of frozen corn on the cob.
Tonight or Friday night I took my older troop to the Food Bank of Alaska for some good doing. They really have a great operation going. To simplify it it is just a big network. The food bank warehouses the food for the 100 to 200 different churches, soup kitchen, and distribution centers all around the state. They also act as a middle man with a Federal program.Who also pays the shipping costs to the bush, for the distribution centers there.
The food comes from the fed's, state grants, cash donations, local business, food drives, and just personal food donations. .The manufactures give large donations or cuts on cost on food with out dated promotional packaging. We were show several pallet's of canned pears, the pallet's were damaged on the barged coming up to Alaska. The whole pallet was going to be thrown away because a few cans had popped open damaging the packaging. How wasteful.
When deciding to do this project the girls wanted to help the homeless, you know those people one the corner. We learned something tonight, the homeless is very small percent of people that are using the program. The largest demographic profile is our seniors. If you know of anyone out there that is going hungry there is food out there.
In the case of the mass amounts of corn it was a trade somewhere in the lower 48, a state had too much corn and we had to much salmon, so we did an even trade. Fruit, Veggies and Protein (peanut butter, tuna, canned chicken) are alway a big need and Alaskans can only do so much salmon.
Tonight we were handed two pallet's of frozen corn. Our goal was to package it into produce bags, in family size portions. With 15 kids we packaging 3000 pounds of corn. They each packed an average of two hundred pounds of corn. I am still amazed at the team work, the problem solving, and the speed of the act.
Tonight or Friday night I took my older troop to the Food Bank of Alaska for some good doing. They really have a great operation going. To simplify it it is just a big network. The food bank warehouses the food for the 100 to 200 different churches, soup kitchen, and distribution centers all around the state. They also act as a middle man with a Federal program.Who also pays the shipping costs to the bush, for the distribution centers there.
The food comes from the fed's, state grants, cash donations, local business, food drives, and just personal food donations. .The manufactures give large donations or cuts on cost on food with out dated promotional packaging. We were show several pallet's of canned pears, the pallet's were damaged on the barged coming up to Alaska. The whole pallet was going to be thrown away because a few cans had popped open damaging the packaging. How wasteful.
When deciding to do this project the girls wanted to help the homeless, you know those people one the corner. We learned something tonight, the homeless is very small percent of people that are using the program. The largest demographic profile is our seniors. If you know of anyone out there that is going hungry there is food out there.
In the case of the mass amounts of corn it was a trade somewhere in the lower 48, a state had too much corn and we had to much salmon, so we did an even trade. Fruit, Veggies and Protein (peanut butter, tuna, canned chicken) are alway a big need and Alaskans can only do so much salmon.
Tonight we were handed two pallet's of frozen corn. Our goal was to package it into produce bags, in family size portions. With 15 kids we packaging 3000 pounds of corn. They each packed an average of two hundred pounds of corn. I am still amazed at the team work, the problem solving, and the speed of the act.
Noble deed by the troop, I say. Good experience the girls will remember.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, one day, they can direct a friend to the food bank instead of stealing groceries from a store.
The food bank helps thousands of people a year. Although a small part of the food bank's chores, a commendable act by our youth.
Thank You...My family has befitted many a year at the Holidays from food banks and Salvation Army Sometimes it takes a lot of paper work and hoopes but that is the price you pay when you need the help...or just want to give your kids a bit of Christmas...Thanks Troop...people like you make this world work.
ReplyDeleteNo I am sure it takes some work and patience and I am sure its not as easy as going to a grocery store. But the "paper work"and red tape allows them to see who they are servicing.
ReplyDeleteMy troop (or most of them) has decided they want to go back monthly. most of the girls felt good about doing it, and would like to help more.
I have decided you can't teach giving... some people just can't do it...or the young girls won't let their friends know they are giving and empathetic.
A very good cause as well as a super way to show the girls that they can contributeand make a difference. Volunteerism is a good thing, eveyone should donate some of their time back to their community and country. It can make a differnce, not only for the benefactor buyt also the individual that is donating their time. I would much rather see someone donate and hour or two of their time instead ofreaching into their pocket and donating a a $5.00 bill. As for your demographic data, that was interesting. Being one of those majorities, as a Senior, do you think I could get a package of three or four nice rib eye steaks, some fresh corn on the cob, and perhaps a pecan pie? I can't afford to buy steaks! Good leadership and example setting.
ReplyDeletePart of my job is to take my client to the Food Bank. I also deliever boxes of food to the homebound, which sadly enough, are seniors.
ReplyDeleteGood trade on the corn and kudos to your troop for being such TROOPERS!
I agree about the donating time instead of $$. Money comes and goes our time is worth everything. For the girls it is better for them to SEE what and where their efforts are gong.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Rib Eye...I am sure the answer is NO...but you could get on the Road Kill list! They did have several shelves of baked goods donated from the Grocery stores. Si if you get there early you may be able to snag something.
Fish Taxi, I think I will research getting the girls set up on delivering food boxes to the seniors. Maybe a monthly commitment. Or maybe hand out food boxes at a pick up point. I think they (I) need to meet the people they are helping.
Changing the world starts with one random act of kindness.
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ReplyDeleteThis post was about how it felt to complete a big job, how good it felt to good to give back, and the best part is I was able to enjoy seeing several young ladies feel it too...nothing gets better then that!
ReplyDelete