Posted by Fetch Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:26:00 GMT
“What You Can Do” is up for a grant for $250,000 through the Pepsi Refresh Contest. This money would help further our project tremendously and we would so appreciate it, if you would take a minute out of your day to vote for us! There is some stiff competition out there so every vote we can get is needed!
Thanks so much from the “What You Can Do” team!
VOTE HERE: Pepsi Refresh: What You Can Do
Posted by Fetch Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:26:00 GMT
Think there’s nothing you can do to help fight Hunger in 1 Minute?
Starring: Julie Tortorici
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information provied by: The GreaterGood Network, www.hungersite.com
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Rosemary Jones and everyone at The GreaterGood Network, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit – www.whatyoucando365.com
Posted by Fetch Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:17:00 GMT
An Interview with Susanna Masur from Action Against Hunger
Closing out hunger week, Jessica and I wanted to interview someone who could speak to this devastating issue on an international level. Our interview with City Harvest allowed us to address the impact of hunger locally, so we felt it was important to also look at it from an international standpoint.
I have known about the organization, Action Against Hunger for some time now. I am on their newsletter list and I’ve always been interested in the work they were doing. Once we began “What You Can Do” they were one of the organizations I was hoping would sign on and sure enough – they did! Below is my interview with Susannah Masur from Action Against Hunger. In getting her expert viewpoint, what I found most interesting was that, while most of us know how widespread an epidemic hunger and malnutrition are, I’m not sure how many people realize that there are specific solutions out there. Indeed, this problem seems to come with some hopeful answers.
The following is the interview with Susannah. Hopefully you find it as interesting as I did!
One major misconception is that world hunger is a problem too daunting to solve. In reality, the fight against hunger can be won. We have the tools and knowledge to do it. What we lack is the political will. In the 21st century, we’ve made major strides in the battle against HIV/AIDS. And most countries on earth have banned the use of landmines. We can do the same for hunger, but people have to stand up and demand it.
Another common misconception is that hunger is mostly limited to Africa. On the contrary, malnutrition is rampant throughout much of the developing world. In fact, the country with the greatest number of malnourished children is actually India. Despite their growing middle class, millions of children there don’t get the nutrients they need to survive.
There is reason to be very optimistic about the fight against hunger. For the first time in history, we can end acute malnutrition, a condition that affects some 55 million children today and kills up to five million of them every year.
A range of nutritional products has been developed in the last few years that has literally revolutionized the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition. Ready-to-Use Foods, or RUFs for short, are specially formulated to jumpstart a malnourished child’s metabolism, revive organ and cell function, and initiate weight gain. Unlike previous products, they require no preparation, no mixing with water, no refrigeration, and most importantly, no hospitalization. Action Against Hunger has saved hundreds of thousands of lives using these RUFs by working with community members to identify, treat, and follow-up with acutely malnourished children. Still, less than 10% of children suffering from acute malnutrition around the world have access to life-saving treatment.
The good news is that community-based care using RUFs can be scaled up to reach the millions of children suffering from the condition. Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened yet because it hasn’t been made a priority. At Action Against Hunger, we’re trying to change that through a new campaign to end acute malnutrition. Visitwww.actionagainsthunger.org/end-malnutrition to learn more.
They can stay informed about the issues by signing up for newsletters and email alerts. They can visit www.actionagainsthunger.org/get-involved/join-us to keep up-to-date on Action Against Hunger’s life-saving humanitarian programs and latest developments in the fight against hunger.
Or, they can donate to organizations like Action Against Hunger that have proven success in fighting hunger and are cost-effective. Given more time, they can host a party at home to raise awareness and funds for organizations of their choosing.
Or what about giving a gift that gives back? There are a number of establishments that donate a portion of their proceeds to hunger organizations. Visithttp://www.actionagainsthunger.org/get-involved/partnerships for a list of participating stores.
Action Against Hunger is an extraordinary organization, and I’m privileged to be among a group of dedicated and passionate colleagues. I’ve been truly inspired by their work with populations in crisis and by the professionalism they show, even under the most difficult circumstances.
Posted by Fetch Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:14:00 GMT
Think there’s nothing you can do to help fight Global Hunger in 1 Minute?
Starring: Karen T. Hartline
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information provied by: Action Against Hunger, www.actionagainsthunger.org
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Susannah Masur and everyone at Action Against Hunger, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit – www.whatyoucando365.com
Posted by Fetch Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:12:00 GMT
Think there’s nothing you can do to help fight World Hunger in 1 Minute?
Starring: Alex Marshall-Brown
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information provied by: Mercy Corps, www.mercycorps.org
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Caitlin Carlson and everyone at Mercy Corps, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit – www.whatyoucando365.com
Posted by Fetch Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:10:00 GMT
Think there’s nothing you can do to help fight Hunger in NYC in 1 Minute?
Starring: Melissa Jernigan & Greg Gallagher
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information provied by: City Harvest, www.cityharvest.org
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Heather Wallace and everyone at City Harvest, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit – www.whatyoucando365.com
Posted by Fetch Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:08:00 GMT
Think there’s nothing you can do to fight Hunger in 1 Minute? Watch this.
Starring: Jack Halaby
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Consulting Producer: Mary Micari
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Statistical information provided by: City Harvest, www.cityharvest.org
Special Thanks: Heather Wallace and everyone at City Harvest, www.cityharvest.org Maureen Halaby, Dennis Arinella and everyone at WLIW
For more information, please visit – www.whatyoucando365.com
Posted by Fetch Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:05:00 GMT
When making a list of the world’s most overwhelming problems hunger is pretty close to the top. And when I created the idea of What You Can Do, I honestly wasn’t sure there was anything you could do to fight hunger in one minute.
But as this project has been about separating the possible from the impossible, I was set to find out. In the course of my research I came across the world’s first food rescue organization: City Harvest. And its origins are inspiring.
In the early 1980’s a group of average people were troubled by the fact that many New Yorkers didn’t have enough to eat. When they saw restaurants throwing away perfectly good food they began recruiting friends and borrowing cars to transport this food to where it was needed most. And from those small first steps City Harvest has gone on to deliver 200 million pounds of food to a network of over 600 community food programs throughout New York City in the past 25 years.
So yes, it’s possible.
We have been lucky enough to work with City Harvest for our week on Hunger. I reached out to Heather Wallace to ask her some pressing questions about hunger in New York City and the fight to end it. Please find the interview below.
How has City Harvest helped to fight hunger in NYC?
This year, City Harvest will collect over 25 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, and farms. This food is then delivered free of charge to nearly 600 community food programs throughout New York City using a fleet of trucks and bikes as well as volunteers on foot. Each week, City Harvest helps over 260,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal.
City Harvest also addresses hunger’s underlying causes by supporting affordable access to nutritious food in low-income communities, educating individuals, families, and communities in the prevention of diet-related diseases, channeling a greater amount of local farm food into high-need areas, and enhancing the ability of our agency partners to feed hungry men, women, and children.
Has the need or the profile of person who requires City Harvest’s services changed over the years?
Yes! The agencies we serve have reported increases in the people they serve, especially since the economy collapsed in September 2008. Counter to what most people might think about hunger, most people who access emergency food in NYC have jobs and homes. Many simply make too much to qualify for public benefits like food stamps but too little to pay all their living expenses and feed themselves and their families. For example, if a family of three makes more than $24,000 they no longer qualify for food stamps. As anyone who lives in NYC knows, it’s nearly impossible for a single person to live on $24,000/year. When you have a family you are most likely being forced to look for assistance to put food on the table.
Do you think that the current economy has added to this?
Yes! Our agency network has reported seeing an increase of 15% or more in the number of people accessing emergency food during the past year. Many of these are people who never needed help before but who have been pushed to food lines due to extended unemployment and reliance on seasonal or low-paying jobs. The largest increases have been in the number of children and seniors seeking help.
How has working at City Harvest changed your perspective in your own life?
I’m much more aware of how much people in NYC struggle to make it. Most of the people we serve have jobs and homes and just can’t make ends meet. These are hardworking, regular people and you can’t tell just by looking at someone if they’ve just come from lunch at a soup kitchen or if the groceries they are carrying came from a food pantry. For many of them the food we deliver is their only option.
What are the goals and hopes for City Harvest in the future?
Of course we hope for a city where there is no hunger. Where anyone in need is able to find food and where there are services in place that not only provide emergency food to those that need it today, but also provide the support they need to eventually become self-sufficient so they no longer need to stand on line for food.
Is there anything you would like the average person to know about either City Harvest or the fight against hunger?
I want people to know that hunger in NYC isn’t just the homeless person they see on the street; that they would be surprised to see who the people on line for emergency food at city agencies really are. It could be you or I or the receptionist at their office or the guy in the mailroom or the person behind the counter who sells them coffee every morning. It’s easy to get involved and help and it doesn’t take that much to make a real difference. At City Harvest we can provide 4 pounds of food for just a dollar – good food that would be thrown in the garbage will go to feed those in need. We also have lot of volunteer opportunities for those people who have special skills or extra time to give.
