“How do we build sub-economic communities that thrive in the context of a larger economic community that is failing?”
I
first began wrestling with this question four years ago with no idea where the
answer would lead me and how many people would ultimately be served. It’s like
putting together a puzzle without the box cover. Yet, one-by-one, people are
being linked across the country in a movement of generosity to help end child
hunger in America.
It
all began after a meal packaging event where 450 volunteers gathered in
Sterling, Virginia, to pack 40,000 meals for children in Haiti. This first
event took place in partnership with an international humanitarian relief
organization. Following the event, I celebrated the accomplishment with a friend.
After applauding our success, he asked, “So what are you going to do to feed
children in our community who are going hungry?” This question bugged me. I
couldn’t get it off my mind. And I knew the answer would help bring clarity to my
much larger question of how to create sub-economic communities that thrive in
context of a larger one that is failing.
A
year later, we launched our first Generosity::Feeds event, where 600 people
from Northern Virginia assembled at a local high school to package 40,000 meals
for children in our community. The food was donated to local schools to
distribute to children in need. Within weeks, people around the country were
contacting us to find out how to bring Generosity::Feeds to their communities.
Recently, we held an event in Bluefield, West Virginia, in which 100 percent of the children are on the free and reduced lunch program. Most of these children live with food insecurity. This means, outside of school hours, they don’t know when they are going to eat or how they are going to get the food. A church in Bluefield envisioned feeding these children, and we partnered with the church to mobilize the community at large to address the issue. When the media got wind of what this small church was doing to serve the community, they provided free advertising. On the day of the event, 10,000 meals were packaged and plans made to run another event. Many of the children and families who helped pack these meals will receive them in the coming months as a healthy solution to their food insecurity.
Generosity::Feeds
is now a year old. In this time, a core leadership team has been assembled to
facilitate meal packaging events across America. We have also partnered with
Jason Strickland and ITL Productions out of Hollywood to bring in celebrity
endorsements. In summer 2013, ITL Productions is hosting a Celebrity
Generosity::Feeds event in Los Angeles. It will involve a red-carpet photo
shoot for the celebrities as they come and work side by side with the community
to package 100,000 meals to help feed children in L.A. who live with food
insecurity. We are now in the process of identifying local and national
sponsors for this growing movement.
When
people hear that 10,000 or more meals are packaged in a single hour, they often
ask, “how is that possible?” It is actually quite simple.
Prior
to an event, we order ingredients in bulk for the meal to be packed. For our
Garden Vegetable Soup, for example, we order powdered garlic, powdered chicken
broth, dehydrated soup blend, and noodles. Each ingredient is placed in a bin
around a funnel. A person stands at each bin with the correct size measuring
scoop and pours a leveled scoop of their ingredient through a funnel into a
food bag. The bag is then heat sealed and boxed for distribution. Our meals are
all-natural and contain no preservatives. This enables us to provide children
with a delicious and healthy solution to food insecurity.
This
is just the beginning of the story. We understand that charity is only as good
as our ability to sustain the recipients’ dignity. In the coming year, by setting
up partnerships with established companies and new entrepreneurial businesses,
we are working to help families find transitional employment to enter back into
sustainable lifestyles.
An
incredible picture is forming as people find their place in a growing movement
of generosity to help end child hunger and create sustainable futures for
families across America. These are just a couple pieces necessary in creating
economic communities that thrive through generosity.
I
would like to tell you that my wife, children, and I are an ordinary,
middle-class family. But apart from a middle-class income, very little is
ordinary. Early on in our marriage, we decided to live with margin in our
finances, time, relationships, and emotions. This has enabled us to live
extraordinary lives. By living below our means, we expand our capacity for
generosity. This lifestyle has provided an incredible incubator for developing
our family’s relationships, generosity, and faith in God. These core values now
overflow into the life of our community and nation. We hope it will have a further
ripple effect around the globe.
What
do you work for beyond putting food on the table? How can you make 2013 a
better place for all of us?
Note: If you would like to bring Generosity::Feeds to your community or have Ron speak to your organization, contact him at Ron@generosityfeeds.org.
What important work you are doing, Ron! Thanks for sharing your story with us. It's criminal that so many people go hungry in our country, with its wealth and abundance.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Ron. It's such a rare concept to live below your means but very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteRon, thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story. I wish you much success in this endeavour.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing work you are doing - thank you so much for sharing! Best of luck to you and I look forward to hearing more about the road that lies ahead of you.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I love the concept and the execution. What a gift to those helping and those helped.
ReplyDeleteRon, thank you for telling us your story. I hope it inspires many more to follow in your footsteps.
ReplyDelete