Your Neighbors Are Hungry
Donation protected
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world"
(Anne Frank)
Hi All,
My name is Nancy and some of you might know that I've been feeding some of my elderly, disabled and working-poor hungry neighbors.
I'm not a professional charity worker, I don't run a food bank, I'm not a social worker, I'm just an average retired person who considers myself to be extremely lucky because I was not born into poverty, because I am able-bodied, and because I was fortunate enough to get a higher education.
I've lived in my Redwood City California neighborhood for 32 years with no idea that people two streets away were going hungry. How could that be?....how could people living in my working/middle-class neighborhood not have enough food??
One year ago I learned this reality and after that I opened my eyes and could no longer ignore the seniors, disabled and the working poor in my neighborhood who were in need. I have gotten to know many of these folks and they are good people; kind, hardworking, loving and responsible.
They are often trapped in a cycle that is cruel and relentless; systemic poverty, a cycle where one generation to the next can never break out because they often have to leave school at a very young age in order to work. They want to do better in life but they are forced to sacrifice their dreams in order to help feed their families.
I have neighbors who can only eat a few days a week because they don’t have enough food. Going to work hungry, working all day with no food and going to bed after not eating for 24 hours is tough, but imagine doing it all over again the next day.
Most of us cannot handle going 48 hours without eating a single meal, and thankfully most of us will never have to, but imagine if you did have to do it, how would you feel? Nauseous? Lightheaded? Exhausted? Desperate? Now imagine doing this when you are also physically disabled, or elderly, or a teenager forced to drop out of school and struggling to survive.
When income is low, even while working multiple jobs, once the monthly bills are paid the budget often does not allow for food for the entire family, so someone has to suffer.
"The time is always right to do what is right" (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)
Food banks and churches are helpful when they have meat or fresh vegetables and fruit to offer, but often they have mostly bread, boxed and canned foods, high in sodium and preservatives, little protein sources and the veggies and fruit are often rotten. I can attest to this personally as I have provided neighbors with transportation to and from local food banks.
My area of California is incredibly affluent and incredibly expensive. Many middle class and wealthy families don't realize that they live only a few blocks away from hungry neighbors, struggling families, the elderly and the disabled who often work two or even three minimum wage jobs, yet still battle hunger. I used to be one of those people.
I've discovered that once people with higher incomes learn that their neighbors are suffering, they prove themselves to be compassionate, kind, and many are often happy to step up and help. This past Thanksgiving and Christmas I was able to provide 11 needy families with holiday dinners because of donations from other neighbors! This was fabulous, but as is often the case after the holiday season is over donations disappear but hungry people are still here, and still hungry.
"Nothing will work unless you do" (Maya Angelou)
As an avid home cook I have a great deal of experience in food preparation. For the past year I've been using my own cash and raising small amounts of money in my local area in order to:
- Take my neighbors grocery shopping at stores that provide healthy foods at discount prices, including providing transportation if needed
- Give them information on buying the right kind of ingredients and recipes to prepare nutritious meals that are less expensive to make
- Invite them to bring their groceries to my home to learn how to best prepare and stretch their ingredients
- Help them learn about proper food storage so their ingredients stay fresh and safe
"If you can't feed a hundred people then feed just one" (Mother Teresa)
My situation right now is that I cannot afford to do more, plain and simple. I'm incredibly grateful to my friends, family and neighbors for contributing to my efforts out of their own pockets, they've been wonderful! I don't want to give up feeding and educating my neighbors, so now it's time for me to branch out a little further and ask for funds from people beyond my immediate circle.
I have started a GoFundMe campaign and would really appreciate your help raising money to continue my efforts.
I promise that your contribution will go a long way!
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something..." (Helen Keller)
To contribute please go to:
HTTPS://www.gofundme.com/your-neighbors-are-hungry
Thank you so much!!
Nancy, Redwood City CA
stock photos
(Anne Frank)
Hi All,
My name is Nancy and some of you might know that I've been feeding some of my elderly, disabled and working-poor hungry neighbors.
I'm not a professional charity worker, I don't run a food bank, I'm not a social worker, I'm just an average retired person who considers myself to be extremely lucky because I was not born into poverty, because I am able-bodied, and because I was fortunate enough to get a higher education.
I've lived in my Redwood City California neighborhood for 32 years with no idea that people two streets away were going hungry. How could that be?....how could people living in my working/middle-class neighborhood not have enough food??
One year ago I learned this reality and after that I opened my eyes and could no longer ignore the seniors, disabled and the working poor in my neighborhood who were in need. I have gotten to know many of these folks and they are good people; kind, hardworking, loving and responsible.
They are often trapped in a cycle that is cruel and relentless; systemic poverty, a cycle where one generation to the next can never break out because they often have to leave school at a very young age in order to work. They want to do better in life but they are forced to sacrifice their dreams in order to help feed their families.
I have neighbors who can only eat a few days a week because they don’t have enough food. Going to work hungry, working all day with no food and going to bed after not eating for 24 hours is tough, but imagine doing it all over again the next day.
Most of us cannot handle going 48 hours without eating a single meal, and thankfully most of us will never have to, but imagine if you did have to do it, how would you feel? Nauseous? Lightheaded? Exhausted? Desperate? Now imagine doing this when you are also physically disabled, or elderly, or a teenager forced to drop out of school and struggling to survive.
When income is low, even while working multiple jobs, once the monthly bills are paid the budget often does not allow for food for the entire family, so someone has to suffer.
"The time is always right to do what is right" (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)
Food banks and churches are helpful when they have meat or fresh vegetables and fruit to offer, but often they have mostly bread, boxed and canned foods, high in sodium and preservatives, little protein sources and the veggies and fruit are often rotten. I can attest to this personally as I have provided neighbors with transportation to and from local food banks.
My area of California is incredibly affluent and incredibly expensive. Many middle class and wealthy families don't realize that they live only a few blocks away from hungry neighbors, struggling families, the elderly and the disabled who often work two or even three minimum wage jobs, yet still battle hunger. I used to be one of those people.
I've discovered that once people with higher incomes learn that their neighbors are suffering, they prove themselves to be compassionate, kind, and many are often happy to step up and help. This past Thanksgiving and Christmas I was able to provide 11 needy families with holiday dinners because of donations from other neighbors! This was fabulous, but as is often the case after the holiday season is over donations disappear but hungry people are still here, and still hungry.
"Nothing will work unless you do" (Maya Angelou)
As an avid home cook I have a great deal of experience in food preparation. For the past year I've been using my own cash and raising small amounts of money in my local area in order to:
- Take my neighbors grocery shopping at stores that provide healthy foods at discount prices, including providing transportation if needed
- Give them information on buying the right kind of ingredients and recipes to prepare nutritious meals that are less expensive to make
- Invite them to bring their groceries to my home to learn how to best prepare and stretch their ingredients
- Help them learn about proper food storage so their ingredients stay fresh and safe
"If you can't feed a hundred people then feed just one" (Mother Teresa)
My situation right now is that I cannot afford to do more, plain and simple. I'm incredibly grateful to my friends, family and neighbors for contributing to my efforts out of their own pockets, they've been wonderful! I don't want to give up feeding and educating my neighbors, so now it's time for me to branch out a little further and ask for funds from people beyond my immediate circle.
I have started a GoFundMe campaign and would really appreciate your help raising money to continue my efforts.
I promise that your contribution will go a long way!
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something..." (Helen Keller)
To contribute please go to:
HTTPS://www.gofundme.com/your-neighbors-are-hungry
Thank you so much!!
Nancy, Redwood City CA
stock photos
Organizer
Nancy Perlin
Organizer
Redwood City, CA