The gift of food

[charlie]

As we get ready to celebrate Christmas for Christians & holidays for others, why not take a min to donate a mere $ 5.00 to the Ottawa food bank, this act of kindness will go along way to help those who help others, all you have to do is text "45678" & place in the subject line "Hungry", that`s it, i`m sure you will feel better about yourself after this.
FYI we did it @ the OVAS XMAS dinner, thanks to all who participated, now it`s the forum`s turn
For easier instructions  & the lazy approach i have copied & paste 2075turner appeal on her blog.
I know not a discus thing, fish thing or sales thing.  Hunger and people in need is what this page is about. 

I have a fellow hobbyist that brought this program to my attention at annual OVAS Christmas Diner.  Thank you Errol.  I wasn't aware of it.

This is an organization that I also support thru my other business of fruit baskets....each basket that I sell I donate $1 to the Ottawa Food Bank.  This donation can bring 5 x's that to the food bank as they have agreements for bulk pricing when purchasing.  So $5 to us....can be stretched very far for those in need.

The people using this organization are not only the unemployed, they are average joe's that have full time jobs, families that are just trying to make ends meet.  The elderly from a different generation that believed they could rely on the government through the Canada Pension Plan & Old Age Security programs.  Their savings would be enough, sadly it is simply not the case.   HST hit these people hard...hydro, water, gas, the basic essentials are now taxed and people are simply having a hard time to keep up...these are and were hard working individuals that are in need.

The program that Errol mentioned is simple.  Using you text service....

text 45678
subject line you put hungry
they will reply with an email asking you to confirm by texting" yes info",
they then text a confirmation saying it has gone through.
It's that simple to help people in need.

Please note that these are the terms for this text donation as copied off of the Ottawa Food Bank website...

"A one-time non-taxable charge of $5 will be added to your wireless bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Proceeds benefit ZipGive Partners. Service is available on most carriers. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting the word 'STOP' to the campaign's short code 45678. "

for further information about this organization please visit

http://ottawafoodbank.ca/

Pass the word on about this program.  If you have facebook, twitter, your own website, friends, family spread the word....Together We All Can Make a Difference!

Thanks for getting the word out Evelyn & allowing me to use your script.
Errol

[Greatwhite]

You know, food drives are one of my favorite things to donate to.  A few years back, the company I worked for had a "little" competition between floors in our office building to see who could get the most food.  Let's just say, some of us like competition.  7 floors, ~150 people, and we filled 2 OC transpo buses.  I personally shelled out about $400 worth of pallets of canned vegetables and soup, but hey - it got us pizza for winning the competition.

I went to the grocery store 3 times on Saturday (kept forgetting little things), and there were people outside with brown bags to put food in for collecting.  Each time, I filled the bag.  It was only about $10 of food each time, but SOMEONE will have a good meal or 2 as a result.  One bag, I filled with baby food.  Yes, there are hungry babies too, and lots of people forget that when they grab the old can of nasty Lima beans from the back of their cupboard.

Sunday, people came to my door - and I found another arm full of food for them then.

I am fortunate never to have needed to visit a food bank, but I know people who have - and they were too proud to ask me for help.  As a father, it breaks my heart to think of the KIDS who are hungry because their parents cannot provide for them.

Think of the kids, and give as much as you can.  I don't notice a few bucks missing.  It's one less Starbucks visit for the week to me.

[2075turner]

Yep this is the time of the year people remember unfortunately hunger doesn't just happen around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As I mentioned on my website, it's regular people that have full time jobs, often work two jobs just trying to put a roof over their heads, heat & lights in their homes that are using the food bank.  The elderly that can't go out to work anymore that have to choose, feed myself or heat the home.  Mothers that have to decide, do I eat or do my kids.  

When I was last volunteering I met a retired fireman that didn't invest his money correctly and now has to work nights as a security guard and days part time at a grocery store just to pay his rent & bills.  He doesn't want to be a burden to his kids so he doesn't ask for help from them.

Another time I met a single widow that was left raising 4 kids on her own cause the insurance money they had just covered enough to pay their bills at the time...no extra to live on and raise the kids in other words.  She works when she can but with a young family it is hard to rely on family all the time...

There are countless stories.  Volunteer at the Food Bank or the Salvation Army you can hear for yourself.

I too am lucky that we haven't had to use them but I know of a few people have.

Every $1 counts.  Every can counts.  This is a organization I believe in and support.  I donate $1 from every fruit basket I sell....now that doesn't sound like a lot but when you give them cash, with the bulk buying they can do...every $1 turns into $5.

I have always done this, but thanks Errol for letting me know about this program.  I wasn't aware of it.  Spread the word...I'm sure others aren't aware of it as well.

So for those people that like to text....go ahead and help someone.