| NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A SINGLE
INDIVIDUAL TO CHANGE THE WORLD
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When the teachers of America got word of a movie’s premier that was about a young student challenged to come up with an idea that would forever change the world, they gave the movie two thumbs up. Then they did a national mass e-mail urging everyone to go see Pay It Forward. I know their campaign worked, because I was one of the people who got the e-mail and stood in line at the premier to see the movie. While not a critics delight, it touched most of us who wanted to believe that each of had a goodness muscle in us that, when presented with the idea of an opportunity to flex it, we would do something very special for a fellow brother in need.
I got my note from the President telling me to expect my windfall from the economic stimulus effort that would be mailing out checks to ten million middle class Americans. It was enough of a cash bonus to make a car payment or to buy a modest flat screen TV that would be compatible with new law changes regarding 2009 television service upgrades. Then I really started to think about all that money being released into the economy and I thought about people like me who are lucky enough to not need it. My bills are paid. Granted, I did not contribute into my IRA as I should have. Gas, food, etc., prices ate away at my good intentions. But I go to work every day and see the families who are losing their homes. I see the broken down workers who have no home but for the brief time each day we loan them our shower and our breakfast table and give them their mail and a change of clothes. I see the newly lost and terrified. They are amateurs out here. There is terror in their eyes as they learn there really is nothing out there for the masses of people now falling on hard times. All the do-gooders lost their money too and record numbers of charities are in layoff, downsize, or “close the door and bolt it” mode.
Unless… Unless we decided to pay it forward. Take that crapshoot and sign over our check to The Cooperative Feeding Program. Trusting that they would parlay $300 into $3,000 worth of good deeds—rents paid, utilities reconnected diapers, formula, bus passes, food boxes and so much more.
Someone paid a cell phone bill for one of our people yesterday. Their lifeline was reconnected. Since they were trying to run from domestic abuse, the phone was actually put to use to get a safe place to sleep. It took dozens of calls to find someone who would let her sleep safe, even though it was on the floor of a crowded shelter. And then there were the good people at McDonald’s on 441 who plugged in her phone to recharge it. It was a series of pay it forward moments. Many, who could imagine her pain. Many who wanted to believe that if they ever, ever had someone hunting them down that strangers would step in to offer protection and help.
So, what’s my point? I want you to think about paying it forward when you get your check. Sign the back of it and mail it to The Cooperative Feeding Program, 1 NW 33 Terrace, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311. Think about forwarding my e-mail to everyone you know and asking them to send it on to everyone they know. Imagine becoming a pay it forward guru and getting your whole church, temple, civic group, office or even your entire building caught up in the idea that a single act of generous kindness really can change the world. It doesn’t matter if are a bleeding heart leftie or a compassionate conservative, we can agree on this one. Our neighbors are in trouble and if we can live without our windfall checks, we really can change the world—or at least change someone’s life. Think about it and draft your plan for change. We’ll run the stories of the people, the companies, and even the buildings that decide that this is simply the right time to pay it forward. Put a note in with your checks and tell me about your ideas on changing the world. In turn, I will tell you the stories of how you made a difference. Never underestimate the power of a single individual to change the world.
The Need
Our current economy is certainly evident at Cooperative Feeding. In February 2008 we served 11,627 hot meals in the community kitchen, gave out 2,282 emergency food boxes, and assisted almost 6,000 individuals. March was even busier as we served 13,170 hot meals and gave out 2,544 emergency food boxes. Each month we see a steady increase in the numbers that come to our doors seeking the basic life needs – food, shelter, and clothing. Some come once, needing just emergency assistance until their next check comes, they can return home or are well enough to return to work. Others come see us more frequently and stay with us until they are ready to stand on their own. Whatever their needs, thanks to our volunteers, supporters and donors we are here to help.
So much off what we accomplish each month extends beyond our campus and out into the community. By collaborating with other agencies, we can provide much more comprehensive assistance in times of disaster or emergency. In March, the Sunnyreach Senior Apartments was devastated by fire, forcing the evacuation of over 60 seniors in the middle of the night. The Red Cross put out a call for assistance and Cooperative Feeding was glad to help. We delivered complete lunches and snacks including drinks, special needs items like adult incontinence supplies and nutritional drinks, blankets, and five cases of new Lands End clothing. When their homes were ready for their return we prepared 40 boxes of groceries to help ease the transition. Click here to here about some of our other community collaborations with agencies like Broward County Commission on the Elderly and Veterans Services Division, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, the VA, and Women in Distress.
Of course we could not survive without our volunteers! Over 2300 hours of service were provided to CFP in February alone. Click here to see some of our volunteers – Girl Scouts of Broward, Sunshine Cathedral, WHO, Can-Teen, UPS and many more in action. Want to now how you can be a volunteer? Give Chris a call – 954.792.2EAT (2328) or drop him an e-mail: - chris@feedingbroward.org
Be a Hunger Advocate! Join us and the Hunger Action Center in enlisting our local, state and national leaders in the fight against hunger. It’s easy to do, just register at the site with your HOME address and you will be given a sample letter and all the contact information for your officials automatically. This is your chance to let your voice be heard on these issues and now is the crucial time as we move towards the election. Food programs are facing substantial budgetary cuts, so act now!
Events
Support CFP and see The Boss! Bruce Springsteen has chosen The Cooperative Feeding Program to be his "charity of choice" for his Bank Atlantic Center concert. Bruce is also honoring Daily Bread Food Bank and has given us special tickets to auction off. We have been invited to attend the concert and set up a table promoting The CFP and our good works and seeking donations from Bruce's friends. This is the second time Bruce has picked us out as a favorite charity when he came on tour to Broward County. We send out a big "Thanks" to The Boss for giving us this very special honor and opportunity! See you at the concert.
Get your foursome together and come out to support the Cooperative Feeding Program, Junior Achievement's Financial Village, and the Children’s Aide Club at the KM Plaza/CASF Charity Golf Tournament being held May 8, 2008 at the Ft Lauderdale Country Club. Sponsorship opportunities and foursome spaces are still available. For information contact Maureen at maureen@feedingbroward.org or to register for the tournament go to the CASF website's events page.
On February 28th we held our first Faith Based Initiative meeting, a call to action, asking members to put their faith to work through service projects, and advocacy. The Faith Based Initiative will be spearheading our Empty Bowls dinners, assisting with the USPS food drive in May, and helping to source prepared meals and other foodstuffs. Future meetings and events are in the works. If you’d like to get involved contact our Chef, Chris Hetzer, via e-mail at chefchris@feedingbroward.org.
Our first High Impact Committee meeting was held March 27th at CFP. This committee of community and business leaders is out to move and shake the response to hunger, poverty and homelessness. They’ll be working on creative, community wide solutions and helping provide for the sustainability of CFP. For more information call Scott at 954.792.2EAT (2328) or e-mail him – scott@feedingbroward.org
Our next Community Fair is tentatively scheduled for June 17, 2008 from 12pm- 4 pm. Contact Jillian (jillian@feedingbroward.org) to find out how you can have a table, be a presenter or sponsor!
Sponsors and Donors
Serving and Service is a special opportunity for companies and groups to join us in a one of a kind team building exercise. This past month ABB/CONCISE joined us in the kitchen and put in a full and happy morning of serving on the line and preparing food in the kitchen. To schedule your Serving and Service opportunity call Scott at 954.792.2EAT (2328) or e-mail him at scott@feedingbroward.org
Feinstein Foundation Annual Million Giveaway To Fight Hunger
For the eleventh straight year, Alan Shawn Feinstein will divide $1 million among hunger fighting agencies nationwide using it to help them raise funds during March and April, 2008. The more donations made to the Cooperative Feeding Program during that time period, the more of the Feinstein Foundation money CFP will get! Only donations received from March 1st to April 30th, and from use of the Feinstein challenge, can be counted. These donations can include cash, checks and food items (valued at $1.00 per item or pound) as well as pledges, as long as they were obtained ONLY from use of the challenge.
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation awarded CFP a $10,000 general operating grant towards our community programming! These funds will certainly help us in our mission to help our neighbors in need find stability and independence.
We were also fortunate to receive funding from the Goody Two Shoes Foundation to assist with our much needed warehouse improvement project. The ever increasing demand on our site has made it imperative that we use each inch of space wisely. Thanks to Goody Two Shoes we’ll be able to complete our much overdue project.
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Andy’s Family Pasta Dinner, hosted by CFP Board Member, Andy Cagnetta, raised over $30,000! Not only did Andy and his crew of volunteers host a great family event, they found a great way to get the kids involved. The weekend before the event families and volunteers joined us at CFP to stock the shelves and take a tour. Kids who brought canned food, or held a drive on Firstgiving.com came to the dinner for free.
We have some fantastic corporate food industry donors and partners too. R.L. Schreiber, Inc, a family owned and operated food manufacturing company based in Pompano Beach, is partnering with us on some exciting things in the kitchen! Not only will they be donating spices and food bases to help with our daily food prep (our Chef left their offices with 450 lbs, just to get started), their sales force (certified chefs in their own right) will be taking the kitchen over a day a month. They’ve also asked to adopt a meal, offsetting the food costs for the day.
Other food industry partners include Honey Baked Hams, who donated hams and soup mix following Easter and Delicious Organics, who gave us 2 cases of beautiful organic produce! They have both offered to make their donations ongoing. Honey Baked will offer us items following their busy holidays and Delicious Organics has graciously scheduled us to pick up produce and other grocery items every week.
We can’t forget the Pavilion Grille, in Boca Raton. They helped customers and CFP get their green on! As part of their St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Pavilion Grille generously donated their entertainment cover charge to CFP. Give our corporate donors’ links a click and help support great companies working hard to end hunger!
CFP on the Web
Here comes the Bride… Magazine that is. CFP will be in an upcoming feature of Bride Magazine as they collaborate with Changing the Present on a new and exciting bridal registry option – virtual gifts that benefit charities. You can join in the fun even if you aren’t getting married. Registries can be created for anything - birthdays, religious holidays and occasions, Tuesdays (very under- represented in the gift exchange world). You can either set up a registry where you choose some of our items (we have everything from a virtual peanut butter and jelly sandwich for $1 all the way up to a truckload of food for $1,000) or, If you prefer, you can create a drive where you use really cool widgets and all sorts of tools to ask your friends and families to join your fundraising efforts. It’s totally secure and donors have the option of remaining anonymous. If that isn’t fun and easiest enough you Facebookers out there can buy our items directly through Facebook and share a little virtual gift love with your friends.
So what are you waiting for? Click here to get started or contact Mo at maureen@feedingbroward.org. Our PB&Js are getting stale waiting for you!
CFP in the News
CFP has just been awarded a four star rating, the highest possible, by Charity Navigator! Charity Navigator evaluates the financial health and fiduciary stewardship of charities worldwide. Click here to see our page and learn more about the Charity Navigator ratings.
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