San Francisco Food Bank features St. John’s in their newsletter, The Food Feed. Pastor Theresa was interviewed about Hunger Awareness month.
http://sffoodbank.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/hunger-awareness-month-at-st-john’s/
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Living on a Food Stamped Budget by Elder Evelyn Ho
So we decided to do the hunger challenge from October 24-30 because it was the only week in October when we didn’t already have plans that involved eating! We planned and re-planned our menus and shopping list so that in the end we had three meals a day with at least some meat throughout the week and at least some vegetable/fruit every day. We couldn’t afford anything organic and made everything from scratch.
Day 1 was exciting! I had greek yogurt and honey for breakfast, peanut butter and honey sandwiches for lunch, and for dinner we had a very fancy (canned) clam + olive oil sauce pasta. Dessert was ½ an apple that I split with Mark! I felt full enough and was happy to put the rest of our pasta away for another dinner. The only drawback of our meals for today? Everything I ate was beige!
Day 4: I’m holding up well. Dinner tonight is homemade pizza and our splurge was mozzarella cheese (to go with mushrooms and onions – no meat). It’s been extremely time consuming to make everything from scratch but it is to eat home-cooking for every meal. I’m also mindful of how hard it is to work full-time and still have enough energy at the end of the day to cook. Both of us are missing things: Mark misses his post-dinner snacks and I’m missing drinks and fruit!
Day 7: Today is, thank goodness, our final day of the hunger challenge. Yesterday and today, our lunches and dinners were definitely the end of the rope. I’ve never seen our fridge so empty. For our final two days, we made chili for dinner, but portions were very small. This wasn’t helped by the fact that lunch consisted of a very brothy chicken noodle soup. Mark and I combined have lost 10 pounds and we’re both looking forward to eating more tomorrow.
This challenge may not have taught me anything I didn’t already know. However, it did remind me of some important things that I often forget or choose to ignore. It reminded me that on most days, I have a lot of options. I have the option to eat a second helping, I have the option to toss out a bruised banana, I have the option of eating junk food for a meal, I have the option of eating out when I’m tired, and I have the option to see friends “over coffee.” I chose to be a little hungry this week, but I always knew that by the end of it, things would return to normal. That’s a luxury that fewer and fewer of our neighbors have – especially in this economy. I am thankful for that luxury and wish others had those same options.
When I was young and wouldn’t eat everything on my plate, my mom used to warn me, “There are starving people in X.” In a fit of rage, I once yelled back, “Fine! So box up my food and send it to them!” Of course, I knew you couldn’t. This week has been a good reminder though that I can box up the food – at least sort of. We decided to donate what we would have spent this week in food to Harvest and we set up a recurring donation to the San Francisco Food Bank to help those outside the Inner Richmond.
Feb 2012 – Olive Tree Planting
Help Palestinian farmers plant olive trees as a sign of solidarity, strengthen our mission to “Keep Hope Alive” for a better future of peace with justice.
Besides olive planting, the program will feature introductory presentations about the current situation in Palestine and the effects of the Apartheid Wall, tours in main cities, in addition to cultural events and social gatherings.
For detailed information, contact pastor John @ janderson@stjohnssf.org.
November 5 – Volunteer at Harvest
Rev. Bob Bell of 15th Street Presbyterian in D.C. volunteered for Harvest when in S.F. this summer to visit his daughter Amanda Ramsey, one of our dedicated volunteers. Don’t hesitate to bring your guests out on Saturday morning for compassion tourism.
Oct 15 – Harvest Volunteers
Thank you to our faithful volunteers who serve fresh produce to our neighborhood.
You’ve Made an Incredible Difference
During our double feature Living With Hunger and Food Stamped, we learned that many families in Ethiopia run out of their food aid after three days and have to pick wild cabbage for the rest of the month. We also saw that even a trained dietician found it hard to provide three meals a day on a SNAP daily allocation for a week in Berkeley.
For just $1.50, we actually provide the equivalent of $50 in fresh produce and groceries each week to 200 families in the Inner Richmond. We know they are our neighbors because we’re only serving residents of the 94118 zip code.
In the midst of one of the most affluent communities in the city, there is still intense need. Our weekly basket actually exceeds what a person could buy with SNAP during the week.
Throughout the year, you’ve been dedicated enough to rise up on Saturday morning, when most folks are resting soundly, to serve your fellow human being.
St. John’s Presbyterian Church is so grateful for your commitment that we are serving you with our annual volunteer appreciation luncheon on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. following our worship service.
We also encourage you to join us for a Harvest volunteer photo shoot on Saturday, Oct. 15 as we distribute the nourishment for more than 200 households. We want to capture you hard at work, graceful and cheerful as we go through every step of the process. Come on out at 6:30 a.m.
October 1 – George Washington High & Cornerstone
St. John’s salutes the diamond anniversary of George Washington High School, our dedicated volunteer resource for Harvest. We were at the school board Tuesday for the resolution marking the school’s 75th birthday. GW JROTC keeps things running smoothly every second Saturday and they’re always willing to help in a pinch under the direction of Sgt. Maj. Robert Windham.
Kicking off the beginning of Hunger Awareness Month, big thanks to Evelyn, Mark, Suzanne, Jackie, Lisa, Ryan, Arylnn, Aruna, our new social media guru Jean, GW in the house, Cornerstone and even Sgt. Reynolds from Richmond Precinct and Oscar on the case.
October is Hunger Awareness Month
Click to download this flyer: Hunger Awareness Month
Sep 24 – Thanks Cornerstone Academy
Our new SFTS intern Ryan enjoyed his first Harvest along with leaders Lisa and Dale and Wei-xing, the always dependable Oscar and volunteers from Cornerstone Academy and the community on Saturday, Sept. 24.
