I haven’t written in awhile. I thought it was time.
Tonight it is kind of a view form my couch… It’s icky outside, I’m curled up watching one of my favorite holiday movies (Elf) and playing “Dug of War” with my dog. FYI – “Dug of War” is a play on my dogs name and the popular game tug of war.
I’m not sure if you have heard about our little “adventure”… But I thought I’d take some time to explain it.
While on one of our last Harvest Tour stops I was talking to one of the guys from Farm Credit Services of Illinois about his recent afternoon that consisted of going around his community and collecting grain in a grain cart, selling it and then gifting it back to the food bank. WOW. I thought it was a great idea and such a fun way to make a difference. Food banks are struggling again this year. With unemployment still at unbelievable levels (9.9% as of Sept 2010 in Illinois – which by the way ranks us 40 out of 51) it isn’t difficult to grasp that people are struggling to put food on the table. An increased demand for food and nutrition benefits puts additional pressure on food banks when donations may not be increasing with the same strides the demand is, is a serious problem.
You may be wondering how all of that makes its way to where we are today. That night I was on my way to a meeting. I started to think about what John had done and how we could take his great idea and develop it further and get everyone involved. I made a few phone calls and started to plan and develop. I had notes… and notes on notes…. and notes on notes on notes…. you get the picture. That night I was at my parents for dinner and I started to talk to my dad about this program and the best way to implement the ideas and how, most importantly, to make it successful. He was a great springboard and had great advice.
So there I was… With this great idea. Now, I just had to make it work. After going through all the channels and getting all of the logistics lined up (there were a lot of phone calls made over the course of a week) we had great reception from the communities. We have the help of eight local farm bureaus (Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Fulton, Mason, Marshall-Putnam and McLean Counties) and their young leaders. We also have great sponsors that are taking part (THANK YOU a million times over – without you this probably wouldn’t have been possible) and most importantly a cause that will benefit greatly. That cause? Feeding the food and nutritionally insecure in Central Illinois. Ten bushels of corn and soybeans at a time. Pretty cool concept, eh?
Here’s how you can take part (and help). Visit our website: http://www.harvestfortheholidays.com and find your local participating elevator. Give them a quick phone call and say you’d like to participate in the program. You can donate 10 bushels of corn or soybeans (or you can donate 50 – we won’t turn away larger donations) and on December 13th after The Noon Show – we’ll call all the elevators and sell the grain on the cash market. All the checks will be sent to the Midwest Food Bank to benefit the Tender Mercies Program.
The packets which are part of the Tender Mercies Program feed anywhere between 4 and 8 people. My goal is 100 farmers to donate across eight counties. That’s pretty reasonable, right? Let’s do the math to what exactly 100 farmers can do this holiday season. One hundred farmers have the potential to raise anywhere between $6,000 and $10,000. That’s between 12,000 and 20,000 packets. That is anywhere between 48,000 and 80,000 hungry mouths that get a warm, nutritionally sound meal. Isn’t that AWESOME?! I sure think so.
I know not everyone who is reading this has grain they can donate… And I have answered this question a lot, too. ”How can I help if I don’t have grain to donate?” If you’d like to make a monetary donation – you can mail checks to the Midwest Food Bank. Just put “Harvest For The Holidays” in the “memo” portion of the check. All of the money collected during the Harvest For The Holidays program will also benefit the Tender Mercies program.
As I wrap this up… ahead of a shortened holiday work week.. I am certainly thankful for so many things. A roof over my head. A family that loves and supports me. A love of an industry that not only has the heart to give back – but the ability. And the “Pay It Forward” that was started in me over six years ago (which is a story for another day).
Please help the less fortunate this fall. It’s a quick phone call. A small donation that means so much to the food insecure this holiday season.
In His love….
