Posted by Caryll-Lynn Taylor, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 29, 2013 at 6:01 am

MIDTOWN COURT.NEIGHBORS & FRIENDS

"NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS"

RE: 2012 1st Annual Food Drive Results & New Activity for 2013, "Monthly Food Collection" Events

"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." MARGARET MEAD

2012 1ST ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE RESULTS

We did it together, we attained our lofty food goal for our first annual food drive!

Through the committed determination of some close neighbors, grocers and other Palo Alto & Mtn View residents we provided the following to 50 "gap households" in Midtown & Palo Alto. Seven days of breakfast, lunch, snacks/desserts and dinner.

Plus, we provided our 12 seniors with high iron & folic fortiified foods. After learning that two of those seniors were told by their doctors that they had anemia and needed to add more iron fortified foods to their diets.

Remember these 50 "neighbors in need" now called our "gap households" are not receiving benefit of 'safety net' programs. Except two seniors. By the 6th of our 8 week food drive, our 50 gap households grew to 65.

NEW ACTIVITY, "Monthly Food Collection" Events

Many of our core team, volunteers and neighbors asked during the food drive, "how will our neighbors in need (gap households) get food after they eat the weeks worth of groceries we are giving to them?"

All I could say was "let's stay focused on achieving this food goal first." I just didn't have an answer at that point.

Now, we have given careful thought to our next step to help our "neighbors in need" on-going.

Unlike our annual food drive (Oct 15 - Dec 12, 2013) which is an elaborate effort with food collection barrels at Palo Alto retail businesses. We will collaborate with schools, groups and organizations for food collection.

Our "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" Volunteers will gather once per month on the first Saturday (March - Aug.) to sort, bag and pass out grocery bags.

The volunteers from schools, groups, backyard gardners/orchards/chickens and organizations will bring food they have collected to our monthly 'Food Collection Site' on the first Sat of the month for our sorters & baggers to prepare to give to "neighbors in need".

2013 FOOD GOALs: SPECIFIC NUTRITIONAL NEEDs

"WISH LIST OF FOODS"

Our new goal and focus will center on a "Wish List of Foods". Besides fulfilling the needs of our "gap households" and nutritional needs of local food closet recipients. PLEASE CONTACT US, for complete list of needed foods.

RESIDENTS, may bring fresh, frozen, canned & packaged foods to our drop off site, first Sat of month; 02/02, 03/02, 04/06, 05/04, 6/01, 7/06 & 8/03.

VOLUNTEERS, 30 min to 1 hour,

If you can spare one hour btwn 10am - 1pm on the first Sat. of the month, you pick a month or commit to several months. Contact us.

If you know of a group or organization who is having or willing to organize a food drive to collect our wish list foods, contact us asap.

Stay tuned, program outline and wish list coming.

A pilot date of Feb. 02 w/El Carmelo School being our first "food drive" to sign up. March 6th will be our formal start date.

Caryll-Lynn Taylor

"Neighbors Helping Neighbors" Mo. Food Collection Committee Chair

MidtownCourt.Neighbors@gmail.com

Posted by MidtownCourt.Neighbors & Friends, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 29, 2013 at 8:24 am

WE NEED HELP OF AFEW GOOD SOULS - Volunteer Shifts 1 hour

"Neighbors Helping Neighbors", Monthly Food Collection, there's a roles and small task to fit anyones busy schedule;

FOOD SORTERs, shift 10 AM - 11 AM, during this shift, we will sort food by type shift

FOOD BAGGERs 11 AM - NOON, during this shift, we will put foods in grocery bags to be ready for our neighbors from our "gap households" to pick up. We will also label and prepare extra "wish list" foods to be delivered to a local food closet.

GROCERY BAG Give-A-Ways shift NOON - 1 PM, Sorters & Baggers, will give filled bags of groceries to neighbors who have be asked to pick up their food.

DRIVERs' shift 12:30 PM - 1 PM. At about 12:30 pm, we will load up extra foods to be delivered to local food closet.

"FOOD DROP OFF LOCATION" MIDTOWN CENTER Next to Wells Fargo ATM 2700 Midtown Court, Middlefield Rd turn east Colorado Ave. @ Midtown Court

Please contact us if you can spare 30 minutes to 1 hour between 10am to 1pm.

MidtownCourt.Neighbors@gmail.com

Posted by Too Many, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Jan 30, 2013 at 5:13 pm

Too many people who are needy do not fit the criteria of low income or very low income, but because their middle income is spread so thin, they are hurting. Living somewhere less expensive usually means a long, arduous commute, which is costly in time and money. It usually also means a substandard education for their kids, as well as more hours in daycare. Don't even get started on the pollution commuting causes.

So what is a middle income person, that is someone making under 150K per family of four supposed to do? Do what we do. Eat all meals at home. No movies, no parties, neither given nor attended. No Xmas for anyone over 18 years of age. No birthdays for same. No vacation longer than three days in length. Take vacation pay in lieu of two weeks off. Drink water, not juice, milk, or soft drinks, or even cheap wine. Lots of PB&Js and canned tuna. Frozen or canned veggies. No fruit. No desserts other than yogurt.

Then, be glad your kids are getting a good education so they can one day live better. Stay hungry and lean so you can keep on striving. And, BTW, no hobbies, because you need the time for that extra job on the side.

Posted by Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 14, 2013 at 2:17 pm

                           NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

                        3/02 FOOD DROP OFF EVENT RESULTS

RE: Falling to short of our goal. Our seniors, singles, moms, dads & kids will go hungry this month!

Dear Friends Neighbors & Volunteers,

       Since we organized the annual food drive in Oct. 2012 and on-going 2013 Monthly Food Collection program this will be the first month we did not meet our goal of one week (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks & dessert) for our gap households. Nor were we able to give wish list items to our selected food closet.

      It's with a very sad heart, I am making this plea for your help. A majority of our neighbors will go hungry.

      Have you ever gone a week without food? How about 2 or 3 weeks?

A majority of our neighbors (65 gap households) rely on the one week of groceries we give them. Many anixously call me the week before their scheduled delivery time to be sure their groceries are coming.

      PLEASE, Spread the Word, give everyone you know our Program Outline with "Wish List" of food needed. Printed flyers upon request.

                     ANOTHER PLEA - "Calling for Volunteers"

      It takes a minumum of 10 people each month to complete all the tasks needed to assemble, collect, organize, fill grocery bags, store & deliver seven days of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert for each of our gap households.

                     CONTACT -

               NeighborsHelpingNeighbors2013@gmail.com

We can not do this with one or two people. Please make a commitment to either work a one hour shift @ the monthly drop off station, 4/06, 5/04, 6/01, 7/06 or 8/03. Shift start @ 10am to 1pm.

Or ask what small tasks are needed during the week days...