Let’s eat cake AND help out the local food banks
Ah, the keen dichotomy of the holiday season. On the one hand, it’s a time of indulgences. This December, I’ll take a string of days off work, and probably order one or two full-fat eggnog lattes simply because they’re on the menu. On the other hand, I’m reminded daily, that this year in particular many people don’t have work to take time off from, and are unable to put three sound meals on the table.
If you’d like to temper those indulgences, then organize a food drive for your local emergency shelter. You can put out a big box at a large event – Dan and I are collecting food at next week’s Biznik Anti-Office Holiday Party in Seattle. And you can collect a couple of cans at a small gathering too – my peer advisory group, a gaggle of 7 women I met on Biznik who meet monthly, are each bringing a donation to our December meeting, at our host’s suggestion.
The number of people using the food banks in Seattle has increased 17% since the crash in September. But to make matters worse, donations are down 40% from last year. Mayor Nickels issued a recent press release proposing a city budget increase to support emergency food banks. That will help. Together each one of us can help too.
If you’re coming to the Biznik holiday party next week, bring an item. If you’re hosting a Biznik event, ask the participants to bring an item. If you’re attending a gathering with a food drive, bring two items. Every little bit helps.