Ivanhoe Community Garden

In preparation for feed the hungry, we started reading about what types of foods low income families have access to and what foods are harder to afford. What we found was that families have a harder time affording and preparing fresh fruits and vegetables. For one, it is more expensive to buy a pound of produce than it is to buy a pound of mac and cheese at the grocery store. Also, if families are unfamiliar with ways to prepare the produce it might be less appealing than the mac and cheese. Last, if food preparation takes longer parents and kids are more likely to settle for a faster meal. So we decided that if we could find a way to give families free access to fruit and vegetables through the construction of a community garden, planted and kept by the kids of Ivanhoe Community Center, then we cut out the upfront cost for the vegetables. We also thought that getting the kids involved in the excitement of tending for the garden would give them a sense of ownership for the end results. Hopefully, making the kids more interested in foods that were prepared with their garden's produce. The Ivanhoe Community Center have decided to run classes every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6 that will to teach the kids the importance of organic gardening and healthy lifestyles. The overarching concept is to equip the kids with information needed to think critically about their food choices. At some point during the program we plan to show them fast and tasty recipes that they can make with the produce they grew. This is our way of teaching families how to cook and garden...as apposed to just giving them fruits and veggies.

College Basketball Experience

WHEN WE DROPPED OFF A PATCH OF DONATED CLOTHES TO THE SALVATION ARMY CHILDREN’S SHELTER WE KNEW WE WANTED TO DO MORE FOR THE KIDS AT THIS SHELTER. WE THOUGHT THAT WE COULD NURTURE THEM MORE EFFECTIVELY IF WE TOOK THEM TO A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD TRY SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING. A PLACE THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GET AWAY AND ENJOY THEMSELVES. WE HAD SOME CONNECTIONS AT THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE AND THEY WERE WILLING TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS. THEY PROVIDED US WITH ABOUT 10 FREE PASSES FOR THE KIDS. ONE SHELTER WORKER AND SIX KIDS FROM SALVATION ARMY CHILDREN’S SHELTER MET US AT TH COLLEGE BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE. THE KIDS WHERE SHY AT FIRST BUT IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG FOR THEM START ASKING QUESTIONS, SMILING AND LAUGHING . ONE LITTLE BOY EVEN SAID IT WAS THE COOLEST. ALL IN ALL IT WAS A GOOD DAY WITH LOTS OF GOOD JOBS, HIGH FIVES, AND A FEW SHOT POINTERS.

Calling all Green Thumbs

Our project for April is start a community garden :)  We will spend a few weekends tiling and planting fruits and veggies for neighborhood in need! Call if you want to help 785.207.1338

inspiration

.
And yet Never underestimate the power of one good act. It could be the life you save, could be the life that saves multitudes, and that - the child you prevent from starving might be the child who finds the cure for Aids, who saves the continent. That person for whom you might provide a shelter, they may become the very person to lead a nation to peace. Never underestimate the power of what one day well lived can do. - Nothing New under the sun? _Thats a bad day, thats a bad day. Burt when you have eyes to see the new things, maybe, just maybe you might be a part of creating the future. "

Erwin McManus. Mosaic

http://mosaic.org/

more on the project....

After laying everything out all over the house, we sorted items into different categories.   It was good because several shelters needed specific items and we were able to give them the items that were most useful.  Everyone who donated was very gracious; there were very good clothing items for people in need.  It was very encouraging to see people in the community donate for a good cause.  - Matt

what they gave...

There were plenty of coats which was great for the theme "Warmth for the Homeless."  Someone gave lots of little boy outfits, complete with shoes and superman underwear. They were just adorable! I don't know if that family read the statistic about homeless children being the fastest growing homeless population but it was a thoughtful donation. 

Clothes Drive

After learning about homelessness, Matt and I thought we could ask our neighborhood for help.  We made a flyer that could explain our cause.  Then we passed around the flyer with empty trash bags and let them know of the date we would be back bye to collect the bags. A week later, we were fortunate enough to have over thirty bags of donated goods. People were totally willing to help! All it took was asking!

You never know when things can turn

http://cumission.org/snp23-snapshots_details.htm

I didn't know this?!?!

1. Kansas city has the seventh largest population of homeless people per capita in the US

2. On any given day in Kansas City, Missouri, and average of 615 families with 1,511 children are homeless. When annualized, homelessness affects more than 20,000 people in Kansas City; mother and children make up more than 56% of this number.

3. The average age of a homeless person today is 9.

4. Each nigh in America, roughly half of all children seeking shelter do not find it.

the Homeless and Addicted

"the next time you see a homeless person, or an addict, don't be frightened, angry, or filled with pathos. You are looking in the mirror. It is we who are homeless, and addicted. What will it take before we break the habit"
- Dave Pollard


see the entire article here

sometimes all you need is buongiorno

A post by Sally Ebright:

i am studying in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italia this semester... a wonderful place! last sunday we went to an italian mass, so we did not understand much of what was happening. i am here with wonderful friends and i am not lonely, but as i was sitting in the pew, i realized i would really appreciate if someone would make an effort to say hello or welcome me to their church. as we were leaving, i made eye contact with an italian woman who smiled and said "buongiorno" (good morning). i said "buongiorno" back and we both smiled at each other. the next word out of my mouth was "grazie" (thank you) and it came from my heart! i was so thankful... thankful that she acknowledged my existence.

as i walk the streets (particularly in Florence) i am struck by the gypsy women asking for money. they speak in italian so i do not know what they are saying, but i have noticed that most of them don't even look me in the eye as they ask. they are already looking for the next crowd of people, accustomed to being ignored. i cannot imagine living that every day... people brushing past you constantly. i do not know yet how to respond. i wish i could invite one to lunch, but i cannot speak well and i don't know if they would even be interested. so for now i try and acknowledge them and say, "no, grazie. buongiorno."

we ran into the woman who said hello at church the next morning on a walk! her name is Daylia. she was very animated and tried communicating with us for quite a while - very gracious with our terrible italian. i think she may have invited us to breakfast some time, but i am not sure... :)

although we have had many great interactions with people here, this instance is one that i will remember forever. her gesture was so simple, but in that moment i was feeling like an outsider and her smile blessed my heart.

To me, this is a really powerful photo...Who is this man? A father? A grandfather? A war-veteran? How can we pass judgement on people we know nothing about. His face has hundreds of stories to tell, if we could get past the fact that he is on the street begging for some spare change....

Amy

It began icing last night and I was in class until 10pm. It was bitter cold and I quickly jumped in my car to start the defrost. I reached for my scrapper and it was missing. It didn't take long for me to see that I was going to be waiting quite a while. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a lady walking toward my car. As she got closer and I realized she was holding a scrapper. I immediately got out and thanked her! I had this feeling that I was receiving a return ripple. I told the lady, Amy about this blog and she let me take her picture :)

An Extra Glance

I had a meeting in downtown Kansas City and I had some extra time prior, so I though I would go to a coffee shop and catch up on some emails. Matt pointed me in the direction of the closest Starbucks and I began walking skimming the building for the green and white logo. It was cold and I walked around the block and back, not finding it. Suddenly I felt myself relax, stop skimming and start really looking. I noticed people routinely opening up their shops, and a lady in heels with a briefcase, and then a man resting his eyes standing up. I could tell that he was trying to keep an eye out on his possessions but he looked exhausted. It was so cold how could anyone be able to sleep out here? I walked by him and waited at the cross walk. He never asked me for anything but I felt that I wanted to give him money. I wanted to make him happier. I reached into my purse and found the five dollars I was going to spend on a latte and walked back over to the man. I placed it on his hand. I said, "I hope you have a good day sir" and walked away.

help us help others...

Come and blog with us! Throughout this project we would appreciate input from anyone involving ideas that can benefit Project Change. Let us know what you think. Thanks!

Think it?
Blog it...
Do it!

The Beginning

Well at least the beginning of this blog. Matt and I have decided to participate in a new Non-Profit in Kansas City called Project Change. The intention is to get people to use creative solutions that help the Kansas City Community. You can go to the website to read more about the teams participating and other ways to get involved. 

Our first task is Warmth for the Homeless.  After reading some material we realized that there is a real misunderstanding of who we perceive the homeless to be and who the homeless really are. We realized there must be a change of mind to spur others to take action. The plan is to start with ourselves, by pledging to be mindful of the homeless population and ways that we help.

It is the little things that embody our plan for change. A few that come to mind are bring two sandwiches to work instead of one, ask your kids/friends to move game night to the nearest shelter, keep extra gloves in your car. We want to document the outcome on this blog not to be haughty but to show anyone reading this that change starts small and simple. We want you to be a part. If you fulfill a need, have an idea, know of a good cause, post it and be a part of the change!

Future tasks will include: Feed the Hungry, Save the Planet, and Nurture the Children.