Wednesday, October 15th, 2008...7:35 am

Blog Action Day: Fighting Poverty (our way – with food!)

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The theme for Blog Action Day this year is Poverty. As the date approaches for bloggers all around the world to share their ideas, opinions and action plans to fight poverty, I have been thinking about what I can do…about What’s Cooking can do…about what people everywhere can do…

As the state of our government and economy crumbles around us, I find consolation in the fact that I have been a good role model for my children, and that my company, What’s Cooking, has been a good role model for our students. Because we teach cooking classes for children, we focus on using food and cooking as a vehicle for helping those in need. One of our most successful events was Kids Cooking For Kids, a special day in which 30 children gathered together to lovingly prepare home cooked dinners and bag lunches for 13 families in a local emergency family shelter. I was also overjoyed at the response of our community when we participated in the Great American Bake Sale to raise money to feed hungry children in our schools.

Last night I was at the beautiful wedding of a family friend. The room was adorned with flowers and we were inundated with delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts. During the festivities, I didn’t give any thought to the food that would undoubtedly be left over – where would it go? Would it just be thrown away? This morning, the father of the bride and his cousin were talking about the joys of weddings and other large celebrations, and how the joy could be spread to others after the events, themselves, were over. They suggested that someone collect the flowers and distribute them to patients in local hospitals, and that the leftover food be shared with the homeless or with soup kitchens. “Wouldn’t it be great…” they were saying…

I think they are on to something. Why should expensive flowers and food go to waste when it could bring joy and nutrition to the lives of others. I know it would be a logistical challenge. But what would it take for people to rally together and share the bounty of special events with others. What if there were a way for guests to share the efforts of delivering flowers and left over food afterwards? Or if there were online wedding calendars where people could find events in their communities and pick up items to distribute to those who need them?

Let’s call this another of our Recipes for Action – What are your ideas to help turn this idea into a reality?

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