FEAST With Us’ Post

World Food Day.. What is there to celebrate when people living with disabilities and our elderly need to march to parliament to begg and plea that food prices be dropped. These are our most vulnerable but they can't effort to buy proper food to ensure they have balance meals atleast three times a day. With the cost of food items being so expensive most people depend on Soup Kitchen to ensure they get atleast one meal per day. With bigger organizations who decided to donate only to certain much bigger NPO's it makes it very difficult for small NPO's like ours to receive donations to ensure we are able to feed our community on a regular basis. Mostly the ingredients comes out of our own pockets. World Food Day..what should have been a day where everyone should have been celebrated healthy eating etc , instead people sit in the hot sun only to be seen and heard. Is it not a human right to have access to food, why is it then that our most vulnerable does not have access to food. CHARS has tried for almost two years to get weekly/monthly sponsors to ensure that we can cook for our community atleast 3/4 times a week. Pledge your support to CHARS and ensure we are able to feed our community. Having atleast one or two meals per day should not be a luxury but our human right.

Did you know nearly 2M people in Massachusetts are food insecure*? Health Leads and our partners are on a mission to close this gap, ensure access to nutritious food across the state and to share learning nationally. In 2020, as part of our decades long work on access to healthy food, with several partners including VitalCxNs and Boston community members, we launched the Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative (NFAC) with the goal of residents having access to the nutritious food they need in the way they want to access it. In July, we launched the next phase (which includes SNAP enrollment) thanks to support from partners and we are still operating this initiative with a funding gap that we are trying to close in the coming weeks. We would love your help - donate, spread the word, + suggest organizations we can partner with. https://lnkd.in/gMKcfrrT More about the initiative below and here: https://lnkd.in/gGC6k44F *From The Greater Boston Food Bank: https://lnkd.in/duWYBRKS In some ways it feels like food has lost the spotlight it had in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic yet #foodinsecurity in the US only grows. There are many incredible organizations working on both immediate food needs in communities across the US and working on eradicating the systemic inequities that cause food insecurity. In the midst of the ongoing challenges, it's crucial to keep the spotlight on food insecurity nationally. If you are new to the issue, here are some links about where we are now as a country + some learning from the past few years (feel free to suggest others): - Equal Justice Initiative: Millions More U.S. Households Are Experiencing Food Insecurity: https://lnkd.in/gaEAq6xC - Feeding America study on hunger levels: https://lnkd.in/dwFjCRwj - U.S. Continues to Top G7 for Inability to Afford Food: https://lnkd.in/deZdbwEc - A systematic review of the direct and indirect COVID-19’s impact on food security and its dimensions: pre-and post-comparative analysis: https://lnkd.in/gq2KAt3y - Towards equitable & resilient post-pandemic urban food systems: The role of community-based organizations: https://lnkd.in/gDZgZ_EE (also has some good history on food insecurity) - HealthBegins Transforming Lives: How Community Health Workers, Promotoras, and Health Representatives Address Food Insecurity: https://lnkd.in/gxa9NrEE

Today we are excited to spotlight some of remarkable charities we collaborated with during our SF Community Day, showcasing their impactful work and our shared commitment to making a difference. ⭐ ExtraCare and Pannel Croft Care Home ExtraCare operates vibrant communities designed to support a healthy, active, and independent lifestyle for those over 55. Among their 20 inspirational locations is Pannel Croft Care Home in Birmingham. With excellent facilities and a range of activities, Pannel Croft Care Home fosters independence, helping residents stay active in both body and mind. Independent research highlights the positive impacts of ExtraCare's model, showing it empowers residents to lead happier, healthier, and more independent lives. ⭐ Feedo Needo Feedo Needo is a community-driven not-for-profit organisation that offers food and basic necessities to those in need, regardless of race, gender, religion, or ability, fostering a community built on diversity, tolerance, and mutual respect. Beyond essential food support, Feedo Needo addresses the mental and emotional challenges faced by disadvantaged individuals, especially as the cost of living soars. Since January 2023, over 6,000 people, including single mothers, asylum seekers, pensioners, and employed individuals struggling with food insecurity, have sought assistance from Feedo Needo. ⭐ Fareshare FareShare is the UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, consisting of 18 independent organisations. They take good quality surplus food from across the food industry and deliver it to nearly 8,500 frontline charities and community groups. FareShare ensures that nutritious food reaches school breakfast clubs, lunch clubs for older people, homeless shelters, and community cafes. In 2023-24, they redistributed 56,000 tonnes of food, served 8,000 local charities, and reached nearly one million people, providing enough food each week to create almost a million meals for vulnerable individuals. To learn more about these incredible organisations head to their websites here: Extra Care: https://loom.ly/egTa84Q Feedo Needo: https://loom.ly/RCnG7ZM Fareshare: https://loom.ly/iP7eVd0 #charityspotlight #community #communitysupport

Today, as we celebrate the auspicious occasion of Eid Ul Adha, let's take a moment to reflect on the profound essence of this celebration and its impact on our communities. Also known as the 'Festival of Sacrifice', Eid Ul Adha serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of sacrifice, selflessness, and charity. Marked by the spirit of giving, it reinforces the importance of expressing our gratitude and sharing our blessings with those less fortunate. Most importantly, the act of ‘Qurbani’ or the ritualistic animal sacrifice, serves as a symbolic reaffirmation of our commitment to help those in need. The meat from the sacrifice, usually divided into three parts, is distributed among the poor and needy, fostering a spirit of community support and mutual aid. This practice not only reduces food insecurity but also strengthens the bonds within our communities. This festive season, let's embrace the spirit of giving, reach out to those less privileged, and contribute positively towards a more inclusive and compassionate society. Eid Ul Adha is not just a festival, it is an ethos of sharing, a lifestyle of giving, and a tradition of unity. It is about making a difference to someone's life, one act of kindness at a time. Here's wishing everyone a Happy Eid Ul Adha. May this auspicious day bring you and your loved ones peace, joy, and prosperity. May we all find the strength to make the sacrifices necessary for the betterment of our communities and the world at large. Do you have any special Eid Ul Adha rituals or acts of charity that you wish to share? #EidUlAdha #FestivalOfSacrifice #Charity #CommunitySupport #KindnessMatters

A crazy (but lovely) group of us are tackling the Welsh 3 Peaks challenge on 22 June 2024, which is not for the faint-hearted. Our team of 12 (5 men and 7 ladies) will attempt to walk a distance of 20.35 miles, making a total ascent of 9,397ft (2,864m) to reach the summits of Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen-Y-Fan all in 24 hrs!!! It's going to be tough, really tough, but not as tough as some of those who are struggling to feed their families and themselves. So, do you want to join us in making a difference? If so, we are raising money in aid of FARESHARE MIDLANDS, and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us. xxx More information about FARESHARE MIDLANDS: How it works................ We take good quality, in-date surplus food... The vast majority of food waste occurs in the supply chain before it even reaches the supermarket. Working with the FareShare network, we save good quality surplus food from food retailers at both regional and national levels. In the Midlands, this is over 5,670 tonnes per year and growing! Our warehouses across the Midlands... We receive deliveries of food every day at our warehouses, which our teams of staff and volunteers sort and store. In return, we provide employability support to our volunteers – our way of saying a big thank you. And distribute it to charity members in our community... Our staff and volunteers then redistribute this nutritious food to community food members across the Midlands. Community groups sign up to receive regular orders of food from us to cover their main food needs. Who transform the food into nutritious meals for those in need In the year 2021/22 we redistributed enough food for 13 million meals. The organisations we support provide vital services alongside food. They range from homeless shelters to women’s refuges and from disability charities to school breakfast clubs, covering just about every area of support for vulnerable individuals and families. https://gofund.me/0eed5c0d

Interesting read 'UK Giving Behaviours Tracker2024' from Blue State 📆 81% of UK people give to charity with the mean gift being £165 a year - that is £13.75 a month 💴 X3 more than previous years cancelling some direct debits (and 5% cancelling all of their direct debits) 🆘 more plan to give as they see increasing need and are driven by values 👦 younger donors had a higher intention to give & are giving more 🕌 donors of faith more likely to give esp Muslim donors who have average gifts x6 times higher 😺 post pandemic 60% of households have pets & animal charities are doing better in terms of donation share Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eUgG8JTw

🚨 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗨𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱! 🐾 𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒖𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒆𝒕 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆! Age UK Sunderland are excited to announce the potential development of a new project 𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐬, with the objective to support older people in Sunderland by helping them care for their beloved pets when health challenges make it difficult. Many older individuals hesitate to engage with essential medical or support services, fearing they will lose their pets as quite often they are the main companion for older people in Sunderland. 𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐬 will ensure they can continue receiving care without worrying about their furry friends. Our service will include: Dog walking 🐕 Home visits to feed pets 🏡 Transporting pets to the vet 🚗 Short-term fostering 🐾 Collecting pet food and medications 💊 Providing advice & signposting to other services ➡ By providing this support, Pet Pals will help prevent older individuals from missing medical treatments, reduce isolation and loneliness, and encourages engagement with necessary support services. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲! We’re seeking 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 to help us launch and deliver this crucial service. We are initially seeking funding in the region of £110k to run the free service for an initial 2 year period. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩: 🔸 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 🔹 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 🔸 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 Together, we can make a difference for Sunderland’s older community and their pets. 🐾❤️ If you can help or know someone who can, please contact us via 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠@𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐮𝐤𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝.𝐨𝐫𝐠.𝐮𝐤 or DM us for more information! #Fundraising #Sunderland #CommunitySupport #AgeUKSunderland #PetPals #Charity #Support

Homelessness, food manufacturers and food waste - are you involved with any of these? I volunteer for a homeless food kitchen which provides a hot meal twice a week to those in need, in south London. I'm also working with the founder of the charity to think of ways we can: 🙏 Get more food donations from source 🙏 Raise our profile to attract more people in need to use the service, so it can eventually operate every day. Asking my network for advice, thoughts and examples of best practice where this is done before, in London, UK, globally. ❓ Are there other groups we can work with? ❓ National networks we can join? ❓ Systems where global food brands donate damaged packaged goods and end of line etc to food charities? Any thoughts or ideas welcome! 🍑 Photo of the nectarine upside down cake one of my co-volunteers made on Friday for dessert. It went down a treat! #volunteer #homelessness #foodwaste

Love, love, love this campaign from Lidl 👇🏻 In celebration of World Bee Day, Lidl has put together this brilliant initiative, which helps support pollinators. Here's what they've done: 1. They've launched these new Bee'rs (Free bottles of syrup, which can be put down to help revive exhausted bees). 2. They've donated £10K to the British Bee Charity, to provide learning materials to 500 schools, educating them on the importance of bees and bio-diversity. 3. They've set up a simple landing page, with tips on how you can help bees and other pollinators. A great campaign for a great cause.

If you would like to donate, or also drop off bottled water, definitely check out The Promise here in Marion, IL. With the hot summer months ahead, it's a great cause to help out during this time. Other things needed, are listed below