Wednesday, May 2, 2007

I'm back...

So....

What I did was contact the NY Times writer, John Fountain and one of the key figures in Pembroke, the Rev. Jon Dyson and said.."I have to do something".

Long story short...we decided that food, clothing, basic life essentials and connection through the exchange of letters was the way to go..and Family-to-Family......one family helping another was born.

Here's the "formal" description:

"Family-to-Family, a national hunger relief organization, links American families with "more" to impoverished rural American families with "profoundly less" across the U.S. Once every month each sponsoring family shops for 7 dinner-type meals (nonperishable foods only) for "their" family...packs them in a sturdy box, and then delivers their box to a local chapter chairperson, who ships the chapter's boxes to the receiving community. Receiving families pick up the box packed especially for them from a local outreach center.
Included in each food box is a letter written to the sponsored family from the sponsoring family. Sponsored families often write back, creating a bond of friendship between families who would otherwise never have had the opportunity to connect. Currently, F-to-F sends over 500 boxes of food each month to 14 receiving communities in ten states...from Maine to New Mexico.
Children are particularly interested in a number of Family-to-Family's programs: "Birthday Buddies, Books For Life, The Breakfast Club and Best Dressed Babes" are all great projects for kids, schools, scouts, religious organizations etc. And helping to shop for and pack a monthly food box is a valuable, hands-on way to teach children empathy and compassion.
Check out our newsletter:May 2007 Family-to-Family Newsletter

I'll be back later...
Pam

3 comments:

Chris said...

It is a great concept, I am sure it will spread quickly. Keep up the good work. Cheers :)

Anonymous said...

Hei Pam.
Came via Chris's blog entry.
All the very best with your most noble work. :)

Anonymous said...

The United States House of Representatives, United States Senators in Washington, DC. On Capital Hill. Has cut more fundings in Food Stamps, They ought to have a gift cards to help those who are struggling then more customers will take advantages of the Gift Cards it it will goes prepaid like the prepaid phone cards. That makes more since in the long-run.