able to save money a few different ways. First, we drove and thus the travel costs were much less than if we had flown.  Second, we brought a cooler with drinks and bought snacks before we left our hometown (some of which didn’t last much further than our hometown). Third, we camped on the way to our destination.  Fourth, at our destination, where it didn’t work for us to camp, we stayed at a place where there was an option for a cheaper room with a detached bathroom. Fifth, we ate at less expensive local pizza-type places.  

All went well on the trip except for one mishap.  We ran over part of a tire on a road causing some, hopefully, only minor damage to the car.  It could have been worse.  First, we almost ran out of gas on a Sunday night in the Adirondacks, and not coincidentally, we almost threw each other out of the car. Second, after we saw two deer cross in front of our car, Scott, who was driving, added his wit saying "Oh Dear" before he just missed hitting a third deer (that he didn’t see due to his wit or lack of wit).  Finally, we also lucked out finding a camping spot on the way back home.  After looking for hours, we found a place that didn’t open until May that let us stay.  We were determined not to spend $100 on a hotel when we could camp for $20.

 

Donations to Haiti vs. Chile

USA Today—Poll: More Donated to Haiti than to Chile After Quakes  By Marisol Bello

Nearly half of the people responding to a recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll said the destruction and poverty in Haiti after a massive earthquake Jan. 12 moved them to donate money to the country's relief efforts.  Less than one-third said they made donations to relief in Chile when it was struck by an earthquake a month later.  The poll found that 45% of respondents said they gave to Haiti; 87% of them said they donated because of the amount of damage, and 73% said the country's dire economy was a reason.  Read the entire story.