Heart wrenching
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 9:58AM I know that there are hungry people all over the world, and I know that I can’t help feed them all. What I didn’t know, was that right here in Russellville Arkansas where I currently live, with a population of around twenty five thousand, there are hundreds of hungry people. I know that the economy is rough… but I can’t help but wonder, how can this happen in the heart of the bible belt? There’s a church practically on every corner. Do churches not feed the hungry?
This morning on Facebook, the local mission posted on the community page for our area that they were out of food, and wouldn’t be able to pass out food boxes tomorrow. I decided to go pay a visit… and what an eye opener it was. They weren’t kidding… the shelves were bare, and this is a warehouse! I took a tour of the facilities. They have a huge warehouse of food (currently depleted), clothing and furniture, as well as a very nice food kitchen, which is open for meals Monday through Friday, free of charge. Yesterday they fed 150 adults and NINETY children! I want to cry just thinking about that. How can we have that many hungry people in a town this size?
They need food, money, and volunteers desperately.
Anyway… if you’re wondering what the heck this has to do with quilting… well I’m hoping I can raise a bit of money now and then by raffling off a quilt. Having just finished the quilt in my post below, I’ve decided it needs to help my community. I can donate the quilt, but perhaps if I raffle it off the proceeds might be more helpful than just a quilt might be?
I’ve never done anything like that, so I’m hoping my readers will reach out with some ideas of how to go about doing so. I will need to get the quilt bound, and then photograph it better, the colors don’t show up well in pictures below.
I’m open to any and all ways of doing this… via PayPal here on my website (not sure I know how to do that, but I think I can figure it out) tickets locally (ideas on distributing them?) whatever. Your help is greatly appreciated! I could let the Mission handle it as well, but I might have better luck?
Reader Comments (16)
I think that you would have the best luck selling tickets/chances here on your website. That way you reach a larger pool of potential buyers. Maybe even do both, on your website and selling tickets locally. How about through your quilt guild? Our guild raffles off a quilt every year at our state fair. Good luck!
see if you can involve the mission in this - maybe they could get a feature in the newspaper - I know when I used to get the newspaper they would occasionally have an article about the mission in it. Also through your blog of course. Very good idea you have. With the county fair coming up maybe you could get people from the sewing/quilting groups help you in a booth set up to sell tickets and have the quilt shown at that time?
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
CJ, if you are able to use your site, then folks like me in Montana can have an opportunity to participate! I am sure my mother's shop in Hot Springs would help get the word out if you contacted them.
Angel
Hickory Hill Quilts
CJ, I don't know about your town or state, but in CT there are strict laws governing something like this. You could contact your town-hall &/or state to see what their rules are. But probably it would be best for the food bank to tackle this or at least give you some guidance. I agree it is awful to think that people in a country as rich as ours go hungry every day. And it is especially sad to see how many children are effected. Good luck with this endeavor. Diane in CT
CJ, I agree..check with your local government and state government. My non-profit that I was doing charity for had a raffle for a BBQ grill and I had to register the raffle through the state and get a license number and it had to be put on the tickets. This helps for people wanting to deduct from their taxes at the end of the year. It didn't cost anything to do this, just a bunch of paperwork and wasn't bad to do at all. Better to be safe than sorry. BTW - I'm in Louisiana. And great project to raise some money for the people in your area.
I live in community of 30,000 people. We have a local church-run food pantry that gives out food twice a week, and another non-church affiliated food pantry in the adjoining much larger town. During the summer a group of churches provide over 100 lunches to elementary school children each day. That doesn't even come close to meeting the demand - it's only a few sites. Can you believe that one of the school districts wouldn't allow us to distribute the food in their parking lot? (We provide sandwiches, fruit, and a juice box in a sack. Kids just come by and pick them up.) The community food bank has to put out emergency announcements each summer - people just don't give enough food in the summer (not like around Thanksgiving and Christmas) and the kids are home, putting more stress on the family. It is a sad state of affairs that a person (adult or child) has to go hungry in this country. Dropping a few cans or sacks of food by a food pantry each week can do an amazing amount of good.
I do agree that you need to be careful with raffle laws. The food pantry should be able to help. I also applaud your effort to raise money for an important task.
Pam
CJ,
I think you should do it like Judy did for Joplin. Ask for donations made out to the food bank so people can get a tax deduction, have the checks sent to you and then put the names in a hat and someone wins. Judy sure had great success. I think it is very sad that all the time we hear about other countries that need our help when in most every city in America there are people in just as much need or possibly even more.
Unfortunately, CJ, the situation in Russlleville is all too common across the country. The towns in our county in central California have up to 34% unemployment and needless to say there are a lot of hungry people. This has been a problem for a long time and the community really has pulled together to help wherever they can.
Your idea of donating a quilt or the proceeds is a great idea, and will be much appreciated. You probably should contact the mission to discuss which is more helpful -- donating the quilt or selling it yourself. If they have a community auction or similar activity that is well supported they may be able to benefit from selling it themselves. On the other hand, you have a broad audience on the internet that might be better.
Some other things that our community does:
We have a "soup kitchen" that serves lunch each day, except Sunday (up to 350 meals a day). One church sponsors it, but various churches and groups provide teams to cook and serve. The community is very generous in donations -- backyard gardeners bring in extra produce, grocery stores donate outdated baked goods and canned goods and organizations or whomever has a large dinner (weddings, graduations) will bring in the leftovers. They also work together with the Salvation Army, the battered women's shelter, the senior center, etc. and redistribute any extras. You can give your mission a call and see if they can use volunteers to help cook and serve their meals. You can give one morning a week, a month or however often you have.
We also have a food pantry that gives out food on an occasional basis to those in need. It is a rare community event (school play, band concert, Pizza festival, Relay for Life, etc) that doesn't ask for a can of food to be donated from each person in attendance. They use volunteers to help sort, stock and distribute the boxes.
The various churches have a variety of food distribution programs, including a free farmers market once a month during the growing season. Our church is opening an "upscale" thrift store with all proceeds going to help feed the hungry and the Bible study I attend donates the money we would spend on celebrating each others birthdays to feed an unfortunate family in our congregation. We usually collect $250-$300 each month and are excited to help at least one family in need.
A community the pulls together to meet an ongoing need is very fortunate indeed, and everyone can help in a variety of ways! I would love to hear more about your plan!
This is a problem all over America... Thru our church I help at the Clothing Center... Need is so great.. Just tears my heart out each day... If the people who are going to the church don't have the money to give the church can't give... Great idea... Contact the food bank... They will love your support.
How about doing a raffle/bid on EBay? I am involved in QOV but when we get a donation of a quilt that is more appropriate to a child, we sell it on EBay. We state that the money will go to Quilt of Valor and set a minimum.
It is a sad story to hear about the hungry and homeless. Our local food pantry is always struggling. When you sell the quilt, check with your local food pantry. Ours is able to buy food much cheaper than you or I could so the money can go even further.
It's very disturbing how many hungry people we have in this country. It's also encouraging how many wonderful people we have that are doing something about it. You're one of them. I absolutely would contribute if you collect money/or raffle one of your fabulous quilts. (A monkey quilt would be wonderful... ; )
Whatever or however you decide to do it, count me in :)
I agree with Robin. Have people send you checks then draw a name for the quilt. There are so many rules and regulations for raffles, it probably would be a pain for you. (does anyone remember the OLD I Love Lucy episode where she has a raffle?)
I want to make a donation, but it will be small. 2 of our children are forced to sell their homes and moving into rentals. We try to help all we can but our income is very limited.
But I figure just like the saying "pennies make dollars", even small amounts add up.
Sad isn't it that we can feed the world yet not our people.
You have a wonderful heart. It is so hard to know which direction in which to help. I will help as I can.
I think people are in crisis all over the states. We are holding our breath, as are most of Americans who depend on government paychecks, government retirement, SS or Medical supplements. Our financial belts have been tightened again, almost as much as when we were young & starting out or putting our daughters through college.
Beckie
CJ, you are an inspiration to all of us. I read your blog and the comments and said to my husband, "there are those whose off then we are, what is the cost of a couple of cans of veggies and box of pasta a week to give to the food pantry? Why wait for one of the food drives?"
Thank you for the reminder we can each do a little more.
Ann
Dear C.J.
God bless you for your heart for the needy! You are a beautiful person and the Mission is so grateful for your contribution.
The quilt is absolutely beautiful! You have a gift my friend.
Thank you again!!!!
Deanna Aspel Main Street Mission, Administrative Assistant