World Hunger and Poverty

Charlotte, North Carolina has been home to the nation’s largest Crop Walk for more than 20 years. This year’s walk will be Oct. 15.

The Charlotte Crop Walk raises money to help Loaves & Fishes, Crisis Assistance Ministry and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina fight hunger in our area while supporting Church World Services in the global war against poverty. The 2005 Charlotte Crop Walk raised more than $261,000.

New this year is an interactive Web site. Sign up to walk, sponsor a walker or make a donation by visiting www.cropwalk.com or calling 704-333-2955.

Registration the day of the walk begins at 1 p.m. The walk starts at 2:30 p.m. This event begins and ends at Memorial Stadium at Kings Drive and Seventh Street.

by Scott Hughes

Hunger’s a beast of a problem. 15 million children die from it every year. Even in the United States, 14 million children are food insecure. The facts keep going like that. Off the top of my head, I could probably spit out enough facts about hunger to make you cry. I’ve got pictures too. In fact, I have an entire website dedicated to ending hunger and poverty, namely childhood hunger and poverty. 10 minutes on that website and it becomes clearly obvious to anyone that as a society we must fix this problem.

Since I run a website dedicated to fighting hunger to the end, it seems appropriate for me to explain the methods that we as a society need to take to end hunger.

In and of itself, food is far from the end-all solution. It’s not even the last step. Of course, it is a step. In fact, it’s the first step. Food is the first step. That’s because, if a hungry child fails to eat today, that hungry child dies tonight. However, if the hungry child eats today, then we still have a hungry child tomorrow. We cannot end hunger without food, but food alone won’t solve the problem. Simply giving food to the hungry to solve hunger is like shoveling water out of a sinking ship. For example, in 2005 the World Food Programme (WFP) distributed 4.2 million metric tons of food to the world’s hungry [1], yet in 2005 852 million people across the world went hungry. [2]

In addition to food, we must utilize education. Education is the silver bullet required to rid the world of the vampire that is hunger, sucking the blood of justice from our society. In this context, it isn’t even a metaphor to use the clich�d Lao Tzu proverb: “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” The future of a child is literally determined by the availability of education, and the quality of that education.

What an unjust world, in which simply the birth location of a child can sentence the child to a life of poverty and starvation!

It isn’t a far-fetched dream to imagine a world in which all children, and even all people, have access to education. For example, less than one percent of what the world spent every year on weapons could put every child into school, yet it doesn’t happen [3]. Unlike weapons which blow up, education can be funded by student loans, meaning it doesn’t even require spending or charity, just investment.

Education doesn’t just help fight hunger for the one educated person. Rather, the viral benefits of education spread outward and back like Karma itself. For example, an educated man from a poor neighborhood may open a business and employ other people from his neighborhood, who would otherwise be unemployed or under-employed. Perhaps, those employees then could use some of their pay to invest in their own education…

Although education is the most powerful tool in the fight against hunger and poverty, just like food alone won’t solve the problem, neither will education. There is still more needed to fix the problem once and for all. This last step is of course the hardest step. The society and the social system in which people, namely children, starved must change. This change can’t be quick and won’t be easy. Rather, it must be a change caused by the education itself. Just like food is required to allow education, education is required to allow this social change. Just as educating a starved corpse is useless, enticing social change with an undereducated populace is useless. In contrast, as we educate ourselves and our communities and the entire world, then as an educated society we can finally hack at the root of the dysfunctional social system that now allows hunger and poverty. It isn’t until we can hack at that root that hunger and poverty can finally be eliminated.

And thus the solution: The hungry children must be fed, so they can then be educated, so that finally these educated people can secure – not just for their lifetime but for all lifetimes to come – social freedom, justice, and peace… a world in which no child goes hungry.

About The Author: Scott Hughes owns and operates Millions Of Mouths – a website dedicated to ending hunger. You can discuss hunger on the hunger and poverty forums. Read more articles like this at the hunger and poverty blog on MillionsOfMouths.com:
http://millionsofmouths.com/blog/nfblog/

[1] Wikipedia Aug 23, 2006

[2] Human Development Report 2005, United Nations Development Programme. http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/

[3] http://www.newint.org/issue287/keynote.html

The below is a bulletin I recieved on MySpace from A Crazy Idea:

A Crazy Idea and Youth Against Poverty have teamed up to form a coalition to end poverty in America, and they need your help!

The numbers are staggering. Today 37 million Americans live in a state of poverty, hunger and hardship. That’s more than last year, More than ever before. But one by one, working together, we can reverse the trend. For the fourth consecutive year, the poverty rate and the number of Americans living in poverty both rose from the prior years. Since 2000, the number of poor Americans has grown by more than 6 million. The official poverty rate in 2004 (the most current year for which figures are available) was 12.7 percent, up from 12.5 percent in 2003. Total Americans below the official poverty thresholds numbered 37 million, a figure 1.1 million higher than the 35.9 million in poverty in 2003. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poor families as those with cash incomes of less than $15,067 a year for a family of three or $19,307 for a family of four. (U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2004) On average, more than one out of every three Americans – 37 percent of all people in the United States – are officially classified as living in poverty at least 2 months out of the year. (U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2004)

The number of Americans living in severe poverty – with incomes below half of the poverty line – remained the same at 15.6 million. (U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2004)

A single parent of two young children working full-time in a minimum wage job for a year would make $10,712 before taxes – a wage $4,355 below the poverty threshold set by the federal government. (U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Census Bureau.) About 40 percent of poor single-parent, working mothers who paid for child care paid at least half of their income for child care; an additional 25 percent of these families paid between 40 and 50 percent of their incomes for child care. (Child Trends, 2001.)

More than two-thirds of all poor families with children included one or more individuals who worked in 2003. Whats more, family members in working-poor families with children typically worked combined totals of 46 weeks per year.

We can end this now! As Americans we have a duty to stand up for those citizens who are suffering in our own country. Learn more on how you can change your own country and change the world. Get involved! Some tips on where to start: Write a letter to your local newspaper, alerting the editors to the information you’ve learned about poverty in America, and what is being done to eliminate it. Submit an article to the newsletter published by your church, synagogue, mosque or house of worship about poverty in your community, and about successful initiatives that are bringing long-term results. Follow local politics, and tell your local elected officials that you support policies aimed at permanent solutions to poverty in your community and your nation. Question candidates on their plans to address poverty in your state and nation, vote your conscience — and hold politicians to their promises if elected.

by Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem M.Ed

Why Be A Volunteer? What is in it for me, to volunteer my time and energy?

Volunteering allows me to be part of a group of respected, well meaning people who serve others. In my volunteer work, I find like minded people who share my vision to be part of a happier well functioning community. Personal relationships don’t work, people work at having good relationships. Giving is part of making relationships work.

When I started volunteering, I was intimidated at the wealth of skills and abilities among the volunteers. I met many hard working people doing meaningful work. I also found appreciation for my skills. There was a great sense of conviviality, lots of laughs and stories galore. When I thought I couldn’t manage the work load, I found amazing support from other volunteers. I came to realize it was partly my independence and as an eldest daughter my characteristic of taking on too much and not wanting to ask for help.

Every part of life asks us to make an investment in time and often money. Where we invest determines how our life evolves. My investment in volunteering, has included:
• by being on a board,
• attending and presenting at meetings and conferences,
• driving and shopping with and for others,
• reading, writing and distributing literature,
• stuffing envelopes,
• making phone calls,
• canvassing,
• managing fund raising events,
• selling at fundraisers,
• listening to the frustration of others and offering support and advice,
• and more.

What do I get from volunteering depends on what I give. Being a volunteer has enriched my life by bringing satisfaction when goals are reached, introducing me to new and interesting people, giving me opportunities to learn new skills and helping me have a sense of being a part of the solution to the problems in life. I cannot imagine my life without the wonderful experiences I have had as a volunteer.

About The Author: Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem M.Ed., is a registered marriage and family therapist in private practice in Burlington ON Canada and author of books on personal growth through travel. For more information www.mbcinc.ca

by Josh Riverside

Every year, in millions of homes and offices around the world, old computers are callously dumped to be replaced with latest technology computers. It is a callous act, because not many amongst us can claim to be ignorant of the fact that numerous organizations around us can put the old computers to good use. These organizations such as non-profit charity organizations, religious organizations, schools and a number of families have to sometimes carry on their work with no computers. You could also donate your computer to a person with some disability. You might, in all probability, be providing him with fresh opportunities and a chance to earn his livelihood. So, think hard before dumping a computer. You could be dumping somebody’s chance to earn his daily bread.

When you donate a computer in charity, you donate technology. Most charity organizations are dependent on generous donors like you for their technology requirements. They would rather utilize their limited funds in providing basic amenities to the needy rather than buying expensive computers. There are several organizations that accept computer donations and transfer them to the charity of your choice. Some of these organizations upgrade the computers according to the latest technology and then donate them to the concerned charity or school or even to a needy family. You can also get in touch with a local charity or a family in need of computers and donate directly to them. Several organizations act as a link between donors and organizations that are in need of computers. Certain organizations may also help you to get in touch with individuals, in case you wish to donate to an individual rather than an organization.

Computer donations are a valuable contribution for most organizations and play a very vital role in their development programs. Some organizations use the computers to provide training to people with disabilities or health problems. The organization, therefore, acts as a training center that helps create job opportunities for the disabled. Some people prefer to send their old computers to recyclers or refurbishers who repair and upgrade the computers before passing them on to schools or charities.

When you donate a computer, you qualify for a tax deduction if you donate to a registered charity. So, do not forget to get a receipt of the donated computer from the charitable organization you are donating to.

by Josh Riverside

To discard the old furniture, when you are about to makeover the decor of your house, is a natural impulse for most of us. But do you realize that every time you throw out your old furniture, you could also be throwing away somebody’s chance to lead a better life? Wouldn’t it be more fulfilling to get the desired décor for your house and in the process also help someone in need?

Donate your furniture rather than discarding it. But make sure that it is in a saleable condition. Furniture that is badly damaged or worn out is not accepted by most charity organizations. Many charity organizations welcome donations in the form of furniture and may even be willing to pick it up from your home without charging any fee. However, if you wish to avail the services of a free pick up, be sure to enquire about the availability of this service before you make the donation. Many organizations require a minimum donation before they provide the services of a free pick up.

A more preferred method would be to look for local charitable organizations that accept furniture donations. It is easier for the charity donations that are within your vicinity to pick the furniture from your home, especially if it is not viable for you to deliver the furniture to the organization yourself. Be sure to ask for the receipt of the articles from the charity after they have picked up the furniture items from your house. Make a list of these items along with their estimated market value. Preserve the list and the receipt for your tax deductions. The method of filing this information with your taxes varies according to the value of the furniture that you have donated. Information on this can be obtained from authorized sources, when you make the donation. A wonderful resource these days is the Internet where you will be able to find all relevant information, from locating local charities to methods of making the donation.

Parting with your favorite couch will not be a saddening thought any more, if you realize the comfort that its donation can bring to the life of another human.

by Allen Taylor

Charity avails so much as the old adage goes.

Most of us like to help others and you don’t have to go too far out of your way to give. In some cases, you need only walk right out your back door.

Charity is one of the best ways to advertise your business in a low-cost way. All you have to do is give and expect nothing in return.

But be very selective in the charity you give to. Be sure the charity is a bona fide charity with the proper legal paperwork that gives it a charitable distinction. Also, try to find one with a longstanding reputation.

Most charities will list their sponsors and donors in their newsletter or make mention in some other way that provides a public benefit. Ask charities that you consider giving to if they recognize people who donate goods and services.

A monetary gift is nice but you can get the same benefits by providing your business services for free. If you are a persuasive salesman and able to get people to let loose of their hard-earned cash, you could volunteer to be a fundraiser. A writer? Write copy for the charity’s brochure. Are you good with your hands? Offer to fix something when it breaks.

Depending on the size of your business, you may want to give to a small charity. It is best to give to a charity that is relatively the same size as your company. If you are a small mom & pop shop you won’t get a lot of benefit by giving $100 to a multi-national charity. The large corporations will overshadow you with their huge gifts. But if it is a cause you really believe in, then by all means, give what you can.

But if you want recognition for your business, you are better off giving to a local charity or a smaller charity that lists its small business donors on its web site and newsletter. Consider the level of charitable donation very seriously. It may be to your benefit to be one of the highest givers, or you may opt to go in at the lowest rung on the donation ladder. How do you decide?

Consider this: How many other donors are there at your level? If there are only one or two then you will stand out more. Also, is the cause related to your industry in some way? Maybe you’ll want to give more. Are you a local business that caters to local customers? Give to a local charity. Are you an Internet company that does business worldwide? Then, maybe you should consider a charity with a worldwide scope.

The decision is yours but be selective about your charitable contributions. Put your charitable limits in your annual budget and stick to them like mud on a boy.

Also, don’t be afraid to volunteer your time. Most charities, particularly local ones, are in dire need of helpers. And you never know who you are going to meet.

by Seth Scolack, Savvy Seth’s Donate a Car to Charity

You may ask yourself, ‘if I donate a car to charity, are there any benefits in it for me?’ Like they say, “good deeds that you do always come back to you”. Without a doubt, donating your old car to charity is a generous gesture that can greatly improve the life of someone else, and it can also benefit you.

For many of us, the thought of having to try and sell our old car that we have had for years is a bad one. Haggling over price with a car dealer and having to spend money to ensure the vehicle is in good enough condition to sell is a nuisance. In fact, spending the time and money on an already old car is sometimes actually counterproductive and ends up costing more money than it’s worth. When you donate a car to charity, you are not required to see that your vehicle is up to working standard. Furthermore, you do not have to spend the money to get your car towed to a lot. You do not have to place an ad in the paper and wait around for people to call or visit your less than perfect automobile. When it comes down to it, selling an old car requires effort. If you are in the position to part with your car and the money that you might make on selling it is minimal, you might just simply choose to donate it.

Speaking of money, one of the great benefits of donating your car to charity is that you are eligible for a tax deduction. In the United States, if you donate to a charity classified with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, you may be eligible for a tax deduction. Before donating your car, it is useful to know the fair market value, which can be assessed by using one of the several guidebooks on the subject. Also, be clear on what your charity will do with the car, as it will make a difference in your tax break depending on whether the car is resold or broken down for parts. Taking the time to speak directly with your chosen charity will answer all your questions and give you a good idea of how they operate.

Donating your car to charity will help someone and will also benefit you. Whether it is to save yourself the inconvenience of selling an old car or not, you can still feel good knowing that you have been generous.

For more information see: Savvy Seth’s Donate a Car to Charity