ONE CAN A WEEK Food Donation Program

162nd Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2012-02-14T00:16:00.008-07:00

Growing Like A Tree

Slow and steady progress in the second year of

the Miles School One Can A Week program

Each branch on the One Can A Week Tree represents a grade and its success in collecting food for the Community Food Bank. Each leaf accounts for 10 lbs. of donated food.

Rebecca Lipson, the Miles Exploratory Learning Center middle school science teacher told me today—with a huge smile on her face—that their One Can A Week program is running very smoothly and takes very little effort on anyone’s part.

One student or class coordinator collects food from one class and enters the information in the log book. To incorporate as much learning as possible into the process, each class coordinator calculates the number of pounds by reading the labels and adding up the posted weights. Rebecca said many students did not know how many ounces were in a pound, but they sure do now.

Also, she mentioned that the collection, record keeping and calculations highlight real world project management skills. Each class coordinator participates in all aspects of the project so he or she can fully understands what it takes to make something happen.

Last semester, which ended in December, the total donations collected by Rebecca’s class amounted to 937 lbs. of food and $247 in cash.

Imagine if every school in Tucson had its own One Can A Week program. Then imagine the compassionate world those kids would build.

At the end of the school semester, Rebecca sends
all parents an update on the progress of their

One Can A Week program.

The log book is where the class coordinator enters the weight
for the food collected and the cash donations.

One Can A Week Jersey Style

No, it did not snow in Tucson. This is a photo of Hannah, Ari Kaplan’s six-year-old daughter collecting food in their New Jersey neighborhood. If you remember, back in late November Ari sent an email to me describing his Sunday One Can A Week adventure with Hannah.

“She is so excited when there is a can waiting (as am I) and was very proud to donate the bags of food that she personally collected. In fact, she often lets me know how much of the work she does -- cutting the notes, writing her name, leaving the notes, writing down the contents, etc. :) I hope we can keep up the momentum over the winter (which was brutal last year).”

Looks like Hannah and her dad would be stiff competition for any mail carrier out there when it comes to those “appointed rounds.”

Still More Important

One Can A Week Folks

Keeping Everyone Healthy

One of our neighbors was sent home from work Sunday because she was coming down with a cold. However, I still wanted a photo of her holding the plate with her husband at her side.

Fortunately, that was the last photo on Miles so I quickly drove to Lenny’s house to pick up the 12th Street donations. After I loaded the car, I asked him if I could wash the plate and my hands. He said yes and assured me he had all kinds of soap and disinfectants in his kitchen. My kind of guy!

A few minutes later, I had no qualms about handing the plate to another neighbor for a photo. Thanks, Lenny.

We collected a total of 180 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $33.50, a $25.00 check and $8.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

161st Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2012-02-06T22:50:00.008-07:00

Hi Folks,

1,500 People,

Working Just Three Hours a Week,

Could End Hunger in Tucson

And Make a $1.5 Million Profit to Boot.

This is no pipe dream. It’s clear-eyed extrapolation based on the success of One Can A Week in the Miles Neighborhood over the past three years.

Last week I was wondering aloud during a computer lesson with Dorrie, my talented writer friend, why I can’t find people in other neighborhoods to get involved collecting food.

Dorrie thought a second and said, “This may not be appropriate in polite company but I think people should earn their Community Food Bank food.”

In the next instant a news story I saw about a year or so ago popped into my head. It showed a guy at the food bank who was young, had no job and was volunteering. He said that since he needed food he thought he would work at the food bank to help pay his way.

“That’s the guy I’m looking for, Dorrie,” I smiled. In my mind, food recipients were off limits, but if that guy is any indication, I’m sure others feel the same way. In fact, I have a number of participants in the neighborhood who tell me all of the time that they are happy to help me because they needed the Community Food Bank once and they just want to give back.

This opened a door to a whole new way of thinking for me and I created a program called The Red Umbrella Corps that hires people each Sunday and pays them $30 for three hours of work.

Since our One Can A Week experience shows that we average 229 lbs. and $50.18 per week, the program could be hugely successful.

But don’t take my word for it. Just do the math. All of the figures are in the table below. Then give me a call because I sure would like to talk about this.

More Important One Can A Week Folks

Still More Photos of Important

One Can A Week Folks

Coming Soon

A Bit Distracted
We took more pictures this Sunday, helped a new neighbor move into their new home andcollected food, of course. It wasn’t until Monday at the food bank that I realized we had quite a haul.

We collected a total of 228 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $104.50, a $25.00 check and $79.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

160th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2012-01-30T21:15:00.013-07:00

Hi Folks,

Give A Little, Take A Lot

That’s the deal I made three years ago with scores of my neighbors in the Miles Neighborhood. Give me a can a week on Sunday and I will take a lot of food to the Community Food Bank on Monday.

Our deal has worked out great, too. Beginning in 2009 through 2011, we donated 35,751.5 lbs. of food and $7,828.09 in cash. Just counting the food, we fed 9,168 folks and their kids three meal in one day.

About two months ago, Pauline Hechler, VP of Development, invited me to the January 26th Community Food Bank board meeting because she wanted to personally introduce me to all of its members. Since they are helping run my favorite charity, I also wanted to meet them.

About two forkfuls into my scrambled eggs, Pauline, who was seated next to me, stood up and made the introduction mentioning our impressive donation numbers.

Then Bill Carnegie, the CEO, walked up behind my chair and said he had something for me. I stood up and he handed me this handsome, and quite heavy, metal plate with an inscription on it. He began to read aloud.

Bill Carnegie shows me the beautiful

Wilton Armetale plate and reads the

inscription as Pauline Hechler looks on.
Photo by Meghan Heddings

This is one time subtlety escapes me.

It is quite obvious that I am completely

taken with the presentation, the

sentiment and the heft of the 12" plate.

Photo by Meghan Heddings

Bill Carnegie and I take the

obligatory presentation photo

which a few hours later gave me

the idea to present this elegantly

engraved award to all those who

have helped me feed so many people.

What surprised me is how quickly

everyone took to the idea. Moments

after they held the plate their replies

were nearly identical. “Wow, of

course you can take my picture.”

Photo by Pauline Hechler

“As substantial as they are
beautiful” is the opening line in the
Wilton Armetale brochure. You will
see below, each person I handed
the plate to read the inscription and
then clutched it warmly.

With deep apprecition for creating the One Can AWeek Program.Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, January, 2012.

Bill is reading and I’m thinking, “What a beautiful plate, I love this design … and everything.”

I’m not an awards kind of guy. I do things because they need to be done. I don’t look for any kind of mention or at-a-boys. I instantly changed my mind when I held this magnificent memento. Later in the day when thinking about Sunday’s pick up I decided to show, no, give this plate to my neighbors. By putting out all of those cans for 160 weeks straight, they forced me to qualify for this award.

And like me, they have to get their picture taken. (There are scores of Miles neighbors to award and they will appear here over the weeks.)

I’m the official keeper of the plate, but any time a neighbor wants to throw a party or have a special gathering of friends, they can borrow it to tout their good works and at the same time, encourage others to step up as they have.

Now I’m thinking about where to display this elegant plate in my humble home.

Food Bank Deliveries Made Easy

Cory, who lives on Highland Ave., operates the Treehouse Thai Message Spa located at 148 S. 4th Avenue with her husband. They recently ran a food drive and their customers donated $178. Since Cory participates in One Can A Week, she knew I’d gladly deliver her donation.

Everyone should follow Cory’s lead. If someone you know has food or money to donate to the Community Food Bank, just volunteer my services. After all, I’m there every Monday delivering our neighborhood donations.

We collected a total of 166 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $214.50, two checks for $206.00 and $8.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

159th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2012-01-23T22:37:00.006-07:00

Hi Folks,

If Somebody Screws Up,

We Don’t Think We’ve Won the Lottery

John, my friend, my client and my mentor lives in the Foothills and donates to One Can A Week nearly every session we have. He buys those handsome food packs of soup, peanut butter or fruit you find at Costco. Out of respect and gratitude, I always place them in the upper right hand corner of the shopping cart so he can quickly spot his donation. (See photo below.)

Ultra Thin MacBook Air

For many months now we have been switching John’s electronic media from PC to Mac starting with the iPad. He got an iPhone next and just this past Friday, a MacBook Air. The transition has been fun and interesting, like Go Daddy doesn’t handle iPads well so we had to move John’s company website. (Bluehost.com is the answer for those interested techies.)

This whole move is possible because Microsoft Office now works well on Macs. Consequently, it makes no difference what operating system you have; you can Outlook, Word, Excel or PowerPoint to your heart’s delight on either system.

What turned out not to be so much fun were the glitches on the retail side. I suggested John buy his new computer at Simutek on Ft. Lowell because I’ve known them for years and I like their style, not to mention, the lines are much shorter there.

We wanted the Office Suite loaded on the machine when we picked it up, but this did not happen. Then when I tried to download the software at John’s home, the Mac was password protected. Son of a …!

“Call Simutek,” John quietly suggested as I tried a few generic passwords and several more colorful words. My frustration was growing because John is really important to me, and too, I do not suffer incompetence well.

“Call Simutek,” he said again handing me the phone.

The person who answered my call had no idea what the password might be and the person who would was off.

As I packed up the computer John said, “We cannot let our frustrations get in the way; we just have to get it done.”

“I’m just venting, John,” I replied. “Of course I never talk to people like that. It’s counter productive.”

There was a young woman behind the counter when I arrived at Simutek. After my brief, smileless explanation, she quickly apologized and went into the back to get the generic password because she did not know it either.

Upon her return, she gave me the password and then asked me if I wanted to speak to the owner. “We, and especially the owner, pride ourselves on how we handle our customers,” she said.

“No,” I replied smiling now, “John and I never think we hit the lottery because someone messes up. That’s just not right to take advantage of people like that. What I would like you to do is take responsibility for this situation and talk to your boss. Inform everyone about generic passwords and train staff to do what they say they are going to do. It appears that folks here aren’t really working as a team. Nothing seems to be passed on.”

Before we parted, she asked me for my business card so she can put it in their book of computer instructors. The only card I give out these days is One Can A Week, which I realized, will really stick out among all those techie designs. Maybe I will win a few new clients from this experience. Even if nothing happens, it is so much better than winning a gotcha-lottery.

Little Boy Blue
Jeff and Emily opened the door and there stood their little blond hair blue-eyed baby boy dressed from head to toe in a blue jumper. He handed me a can of beans and said “Bye.” Got to remember to bring my camera on my Sunday rounds.

We collected a total of 206 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $36.50, a $25.00 check and $11.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

158th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2012-01-17T21:14:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

It’s Never Good to Bark at Your Neighbors

Adam (left) thinks that if people have an internet, then

why can’t dogs have a barknet. Outside is his Starbucks

café where he can’t wait to connect with all of his doggy

buddies in the neighborhood.

The alley was a bit of a mess following the Brush and Bulky pickup earlier in the week. After my stint at the Rincon Market on Saturday I decided to rake it back into presentable again. Adam, my 9-year-old Westie wasn’t happy with the scraping sounds and a cat or two that sauntered by. So he barked and barked some more.

Every few minutes I checked on him to quiet him down. But then he’d start up again. I finished my raking in about 45 minutes and walked back into the house. It was then that I noticed the ground was wet and my artwork table under the canopy was covered with big droplets of water. I checked my pups and felt water on Molly’s back but nothing on Adam. (That's the way it always is. Adam starts something and poor Molly takes the brunt.)

My first thought was the garden hose next to the gate ruptured again. Nope. That wasn’t it. Then the slow dawning… Oooh, my new neighbors, Melissa and Sean in the big house, sprayed water over my fence to quiet the barking. The wet artwork disturbed me but the attack on my pups was infuriating. Somebody accosted my dogs when I was just 50 feet down the alley.

An ultrasonic biofeedback

device that turns barks into

sounds only dogs can hear.

I flipped the water off the two posters I had recently printed and calmed my self down. In about three minutes I had a plan.

Melissa answered the front door and I apologized for Adam’s barking. I knew that was the reason for the sun shower because she had yelled at Adam from inside her home months earlier when he was particularly noisy.

Melissa said that Sean was trying to take a nap and Adam was thwarting his efforts. I love naps myself so I understood but suggested next time instead of spraying water and ruining a couple of Rincon Market / Community Food Bank posters, she should call my cell which I always carry. I gave her my card and said I want to make her life here as comfortable as possible. Actually, I thought that would be the end of it.

Sunday morning just before I started my rounds, I check the mailbox. Inside was a Bark Off package with a green note card envelope taped to it. When I opened the envelope and took out the card, inside was a $50 check and a note.

“Thank you for giving me your card today,” Melissa wrote. “Please find enclosed a donation to your “One Can A Week” program. I hope it helps replace any water damaged posters. P.S. Perhaps this (Bark Off) would be another non-invasive way to hush the repetitive barking from your dogs? If you are willing, we could give it a try.”

I had that Bark Off up and running a few minutes after I stopped for lunch. It will take a week or so for the ultrasonic sound to affect Adam, as the package insert warned, but in this case, whether the product works or not, it’s the thought that really counts.

There was a situation. The people involved decided not to bark at one another and instead put aside emotions to consider each other’s concerns. This is my kind of world.

Ready to Hit the Books

A number of students just got back from vacation so we collected a whole bunch more food this week. And the good news is they well be here until late May.

We collected a total of 194 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $76.75, two checks for $75.00 and $1.75 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

157th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2012-01-09T21:45:00.003-07:00

Hi Folks,

Nothing Makes You Think about Change

Like A Big Red Umbrella

Last Sunday I knew I needed a new umbrella the moment metal fatigue overwhelmed my old red umbrella as I turned left onto Vine from 12th Street and a flailing support rod bonked me on the head.

Within a few blinks and some head shaking, I figured out what had happened and quickly resolved to spend a little more money on the next red umbrella. For just $10 more I bought a taller, wider and stronger (made of wood not hollow metal rods) red umbrella that will better resist Arizona's intermittent breezes.

Of course, after that incident I decided to pay more attention to nature’s little hints because I truly dislike blows to the cranium. (Now that I think about it that was one of the major reasons I quit soccer as a kid. Being out of breath all of the time was the other reason.)

On Saturday at the Rincon Market, a gentleman stepped up to my display table and asked me if the Food Bank were still in a tough spot. When I told him about the 235,000 folks they service monthly, he reached into his pocket and dropped a $5.00 bill on the donation plate. A short time later as he and his wife were leaving, we struck up another conversation but this time we talked about collecting food in the neighborhoods. She liked the idea and wanted to participate. She asked me if I would begin a program in her Sam Hughes neighborhood.

You need neighbors to do that for you I suggested. But later I thought that for three years I have searched for such neighbors and only a few have taken up the challenge like fifteen-year-old Maria in the Catalina Vista neighborhood.

Maybe this was another one of nature’s red umbrella moment. There must be a way to motivate non-neighbors to gather food donations weekly in neighborhoods across. Tucson. My frustration is I know there are donations there just waiting to be picked up. Fifty percent of the Miles Neighborhood participates so it follows other neighborhoods can do as well or better.

On my way out of the door at the Community Food Bank today I heard a voice call my name. I turned around to see Pauline Hechler, VP of Development walking across the warehouse floor toward me.

Happy New Year and a hug followed. She was on her way to a meeting and I only had a few seconds to talk.

“I’ve been thinking, I’d like to have lunch with you because I need help in formulating a plan to get other neighborhoods involved. Jacob said he gets requests from people looking for projects and perhaps One Can A Week can be that project.”

“Maybe we can have Jacob put those people in touch with you,” Pauline quickly replied.

“No, it really has to be a program affiliated with a major organization,” I said, “like the Peace Corps. Something that is a part of something bigger.’

Then Pauline’s next thought hit me like my old red umbrella, “There is a lot of food out there we just have to pick it up.”

Didn’t I just think that?

Here’s another idea I had. Let’s call the volunteers who fan out in Tucson neighborhoods each Sunday The Red Umbrella Corps. Wait, I bet Pauline already thought of that. Wonder what other ideas she’ll have for me at lunch.

I’m paying attention now.

It Got a Little Personal this Sunday
In addition to the boxes of cereal and bunches of bananas, folks donated some very nice personal items such as shampoos, soaps and tooth paste. (Pictured on the ground to the right.)

We collected a total of 176 lbs. of food plus 8 lbs in non-food items. The money we donated amounted to $31.50, a $25.00 check and $6.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

156th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2012-01-03T18:54:00.008-07:00

Hi Folks,

Little Time, Lots of Food

8 Hours a Week = 9.6 Tons of Food in 2011

4,130 lbs. of food collected in 2011

John, my neighbor on 13th Street walked over to my Cabriolet on Sunday to hand me his can of tuna. I thanked him for the curb service and he sighed, “Retirement is driving me nuts. I’ve got to find something to do.”

1,893 lbs. of food collected in 2011

He mentioned a few volunteer web sites he visited but he had no idea what he wanted to do. Obviously, seeing me encouraged him to think aloud about his consternation.

Most people consider me retired because of my age and community service commitment but I’m an entrepreneur. And entrepreneurs never stop working until their sun finally sets. I teach computer mostly but I write and take any interesting job I can find. (By the way, being job selective also makes me look retired.)

13,249 lbs. of food collected in 2011

A few hours later I thought of John and the mental processes he is experiencing. He’s had a job most of his life so he is thinking “volunteer job” and that thought probably gives his chills because it sounds as boring as retirement itself.

In 2009 when I thought of One Can A Week to help the hungry here in Tucson, my intension was to create a program that was easy on me and easy for others to participate. I like physical repetitive work because it’s a great way to exercise without running or biking to nowhere … and something gets done.

Right now I spend three hours on Sunday visiting my neighbors and picking up food, threes hours Saturday at the Rincon Market countingmoney, talking to Sam Hughes neighbors and shopping, one hour picking up Sunflower’s food and one hour on Monday, delivering the bounty to the Community Food Bank. That totals eight hours a week and tons of weight lifting and walking.

I’m having fun doing what is good for me and as it turns out, my fun is beneficial for lots of other folks, too. That’s what John has to start thinking about and anyone else looking to make a difference. What can he do that he will enjoy and help others at the same time? Jobs aren’t fun but work you like to do sure is.

Off to a Good Start

Although Sunday was New Year’s Day and a lot of neighbors were otherwise occupied, we collected just 4 lbs. under our normal weekly average. Seems the one resolution everyone again in Miles will keep this year is “Feed hungry kids and their families.”

We collected a total of 164 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $35.00, a $25.00 check and $10.00 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

2011-12-27T20:01:00.003-07:00

Hi Folks,

Nobody’s Getting Tired or Bored

Helping the Hungry

2011 Fourth Quarter Report

We donated 13,249 lbs. of food in 2011.

We also donated $3,220.01 in cash.

To put it another way, at 1.3 lbs. per meal, we donated 10,192 meals or we fed 3,397 people three meals in one day. It’s amazing, after three years of weekly donations, we only missed last year’s total weight by 50 lbs.

Where we far exceeded expectations is in our cash donations. This year’s total was $3,220.01. Based on the cost of the Community Food Bank’s food and services we donated $32,200.10. That’s a $1.00 = $10.00 ratio. Last year our cash donation was $2,654.70 or $565.31 less than this year.

Next Sunday is the beginning of our fourth year of donating to the Community Food Bank. I’m still hungry to help and after analyzing 2011’s figures, I know you are, too.

The Divas Are Back

In December, two years ago, Debbie and her Eastside Domestic Diva friends collected a bunch of food and dropped it off at her sister’s home on Miles Street. They did it again this year but this time they heard about the Community Food Bank’s request for cereal. When I got to Kelly’s home near the end of Miles, I could see her front porch was brimming with boxes. So many, in fact, Kelly, in her bare feet, had to help me carry them over the gravel walkway to my car.

“Doesn’t that hurt?” I asked. “I could only walk on gravel barefoot if someone were shooting at me.”

“When it comes to bare feet,” Kelly replied, “men are such…”

I didn’t quite hear that last word because my mind was overwhelmed with the thought of jagged little rocks digging deep into my tender arches.

At the food bank Tuesday morning the cereal boxes reached twice as high as our highest stack ever. With so many hungry kids, the Divas can break our cereal stacking record any time they want.

We collected a total of 240 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $206.75, $175.00 in checks and $31.75 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

154th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-12-19T20:24:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

“Call Detective Mark and tell him to hurry.”

Maen Mdanat, owner of the Axis Food Mart

Since February 2010, I have been writing about my friend Maen Mdanat, the owner of the Axis Food Mart. The reason is he never disappoints me. Tiger Woods disappoints me. Joe Paterno and the whole Penn State crew disappoints me. But Maen, even as time and a stressful business economy trudges on, is the same person I met that chilly day in his parking lot almost two years ago . He reminds me of a company president who, when asked why he doesn’t take notes in meetings, said, “I don’t have to, I never lie.”
People have raised questions about Maen’s character, integrity and ethnicity when he applied for his beer and wine license and again when he applied for a liquor license. Those questions forced him to defend himself and his business and cost him a lot in legal fees. He prevailed with no malice in his heart.

Through all of those tribulations, I was one of his most ardent supporters because he listened to my ideas about protecting our neighborhood and helped eradicate the vagrant problem. During a licensing session at the city council, Councilman Frimbres shook our hands and asked me, “He’s still a good guy, right?”

“Yes, sir, he is,” I replied. I could tell Councilman Fimbres was counting on me to vouch for Maen because he knew how much my One Can A Week program means to me and that I wouldn’t jeopardize my reputation for anything.

Today there are more people standing in Maen’s corner providing support, namely the Tucson Police Department.

If you remember in June of this year I wrote in the 129th Week Update, The Beer Keg Caper about Maen’s efforts to help the police capture a thief. Well, a little over a week ago Maen received a letter from the Tucson Police Department with an update on the case and a commendation. The letter reads in full:

“Mr. Maen Mdanat,

“In June 2011, officers from the Tucson Police Department Liquor Licensing unit received information that numerous kegs were stolen from restaurants all over Tucson. The kegs were possibly being returned to receive money back from deposits.

“You were contacted reference this investigation and provided valuable information which lead to officers identifying one of the participants. On June 23, 2011, you phoned officers and advised the suspect was currently in your store returning more kegs. Officers were able to contact the individual. It was discovered two individuals were responsible for the thefts all over Tucson. The subjects were charged with multiple felony arrests due to your cooperation with the Tucson Police Department.

“The Tucson Police Department is thankful for your partnership in this investigation. Without your participation, this case probably would not have been resolved and the local businesses would continue to suffer financial losses. Sincerely, Captain Clayton Kidd, Commander Traffic Division.”

Maen’s been very good for the Miles Neighborhood in many, many ways.

I’ve thanked him a number time for keeping me and my neighbors safe. Perhaps in the spirit of the holiday season you could stop by his store and thank him yourself.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Rain and Shine

The rain chased the sun in and out of the clouds this past Sunday but no matter, we collected more than 30 lbs. above our weekly average. With great results like that, who cares if you get a little wet.

We collected a total of 200 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $107.50, a $25.00 check and $82.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

153rd Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-12-12T22:50:00.005-07:00

Hi Folks,

After 400 She Stopped Counting

Lorraine Aguilar stands beside one of the largest of many hundreds of nativity scenes that decorate her Miles Street home during the Christmas holiday. She is such a cheerful lady I wanted to capture her very warm smile in the photo but she became a bit involved in that “my picture is being taken thing.” “Cheese” wasn’t going to work so I said, just before I snapped the shutter, “Now tell yourself a dirty story.” Got it!

For the past 46 years, The St. Augustine Cathedral celebrates “Las Posadas” in neighborhoods around Tucson and the Aguilar Family is one of the homes the peregrinos or pilgrims look forward to visiting. The moment you enter Lorraine’s home you are surrounded with literally hundreds of nativity scenes in different sizes and design from around the world. They are on shelves and in cabinets and along the wall so no matter where you turn, your eyes are dazzled with images of the First Christmas. Lorraine said they stopped counting “after they bought their 400th nativity scene.”

“’Las Posadas’ (shelter) is a traditional Christmas Novena” the St. Augustine Cathedral bulletin states, that “commemorates the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem and their seeking shelter in anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ.

“’Las Posadas’ is a nine day procession of the faithful carrying the statues of the Holy Family while reciting and singing traditional prayers and songs. It was instituted in Acolman, Mexico, in 1587 by Fray Diego de Soria who wished to introduce a Christian Christmas devotion to the newly converted Aztec Indians. …This novena is still celebrated in Mexico and in many Hispanic communities throughout the world today.”

The host families this year in the Miles Neighborhood are the Cota-Robles Family on 12th Street and the Altamirano Family on Miles Street.

The event begins at 6:45 pm, Tuesday, December 20th on the Southwest Corner of Miles and Vine Streets.

Whether you are a member of the St. Augustine Cathedral or not, “Las Posadas” is a wonderful family event and a reminder in this age of technology and gadgets that “peace on earth” is still the best gift we can give each other.

Fortune Smiles

The first leg of my rounds Sunday was “unremarkable” as the doctors say but then I got a call from Barbara on 12th Street who was heading out to church and wanted to know when I would stop by. She has a $500.00 check she did not want to leave with the food at Lenny’s house. Lenny, too, was away celebrating a family birthday.

Turns out the check was written by Patricia, Lenny’s sister who manages a non-profit and this year they selected the Community Food Bank for a contribution.

That was not the end of it. After I completed my rounds at 2:15, I drove up to my Ford to unload and along the full length of the back bumper was a row of shopping bags. Kym had dropped off her 13th Street collection and it was maybe four times more than usual. In fact, she had to make a mid-round break to empty her Radio Flyer wagon because it was getting too heavy.

Kym told me that her neighbors across the street had a party Saturday night and the price of admission was a can or more for the Community Food Bank.

We collected a total of 276 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $606.50, $550.00 checks and $56.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

152nd Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-12-05T22:50:00.016-07:00

Hi Folks,

Big Changes Start with Little People

The price we pay for our free will is a blank slate. Unlike other animals that come with programmed instincts, each of us must start our journey on this planet knowing little more than how to suckle. And interestingly enough, just a few years later, we still have to be taught how to use a straw.

The blank slate or tabula rasa (for those with a high school Latin background) is a good thing especially when times are bad like now. Every day there are so many things challenging our stability we often wish for the “good old days” when the world was still a mess but we never heard about it. The internet, cell phones and instant communications are bringing all those negative images and thoughts right into our living rooms, our cars, our walks in the park and unfortunately, into our kids rooms, too. Nearly everyone is constantly connected to the good and the bad on this planet.

Since bad has few or no rules to encumber it’s progress and often looks like more fun than walking the line, a kind of chaos creep follows us around as we just go about out daily lives.

However, that blank slate we are all born with is really our one chance to evolve into a world that thrives on kindness. It all starts with the birth of a child and the parents’ resolve to only teach their offspring two things, tolerance and understanding.

Just the other day, Ari Kaplan, a best selling author and attorney in New York City, who has become a One Can A Week coordinator in his New Jersey neighborhood, sent me an email describing how he is helping his 6-year-old daughter learn to help others.

“Peter - just wanted to give you an update. We completed week four on Sunday and made our first delivery to the NJ Food Bank last week - 31 cans. We now have 12 homes participating.

“The best part is that I invited my 6-year-old daughter to join me in this endeavor. The first thing she did on her own was grab a pad and pencil to take inventory. At each house, she reads the can and writes down what it is -- then she signs her name on the 'one-can' (Thank You) note you provide on your website and we continue on. We walk and talk - it is a wonderful experience for us both. She is so excited when there is a can waiting (as am I) and was very proud to donate the bags of food that she personally collected. In fact, she often lets me know how much of the work she does -- cutting the notes, writing her name, leaving the notes, writing down the contents, etc. :) “

And that is my point exactly. Ari is doing his part to fill up his daughter’s blank slate with ideas that will make this a better world to live in, smartphones or not.

With the advent of cell phones, tablets and social media,
the prospect of standing in line to vote every two or four
years seems so disconnected and antiquated.

Stay-At-Home Community Activism

Four weeks into our One Can A Week program, I met Luis Gutierrez, the former City Manager on 13th Street who said he would participate because he felt the program showed respect. I came to his home to get his help. He liked that personal approach and the fact that he didn't have to get really involved in a time-consuming activity to help his community.

Seems Richard Fimbres, our Ward 5 Councilman has learned the same lesson with his vote-by-mail program. In his monthly email to his Ward 5 constituents, Councilman Fimbres wrote:

“This was the first election conducted solely through an all vote-by-mail process.

“My office brought this proposal to the Mayor and Council for consideration. In April of this year, the Mayor and Council discussed a proposal to change the hybrid system (voting by mail and polling place) of casting ballots in a city election to an all-mail ballot process. During these discussions, one of the points that I brought up was to have more people participate in the process by casting their votes.

“In addition, the potential question of reducing costs, in these hard economic times, through less poll workers, renting of voting equipment and locations, were other factors on why this proposal was brought forward. This proposal was approved by a 5 to 2 vote.

“This election showed that an all vote-by-mail process is a good start to get more people active, involved and casting their votes, and speaks for this system to continue to be used for future City elections.”

The numbers say it all. The average increase in voter participation was 18.35%. Amazing!

The next time you see Councilman Fimbres thank him for encouraging the Mayor and Town Council to help more folks to vote and to express themselves in their community.

Fruits Are Gaining Ground

Tis’ the season for harvesting fruit and it appears more and more folks are making it their business to donate as much as they can. Seventy-six pounds of grapefruits and bananas helped us cross the 200 lb. mark this week.

We collected a total of 230 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $33.00, a $25.00 check and $8.00 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

151st Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-11-28T22:19:00.006-07:00

Hi Folks,

-A Sweet Idea, Brother-

Anthony calls most guys brother. He’s big and imposing and served two tours in Iraq. So he can say just about anything he wants and even sell raw honey to the ladies. Nobody objects.

My One Can A Week display table was set up by 9:15 am Saturday morning in its usual spot—just inside the automatic doors on the right at the Rincon Market. A few minutes later a gentleman tried to place his display table on the other side of the doors but there was little room to maneuver. He dropped his table next to me and said, “I guess we’re neighbors.”

His demeanor reminded me of my days back in the Army when newly assigned soldiers showed up and were expected to settle in with little or no direction. They just pick a spot and drop their gear with a curt hello.

Within a few minutes, Anthony had his display of pint and half pint raw honey jars neatly arranged on a three-tier old barn wood rack. Each inquisitive prospect was offered a taste and if she agreed, he handed her a freshly dipped swizzle stick with a blob of honey on the end. He offered a sample to me and I gave it a try since my only experience with honey was a supermarket brand. This honey was less sweet and had a little bit of texture. That texture is pollen and bees’ wings and other things that bears really find appealing. I tend to agree with the bears. It tasted better than any other honey I’ve had.

“I’m Anthony. Have you been in the service?” he asked me out of the blue about a half hour after we first talked. “I’m Army.”

“I’m Army,’ I said to his delight, “but a different war.”

“You know, brother, you can tell about a man’s character after just a couple of minutes. I knew you were in the service.”

He asked and I told him about One Can A Week and the folks the Community Food Bank serves. Anthony explained his operation that is as high tech as a small business selling raw honey jars can get. He kept the cash in his pocket and his iPhone and an iPad with a credit card swipe device sticking out of one end of the tablet like a bee stinger did the rest.

“This is a simple business,” Anthony said “and I’m always looking for people to set up displays like this one. I have ten of these booths around the city and they text sales reports to me on their iPhones all day long.”

I mentioned Microloans and Anthony brought up city license requirements that make it tough on very small businesses.

We left it there and I headed for home and lunch. While attacking my sandwich and cookies, I read an article on the Huffington Post by Howard Fineman. Paul Rieckhoff: Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Of America Founder (The Inspirationals).

I was riveted.

Here was a soldier talking about what he learned in the war as a manager and a producer and how those skills fit into America’s financial dilemma now. I had just met Anthony and he was one of those high tech soldiers, too ... incredibly practical, innovative and entrenched in high tech wizardry. Getting shot at with little or no protection such as vests and armored vehicles makes more than a man or woman of you. It makes you an extraordinary problem solver.

After reading the article I felt hopeful that we will eventually come out of this mess where nearly 25% of Americans never know where their next meal is coming from and that percentage includes millions of kids.

If you need a boost similar to the one I got, read Mr. Fineman’s article, then go out and find one of those soldiers like Paul Rieckhoff or Anthony Tubbialo and help him or her help you make a difference. I know Anthony personally and I will help him develop his vendor program that will begin to create jobs for desperate folks. Soldering on is the way back to our future.

Free Business Forum in the Neighborhood
Richard Fimbres, our Ward 5 Councilman, is sponsoring a business forum on Wednesday, November 30th from 6 to 8 pm at the Fred G. Acosta Job Corps Center, 901 S. Campbell Avenue.

The forum includes a discussion on how to get access to business capital and employer services. In addition, you will learn what steps you need to take to do business with and in the City of Tucson.

Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

For more information: call 520-791-4231.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to talk business with Richard Fimbres.

So Much Produce

It took a whole cart to carry the produce we collected this week.

On Thanksgiving, Merle Stolar, my friend from high school, invited friends and family to a wonderful and delicious dinner in her equally wonderful and delicious home. As we left, I got to take home lots of boxed and bagged fruit that was donated to the food bank by each invited quest. Taking care of the needy in Tucson is part of Merle’s Thanksgiving tradition, too.

We collected a total of 264 lbs. of food, 106 lbs. of that in produce. The money we donated amounted to $36.50, a $25.00 check and $11.50 in cash. Also a neighbor donated a supermarket gift certificate for a $20.00 turkey.

See you Sunday,

Peter

150th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-11-21T22:08:00.006-07:00

Hi Folks,

The Man Behind the Idea

A month before I started One Can A Week back in 2009, I met Edward Altamirano in the middle of Miles Street walking his dog Kahlua. We had seen each other before during our many dog walks through the neighborhood but only waved. This day I was looking for someone to help me decide if I should go ahead with my food collection idea. I walked up to him and introduced myself.

“Let me ask you something, Ed. I am considering collecting One Can A Week from my neighbors every Sunday for my community service. What do you think of the idea and would you participate.” (Even then I know the word participate was the key ingredient in my food collection program, not the word join.)

Ed paused a moment. “You know, I am a city inspector and I go into peoples’ homes a lot and I often see empty kitchen cabinets and empty refrigerators. It’s disturbing. So yes, I will be glad to help.”

That image of Ed, with Kahlua at his side, in the middle of Miles Street is stuck in my head. He was the perfect person to ask. He faces the problem every day he goes to work. Whether this was an omen of some kind or not, at that very moment I talked to Ed, I decided to press forward with One Can A Week.

This past Sunday I asked Ed to leash up Kahlua and follow me into the street. I wanted to give him a present for helping me—lo these many years of Sundays ago—and, too, I wanted to capture on camera that image I have of Ed helping me leap into community service.

His monster hand nearly swallowed up the Community Food Bank/One Can A Week can opener I gave him. He liked it immediately and said he needed a new one.

Everyone who participates in One Can A Week in the Miles Neighborhood will get a can opener, but I wanted Ed to be among the first. After all, he’s the one who took my idea and made it real for me.

The Woman In Front of the Idea

Kristin Broksas, Director of Youth and Family Ministries at Catalina United Methodist Church, lived in the big house at the time I started One Can A Week. (I live in the guesthouse in the back.) So she was my closest neighbor and the first person I asked to participate that first Sunday. Just this Saturday, Kristin who moved to a beautiful home on Fremont Street held an early Thanksgiving dinner and when I responded to her Facebook invitation a short time back, she replied, “I hope you have A LOT of cans to take with you!!”

As Kristin has done in the past, she asks folks to bring a food donation for the Community Food Bank when they show up for dinner. And since Kristin is a wonderful cook and the meal is a total gourmet delight, guests stream in with cans in hand. This year Kristin collected 58 lbs. and of course I gave her one of the first Community Food Bank/One Can A Week can operners off the line.

Styling Seniors

The show was a sellout. And the first thing I said to Shannon Iggi, Program Director & Hospitality Manager at Villa Hermosa as I greeted her was, “You have to be congratulated, you got them all out of their rooms.” She smiled and quickly told me the schedule of events. The Dillard’s Fashion Show would start off the program and then there would be a little break This is where she would introduce me and I’d say a few words.

When the time came I told them about the great need and that they should take a tour of the Community Food Bank some day soon. (Shannon wants to schedule such a tour so I wasn’t speaking out of turn.)

More smiling and pinching of the fabric followed. Then another short break where Jack Steindler was presented with a Villa Hermosa/One Can A Week certificate for his efforts in keeping the program going. Shannon said Jack’s there in her office week after week reminding everyone to donate.

Jack Steindler receives a Villa Hermosa/One Can A Week certificate from Shannon Iggi for helping coordinate the collection of 1,826 lbs. of food for the Community Food Bank. He has been working on the program at Villa Hermosa since August, 2009.

Here is the donation table at the Dillard’s Fashion Show for the residence of Villa Hermosa. The framed sign reads: “Canned Food Donation Drop-off. Your donation supports the Tucson CommunityFood Bank. Thank you for your generosity.”

Chaos is More Photogenic
The fellow helping me today unload my trunk at the food bank probably is a relative of Adrian Monk or Felix Unger or some other orderly person like that. I came back with the second cart to fill and found the first a librarian’s dream.

We collected nearly 400 lbs. and when you are that neat it sure doesn’t look like 400 lbs. Oh well, it still is a lot of food and neatness doesn’t count.

We collected a total of 398 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $55.50, $45.00 in checks and $8.50 in cash.

Special Note: Everyone else we help with One Can A Week did a bang up job also. Here are the tallies: The Rincon Market, 116 lbs.; the Sunflower Market, 126 lbs. and Catalina Vista, 54 lbs. All toll, One Can A Week turned in 694 lbs. of food.

See you Sunday,

Peter

149th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-11-14T21:56:00.003-07:00

Hi Folks,

What Would a Lioness Do?

View of Miles Street from behind the wheel. Miles Street
floods like this every heavy rain. Hopefully the new Arroyo

Chico project will remedy the situation.

With all of that rain late Sunday morning it wasn’t hard to be captivated by Mother Nature. The mini river flowing down Miles Street forced me to drive on the left or traverse the floodwaters in my car by driving up into driveways. It was slow going but I did keep my leather boots dry.

Fifteen minutes into my rounds the clouds parted and the sun came out and stayed out until I finished at about 2. When something like that happens—clouds parting and the rains stopping—I always think some force of nature wants to help me feed the hungry. On the other hand, when it comes to everything else in life, I generally experience nothing that could be called luck.

By the time I got to Gerry’s home toward the end of Miles, the sun was seriously shining. The front porch had been rearranged and the rocking chair where the can of food normally rested on the seat now stood empty on the right side of the front door.

I hadn’t seen Gerry for several weeks since her husband of 60 years passed. With no sound from inside 30 seconds after pressing the bell I started to turn and go. The door suddenly opened and there stood Gerry in all her pink-robed splendor.

Following the intelligence of nature.

She mentioned how beautiful her husband’s service was and she was especially proud that five priests officiated making it all the more wonderful. Eventually I turned the conversation to how she was doing and how she was getting along. To most of my questions she answered no. She had no dog to keep her company because the last one was killed months ago and the pain of the loss was keeping her from get another one. I suggested a hamster because they make themselves know at night and that sound can be comforting. She smiled and again said no.

In the past two years, Gerry and I have had some very honest conversations especially when she became overwhelmed with caring for her grand kids and her ailing husband. Then as now I told her she really has to think of herself first and take care of herself. I mentioned that probably the best example in nature of one caring for oneself and others is the lioness.

Gerry listened intently as I explained that the lioness is a skilled provider and when she and the other lionesses in the pride bring down game, they eat first. Then the lion is allowed to eat followed by the cubs. If this order were not strictly observed, the pride would eventually perish.

If the lioness, the sole provider for the pride, ate last, there may not be enough food for her. She would grow weak, diminishing her effectiveness as a hunter. When this happens, the whole pride—her family, in other words—would grow weak too, and eventually die.

I could tell Gerry liked my little nature lesson and perhaps when she gets that lonely feeling at night, she may realize that being the matriarch of her family means that she comes first so that her family can last. I sure hope so but I will still keep checking on my friend every Sunday.

Fran Coleman, Senior Companion Program Manager of Our Family Services was the Master of Ceremonies for the Senior Companion’s Annual Recognition of Service 2011 program, held Wednesday, November 9 at Gee’s Garden Bistro.

Sue Krahe, Executive Director of Our Family Services and I scoot around the room handing out two Certificates of Appreciation to each of the volunteers. Photo by Maripaz Preciad

One Can A Week
Certificate of Appreciation

Who Called These Folks Retired

Even at the Annual Recognition luncheon for the Senior Companion program the food donations for the Community Food Bank piled up at the front registration desk. It is obvious that the volunteers at Our Family Services are not only committed to helping seniors in need, they also want to feed as many hungry kids and their families as they can.

Just Another Sunday

When I arrived at the Community Food Bank Monday afternoon some of the food containers in the trunk of my car were still damp from the dousing they got the day before. What’s so impressive about my neighbors is rain or shine the food keeps coming.

We collected a total of 190 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $38.00, a $25.00 check and $13.00 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

148th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-11-07T21:13:00.006-07:00

Hi Folks,

Villa Hermosa Still Going Strong

with One Can A Week

Shannon Iggi, Program Director &
Hospitality Manager, Villa Hermosa

“Jack Steindler is consistently promoting One Can A Week at Villa Hermosa, “ Shannon informed me as we talked last Friday in the very warm and comfortable seating area facing the sunny entrance.

Since August, 2009, One Can A Week has been part of the varied social activities offered the residents at the Senior Living Center. “We are having a social on Thursday afternoon, November 17th” Shannon said, “and we would like you to come and talk a little bit about what is going on with One Can A Week.”

“Then,” she continued, “we would like to set up a tour of the Community Food Bank in the very near future. I think our residents would love to see where their donations go.

Jack Steindler, Villa Hermosa resident
and One Can A Week enthusiast

Jack was one of the Old Pueblo Rotarians I met following a One Can A Week luncheon presentation at McMahon's Prime Steakhouse. He called me a couple of weeks later and asked to meet at Villa Hermosa.

Jack and his fellow residents have been around eight or nine decades yet they still strive to stay involved. What keeps Jack going is the thought that we could end hunger here in Tucson if lots of people got involved with One Can A Week. Jack recognizes that it’s a lofty goal but he’s not giving up … and neither am I.

Mellow Yellow
That’s the feeling I get when I still see all of those Cheerios boxes and bananas. Some kids are going to have that all-important breakfast for the next week or so. We just have to keep the cereal coming.

We collected a total of 172 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $34.50, a $25.00 check and $9.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

147th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-10-31T22:37:00.002-07:00

Hi Folks,

You Can Feel the Pain in His Heart

It was pretty obvious that Bill Carnegie, CEO of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona loves his job. Months back, as he took Bobby Rich from MIXfm and me on a personal tour of the huge warehouse facility—which in itself is an indication of the huge problem he oversees—Bill talked glowingly about his up-to-date food distribution center and the numerous programs they have in place to feed the needy in Tucson.

The ever-increasing demand for food is the reason the
Community Food Bank’s shelves are often empty.

Just a few days ago I received a copy of Nourishing News, their quarterly newsletter. In his "A Note from the President" column, Bill’s presentation was a bit more somber. "Four years ago,” he wrote, “we were assisting about 98,000 men, women and children each month; today that number is 235,000. We are nervous about the future."

Well, considering the planet Earth is now home to more than 7 billion humans as calculated by the UN Population Fund and growing 220,980 more souls daily, we all should be nervous right along with Bill. If we don't all take this problem seriously, Mother Nature, in the long run, will correct the situation. And that won't be pretty.

In the short term, while we create those long-term programs to modify human behavior, there is something we can do right now. Be fair.

Those two words seem to have disappeared from the lexicon of those in congress, the health care industry, the oil companies, and the financial institutions. Actually it appears most of the significant organizations running our society have lost their sense of fairness.

But then there are those rays of hope slicing through the darkness. For instance, the National Football League sets up its annual draft of the newest and brightest players by ranking teams in reverse order based on the prior season's record. Then they allow the worst team to pick first. Spreading the talent around and helping the less fortunate in the NFL just makes good business sense. Who’s going to attend or watch a game where the downtrodden keep on getting more down troddened.

One of the first things our parents and teachers encourage us to do in our early socialization process is to share. It, too, makes good sense and it makes for peaceful and productive communities. Why this concept becomes alien to many adults who have some bucks in the bank and a lust for power in their hearts is one of those great mysteries of life.

In the 1960s when materialism became the all-consuming goal here in America, it was said, “the one who dies with the most toys, wins.” This is an axiom with an interesting and profound word choice. Aren’t toys for kids and aren’t kids supposed to share on their way to becoming caring adults?

Bill, and the rest of us, wouldn’t have to be so nervous about the future if the answer to those two questions is a simple “Yes.”

Keep the Cereal Coming
Breakfast food is not the cheapest product on the supermarket shelves but lots of folks are stepping up to take care of the kids. Every week we donate stacks of cereal boxes which, in turn, helps keep kids healthy and productive in the classroom.

We collected a total of 156 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $42.50, $7.50 in cash and two checks for $35.00.

See you Sunday,

Peter

146th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-10-24T21:41:00.005-07:00

Hi Folks,

Tweet-like Update,

but With More Characters

It didn't take long to count the cash donations at the Rincon Market Saturday because there weren't that many. So I decided to stick around longer than usual to see if I could put some energy into the collection plate. The dollars were stacking up and then a gentleman approached my table.

"Is this program affiliated with a religion?" he asked?

"No," I replied.

He quickly withdrew a $5 bill from his pants pocket and dropped it on the plate. As he walked away I said to myself, "But I have to tell you, I do my One Can A Week program religiously."

The Miles School cafeteria is no picnic when it comes to ease of access for a number of our neighbors. With all of those stairs and gates to negotiate, it becomes a bit of a pain in the knee to attend our monthly neighborhood meeting. Consequently, Lorraine Aguilar, the sweetheart that she is, requested that we meet in the Miles Gym. Great idea! The access problem solved, but even bats won’t stay in that gym because of the horrific acoustics. It’s nearly impossible to hear a person speaking in a normal voice seated just 15 feet away.

When I spoke to Lorraine last Sunday and suggested we go back to the cafeteria, she came up with a better idea.

“How about holding our monthly meetings in people’s homes?“ she asked.

Lorraine is going to talk to others to see if there is interest. I like the idea because a change of venue may generate more interest in attending our meetings … even if they are there just to check out the drapes.

In last week’s update, There Are So Many Things to Fix… a couple of folks found the inspiration they needed to help feed America’s hungry kids.

Ari Kaplan, a nationally known author, business consultant and motivational speaker, sent me an email from his home in New York.. “…just wanted to let you know that I am doing my first can pick-up on Sunday :) So far, 3 of my neighbors have agreed - you have to start somewhere! Will keep you posted. Thanks for the inspiration.”

Phoebe Fox in Phoenix wrote, “To be honest, I haven't read these updates in a little while (life has been busy). The boys and I took a summer break from One Can a Week, and I am just now thinking about starting up again. My friend Emy and I had a great conversation about it today, and we got so excited by discussing the idea of how we could help make One Can a Week grow in Phoenix. Your email tonight inspired me to email my neighbors; it gave me just what I needed to get back into it and "do something". Thank you!”

Just one email inspires me to keep writing … and I got two. Wow!

Moments before she left, Martha introduced herself.

"Is that your car?" she asked right after making her purchase.

I was working Sunday for a few hours at Axis to help out my friend Maen. He wanted to take his kids to the pumpkin patch and I thought that was something he should do since he works maybe 70 hours a week.

"Can you tell me what that is all about?"

As I explained the One Can A Week program I could see an intense interest in her eyes. "I like that idea," she proclaimed, "and you will see me later when I check out your blog."

Most folks say that, but Martha’s eyes told me she will be back.

Giant Cereal Box

It takes two hands to carry the 9 lb. box of Quaker Oats cereal someone donated Sunday. That monster box is going to keep a lot of hungry tummies warm this winter, that’s for sure.

We collected a total of 174 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $31.50, a $25.00 check and $6.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

145th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-10-17T22:35:00.003-07:00

Hi Folks,

There are so many things to fix

yet only one simple thought

occupies everyone’s mind.

Diane McEachern from the very small town of Bethel in western Alaska helps
explain the essence of Occupy Wall Street for those befuddled by the movement.
To read her full story, click on the link to the Los Angeles Times/Nation website.

While checking out my favorite news sites Saturday afternoon the above photo of Diane McEachern jumped out at me. I didn’t see the headline or the caption…just the photo. Of course, I thought, that is what Occupy Wall Street is all about. And having a cacophony of causes under one umbrella is suddenly not confusing to me any more.

Occupy Wall Street is a simple tool, like One Can A Week, where ordinary concerned citizens can personally do something about an awful situation by exerting very little energy. Pitch a quiet tent in a city park and you are doing something very important. You have finally found something you can do about the abuses of the financial system, the astonishing lack of jobs or the closing of your favorite library. It is the powerful feeling of doing something— not the cause(s)—that is so exhilarating and motivating.

I immediately understood the concept when I saw this poignant image of a lone woman with here peaceful pups. (Those guys look like they get it, too.)

The organizers of Occupy Wall Street are also aware of what they have discovered as indicated by their insistence on and off camera that a precise cause does not matter. Just the thought of doing something simple motivates people to help make great changes. They will keep the occupations going and by sheer numbers of voters attending these events, things will change. When it is time, the organizers will probably say, “Now go vote. Pick the candidates that talk about changing what you want to see changed.”

We are celebrating our 145th consecutive week of collecting food for the hungry in Tucson. One hundred and forty-five weeks of doing something simple like taking a neighbor’s can of food to the food bank. Apparently, we have been occupying the Miles Neighborhood for some time now.

The Bigger Picture

We are here on this planet to help each other but when the powerful make us feel helpless, hopeless and weak, it is time to do something simple like Occupy the Tundra in Alaska. or Armory Park in Tucson. Just by standing next to other 99%ers, we can gather our collective strength and vote into office those

who are able to help, not hinder our compassionate view of the world.

We do have to face up to and face down those who want to challenge our democratic way of life for the sake of a quick buck. All it will take is each of us, like Diane McEachern in Bethel, Alaska deciding to occupy a small space with a simple idea.

Banana Bonanza

We still donated lots of cereal boxes and peanut butter jars but bananas were by far the most plentiful food product this week. Exactly 100 lbs. worth of bananas accompanied 10 lbs of potatoes topped off with a colorful bunch of radishes.

We collected a total of 238 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $33.00, a $25.00 check and $8.00 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

144th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-10-11T21:53:00.003-07:00

Hi Folks,

Hacked.

Don’t you just hate it when a lot of little things go wrong, one right after another. Monday was a holiday and I thought, as in months past, that the Community Food Bank was closed. I planned on a Tuesday afternoon delivery.

Consequently, on Monday night I prepped for my blog, researching logos and links for my story on Feeding America and The Corporation for National and Community Service. (This article will appear in next week’s update.)

Months ago, Norton warned me about an attack while searching for an innocuous round cornered label image on Google. Seems Google was having problems with infected images which they soon fixed.

But nothing disturbed Norton Monday night and I blithely clicked away. Tuesday morning, Aisling, a Barrio San Antonio friend of mine asked me about an email she got. She knew something was up. Then I got another email from a friend and another. Eventually, Bobby Rich and Bill Carnegie, the CEO of the Community Food Bank checked in.

Bobby said change my password and the problem will go away. Soon after he told me I did just that.

Although everyone was expecting the normal Tuesday morning Update from me, they got something totally different and were puzzled. After I settled down Tuesday morning I realized that perhaps it was a good thing I erroneously gave the Food Bank a holiday on Monday. This mistake on my part saved me from a real spamming situation Tuesday morning.

My most upsetting thought was that I worked years to build my readers’ trust and then with a click of a mouse by a jerk in a basement somewhere, all that trust went down the drain.

This thought, too, was quelled by reason when my friends sent me copies of the spam and stated they knew this wasn’t me. I wished evil upon the hacker but then surmised that I couldn’t wish more trouble and turmoil in the hacker’s brain than already exists there now.

Thanks for trusting that you know me so well…because you really do.

__________________________________________________________

Just received a disturbing report from the Association of Arizona Food Banks titled:

“Wonder What Hunger Costs Us?

New Research Calculates The Staggering Tab”

One fact included in the write up states that “In Arizona, our tab is nearly $4 billion, a 35% increase over 2007 and the 12th largest increase of any state.”

Click on the link below to read the entire report. (Notice the guy standing in the food line, he could be any one of us.) New research from the Center for American Progress.

Something is Happening at the Arroyo Chico Apartments

For a couple of years now I have had a couple of Arroyo Chico neighbors participate in One Can A Week. Suddenly, now there are four apartments in a row hanging donations on their doorknobs or placing cans on their stoops. Guess its just neighbors helping neighbors to step up.

We collected a total of 198 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $34.50, a $25.00 check and $9.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

143rd Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-10-03T21:38:00.002-07:00

Hi Folks,

We are the same size …

but we keep on growing

Click on to enlarge.

With the economy yet on the skids—accounting for more and more hungry families to feed—we still moved ahead of last year’s third quarter totals. When we compare the 2010 Third Quarter figures with this year’s results below, we ended up collecting 553.5 lbs. more food and donating $94.58 more cash. We just get better with each passing week!

Also, I'd like to give a special thanks to Barbara Farragut on 12th Street who collected over 256 lbs. of fresh produce in the past three months.

“Hungry as a Horse”

That’s the first thing Jacob Coldsmith, the Logistics Manager at the Community Food Bank said when he laid eyes on the stuffed carousel pony. My neighbor on Santa Rita had no more room for him at his inn so he wanted to donate the critter to the food bank. Would I take him? Of course, he’s a horse, and some little kid will love him to pieces.

We collected a total of 170 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $90.50, a $25.00 check and $65.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

142nd Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-09-26T22:06:00.009-07:00

Hi Folks,

Counter Intelligence

View of the Cabriolet (red arrow, top center) in the Axis
Food Mart parking lot from behind the customer counter

“Is that your car? Really different. What’s it all about?”

If there is going to be a conversation with new customers during my 7 am to 1 pm shift at the Axis Food Mart, that’s generally how it starts.

Since the Cabriolet is the only car in the parking lot and I am the only soul around, then obviously it’s my car. But I let the deductive reasoning slide and quickly explain my community service.

A few weeks ago, a new customer listened to my spiel, took his change and a couple steps toward the door before turning around.

“You know,” he said, while placing his plastic bag back up on the counter, “I teach sports to young kids and the other day I discovered one of them was stealing from me.”

His statement seemed to conjure up the hurt he felt. I could see it in his eyes.

“I don’t know what to do,” he lamented.

Years ago, when I ran my graphics reproduction firm back in Princeton, NJ, I encountered a similar situation. My petty cash was light a number of times over a 30-day period and I figured out who was taking advantage of the unprotected cash.

He was a good kid, mostly, and turned out to be a better adult, but at this moment, he was headed down the wrong road. After the next pilfer job, I sat him down and held a simple discussion on trust and honesty. I told him two things. He’s got to admit he stole the money and if he does, nothing will happen to him.

If he doesn’t admit his wrong, his deed will weigh heavy on his heart the rest of his life because he didn’t think the whole process through. If he does not face the other side of the theft, that is, what his victim is thinking, he will never know or understand trust. All he will ever experience is mistrust. And that mistrust is one hurdle one’s self esteem can never jump over. The kid told me, albeit it, haltingly, that he took the money and we never mentioned it again … to anyone. That was his first day of consciously choosing to live in a world of trust.

“I’ll try that,” my customer said as he grabbed his bag and headed back to the door. “I’ll talk to the kid.”

Last week, the coach came back and told me he did have that conversation with his student and the kid admitted his mistake. Then the coach reached into his wallet, pulled out a $50 bill and handed to me.

“That’s for the Community Food Bank and your help,” he said. He pushed his wallet back into his pocket and left abruptly.

I’m thinking that since my Cabriolet is often the instigator of these heady conversations, I’m going to spiff it up a bit this coming weekend with a new coat of wax. Then, maybe, one of my stories will be worth a $100 bill for the Community Food Bank.

Frank Flasch making his firs
delivery to the Community Food
Bank.

John Rorke, the graduate student
at ASU School of Social Work,
introduced Frank to our One Can
A Week program

Frank collected 52 lbs. in his
first week. Our first Miles
Neighborhood donation
was 22 lbs. so Frank is off to a
great start.

Just the Beginning
Meet Mr. Frank Flasch. He’s an engineer who fully understands the meaning of the word consistency. In fact, his profession requires it or things he builds would fall down.

Frank lives in the Old Ft. Lowell Neighborhood and he decided to develop his own One Can A Week program.

Besides the normal neighborhood layout with streets and sidewalks, there are gated communities, too. He likes this aspect because it brings a new dimension to One Can A Week. How does one get those neighbors involved with feeding the hungry families in Tucson when there are rules to follow such as "No Solicitation Beyond These Gates.”.

In a few weeks Frank will tell us how he is doing and how to encourage folks who live in gated communities to donate to the Community Food Bank on a weekly basis. Bet the solution will be fascinating.

Three Weeks in a Row

When the photos of the food carts for the past three Sundays are placed side by side, all three cereal stacks are equally as tall. Don’t question the phenomenon, just keep on doing it.

We collected a total of 168 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $81.50, a $25.00 check and $56.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

141st Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-09-19T22:08:00.003-07:00

Hi Folks,

“Go Spend Some Money”

Although Ron Abbott, the owner of the Rincon Market and I apparently voted for different candidates in the last national election, we think a lot alike. And that’s the way it should be.

Most of the time Ron is very busy Saturday mornings prepping for catering parties later in the day or making those eye-popping omelets. Maybe once a month he takes a few minutes out to talk to me about business … his favorite subject next to stories about his grand kids.

Within a minute or so he started discussing the economy. “You know,” he said, “there is only one way to fix the economy, go out and spend some money. Spending money makes our economy work. If you hold back your money, everything slows down.”

I’m always telling folks to do something, not wait for the government to solve all of our problems. So this was music to my ears. Ron mentioned that he is maintaining his staff levels and is paying his loyal crew way above the minimum wage. But like other company’s in Tucson, business at the Rincon Market is a roller coaster ride every week.

“When people complain to me about the economy,” Ron added, “I tell them we’ve got to fix the economy and to fix it we just have to spend money. If those with money spend the money the economy will improve.”

Ron’s dead right, you know. In fact I’m thinking about getting one of those new, 110-watt washer/dryer combo units that is really high tech. It’s expensive, but what the heck, if I’m going to be broke, at least I’m going to be clean.

Related Good News
While eating dinner tonight I watched Brian Williams on the NBC Evening News. About half way through his report, he talked about jobs coming home from China. It seems that wages in China are jumping 30% to 40% a year. In addition, because of the One Child Rule, they are having trouble finding young, less expensive workers. Consequently, their manufactured goods prices are getting to normal, developed-country levels and manufacturing in the good ol’ USA is becoming competitive again. (Click on the link above to view the news story.)

Even if our workers are a little pricey, the quality of their work more than compensates for the added expense. (Low quality is another one of China’s problems.) Then you mix in Ron’s directive to spend money and I’m feeling a little more optimistic today. Hope you are, too.

More of the Same
This week’s cereal donations numbered 22 boxes and bags. Amazingly, it is the same number of boxes and bags we collected last week. How do you folks do that?

We collected a total of 170 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $44.00, a $25.00 check and $19.00 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

140th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-09-12T21:47:00.001-07:00

Hi Folks,

Answering Jacob’s Call

This week’s fruit, peanut butter and cereal all in a row.

The wind blew the nearly 6-foot stack of cereal over before I got this photo. One of the Community Food Bank’s crew helped me by holding the stack in place, then on my signal, stepped quickly out of the frame.

Last week, our first collection of cereal, fruit and peanut butter in response to a request by Jacob Coldsmith, the Logistics Manager at the Food Bank, was significant, too, but well below the wind barrier.

It is obvious cereal is way up, but so to was peanut butter and canned fruit. Notice that huge can of Dole pineapple. It’s bigger than the bunch of bananas in the background.

There is one more notable statistic to admire. Even with all of that cereal, our weight was 14 lbs. above our weekly average. Apparently Jacob’s concern that our weekly weight would drop if we concentrated on breakfast cereal is not a concern at all. How nice!

We collected a total of 182 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $30.90, a $25.00 check and $5.90 in cash.

Just getting started a week ago.

This week’s normal glamour shot doesn’t tell
the whole story as emphatically as the first
photo above, but all of that cereal flowing out
of the cart is still impressive.

See you Sunday,

Peter

139th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-09-06T21:35:00.010-07:00

Hi Folks,

Progress Times Seven

John’s donation in the catbird seat.

Quietly Committed
For a couple of years now, John, my friend and computer client, has given me a Costco-sized box of canned vegetables, soups, peanut butter or tuna every time we meet. To show my appreciation and respect, I place his donation in the top right corner of our One Can A Week food cart. It sticks out there but somewhat modestly.

Apparently his unassuming dedication to feeding the hungry is making a difference on his home front, too.

Carrying on the Tradition

Heidi, John’s lovely wife decided, in honor of Patriot Day, to coordinate a food drive at her office. She works for Climatec, “one of the Southwest’s leading providers of advanced building technologies for a wide variety of industries and buildings.” They have offices in Phoenix, and Tucson in addition to Albuquerque, NM and Irvine, Riverside and San Diego, CA.

In her email to the folks in the Tucson office, Heidi wrote, “In recognition of this occasion. Climatec is sponsoring a food drive to support the Tucson Food Bank’s One-Can-a-Week program.

“We will be collecting contributions through Friday, September 9th.

“Let’s remember to live, laugh and love in honor of those we lost.”

Exactly!

Community Food Bank is honored

guest at neighborhood backyard

barbeque.

Let’s Eat and Do Something
It is obvious John’s and Heidi’s friends are also paying attention to their inconspicuous commitment to feeding the needy. John sent me a copy of an email updating neighbors invited to this past weekend’s barbeque.

“BBQ at Ron & Giff's on Sunday - we are going to bring the tri-tip I got yesterday. Giff just dropped off 3 cases of beans and a case of Mac n cheese for our food drive!!!!”

Like John and Heidi, if more and more people did something that didn’t take much effort but they did that something on a consistent basis, others would notice and jump right in to help.

Miles Explatory Learning
Center

School’s Open
It didn’t take Rebecca Lipson long to get her One Can A Week program started again at the Miles School. But she is taking a number of new directions this year to encourage her students’ and their parents’ commitment to care for our hungry families here in Tucson.

Rebecca wrote, “I just wanted to let you know that One Can a Week is up and running again at Miles. I have a great group of kids working on it and we have already implemented some changes that I am hoping will help keep the momentum going through the year.

“Our bulletin board is a tree theme, with each classroom being a branch of the tree. For every 10 pounds donated, that classroom will get a leaf added to their branch, so they can see how much their donations add up. At the request of the teachers, we moved the board to have more visibility for the elementary students. We are also focusing on a specific food theme for each week--peanut butter, canned meats, beans, cereal, etc. This was my students' idea last year in their end of the year brainstorm about how to make it more successful this year. I'm hoping this gives the kids something specific to focus on and help families know what to donate.

“At this point I am planning on delivering the donations to the Food Bank on Monday afternoons. I am hoping to get more families and/or staff involved by having different people delivering the donations to the Food Bank, but I'm still working that out.”

What I am sure of is Rebecca will work it out, or think of something else that will truly make a difference.

Rosemary at the Sunflower Market

Up again, down again

We always try to encourage consistency in our One Can A Week program which the Sunflower Farmers Market is taking seriously.

The first week in August they donated 100 lbs. The next 5 weeks looked like this: 30 lbs., 6 lbs., 84 lbs., 8 lbs., 66 lbs. Even though it’s a bit of a seesaw ride, they still donated an average of 49 lbs. per week. And no matter what anyone says, that’s impressive for a pink food donation box

Rincon Market

Capitalism at its Finest
When told about the current need at the Community Food Bank for cereal, canned fruit and peanut butter, Ron Abbott, the owner of the Rincon Market, said he would instruct his grocery buyer to find private label deals to maximize his customers’ donations. And maximize he did. This week the shopping cart was overflowing with cereal boxes and other stuff. Next week will be just as impressive.

When Ron and I say One Can A Week is a capitalist idea, this is exactly what we are talking about.

Catalina Vista Neighborhood

Our Youngest Coordinator

Maria is 15 years old and wants to go to medical school. For her community service she decided on One Can A Week. This is a great choice because our program has so many ramifications including community organizing, the psychology of group donations, and of course, feeding the hungry.

In our first meeting, I suggested Maria keep a log of her experiences especially those that directly relate to personal growth and the understanding of group dynamics. When it comes time to write her essay for her Harvard Medical School application, she will really have something to say.

In her email below, you can see Maria took the advice to heart.

“Hello Peter,

“Last week was actually my first week to spread the word, and this was my first collection week. So far things have gone great! So far over 84% of those who have answered their door have agreed to participate, and 100% of those 84% have remembered! I spent about 30 minutes chatting with Ellen Adelstein (your former classmate), and enjoyed getting to know her, although my dad (who was riding around the neighborhood on his bike while I went from house to house) got a little too worried. …I look forward to next week!”

Imagine over 102 weeks of reflections and changes to both herself and her neighborhood. Can’t wait to read that paper.

Cereal Doesn’t Lighten the Load
When Jacob Coldsmith at the Community Food Bank asked us to add cereal, peanut butter and canned fruit to our donation list, he thought it might adversely affect our total weekly weight. (Cereal boxes are big but quite light. It’s the milk that bulks up this important breakfast food.)

Even with a 4-foot stack of cereal, we beat our weekly average. The great equalizer was the increase in peanut butter and canned fruit donations.

So keep the cereal coming, we’ll still tip the scales as a heavyweight.

We collected a total of 170 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $6.20 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

138th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-08-29T22:17:00.006-07:00

Hi Folks,

Reason Rides a BMX Bike

In hindsight, everything that happened in the BMX tête à tête was simply a matter of intelligence. Not all of the information relating to the BMX park was know by everyone at the same time.

For instance, when the Miles Neighborhood meeting flyer was distributed on Sunday, August 14th it was not mentioned that the agenda for the next Pima County Flood Control meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 25th was going to be solely about the BMX bike course. Several key players knew this fact but did not think it important to share this information with others.

In the meantime, BMX supporters, who were in the majority, sensed that they should insist on making their position known in a motion. That motion was reluctantly adopted.

A few minutes after the Pima County Flood Control meeting opened Thursday evening, everything became clear. If the Miles Neighborhood Association had not acted on the motion and just settled for more questions, this Flood Control meeting would have been a complete bust.

Both Barrio San Antonio and the BMXers who built the BMX course wanted it to stay exactly as it is now constructed. No changes. No additions. No improvements.

Andrew, the Miles Neighborhood Co-chair took the floor and supported their position. He then defined “just like it is,” based on the recently approved motion There will be no lights, no spectator stands, no parking lot, no BMX events and if the construction crews level the course, the BMX bikers who built it in the first place will rebuild.

Everyone at the meeting agreed and smiles appeared throughout in the room. Then the Flood Control moderator closed by saying that the final call will be made by the City’s Risk Management office. If they approve then the project can move forward. If not… well, there will be no BMX park. Still, the smiling continued.

In a month or so, the two neighborhoods are planning a potluck something or other to get to know each other better. Then when the next project on the Arroyo Chico agenda, park benches and things, is up for discussion, they will do the intelligent thing. Ask questions about the process first and then ask what are the options, if any.

“Great Need for Cereal, Peanut Butter and Canned Fruit”
That’s how Jacob Coldsmith, Logistics Manager at the Community Food Bank put it in his email to me last Wednesday. Until January 2012, these kid related food products are in short supply and Jacob is reaching out to One Can A Week for help.

On the right is the flyer we passed out to our neighbors this past Sunday. As the fates would have it, we’re off to a great start. (See weekly donations below.)

If these items fit into your donation plan, that’s wonderful. But remember, any food donation you make is truly appreciated.

It Must Have Been in the Air
Even before the Urgent Need flyer hit the streets, people were already preparing to donate cereal, peanut butter and some canned fruit.

Barbara Farragut on 12th Street collects food in her sister-in-law's small, Cul-de-Sac neighborhood every three months.. This Sunday the collection was nothing but cereal, Mac & Cheese and some peanut butter. It got us off to a good start to help hungry kids, but Barbara is still shaking her head. “How did they know?” she asked.

We collected a total of 180 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $133.00, two checks for $125.00 and $8.00 in cash.

Aida, the sister of Lenny Cota-Robles, one of our 12th Street volunteers, donated a one hundred dollar check. Surprises like that are just so … surprising.

See you Sunday,

Peter

137th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-08-22T21:59:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

That Wasn’t Pretty…

But There Was One Beautiful Resolve

A week before the Miles Neighborhood Association meeting, Bill Richards, Co-chair of the Association sent out a notice encouraging everyone to attend the season opener. He also made it abundantly clear that he did not approve of the BMX park, a hot issue on the agenda.

Generally, six to eight neighbors attend Miles Neighborhood Association meetings and the most interesting thing on the agenda is the snack tray Josie from 13th Street provides.

This month was different, really different. Five minutes after the meeting opened all of the seats were filled and folks were still streaming in. There were more than 30 people sitting in or scattered around the circle of chairs.

Instead of starting with a discussion of the BMX park, Bill selected less controversial subjects on the agenda. Renaming the new footbridge in the Arroya Chico Park in honor of Luis Gutierrez, our neighbor and long-time Tucson city manager, for example That motion passed unanimously.

About then, Richard Fimbres, our neighbor and Ward 5 City Councilman entered the gym with his wife Mary. He stopped to shake my hand as he passed along the wall on the way to take up a position behind the circle of chairs. In a few minutes he and Mary sat down.

Bill continued with the agenda. Do the neighbors want turf or natural landscaping in a section of land buttressing 12th Street? This conversation dragged on and on because Bill wanted to make sure everyone understood that although it was a Pima County Flood Control project, the Parks Department would maintain the plot of land.

Half way through the stimulating dirt or grass discussion, I surmised that Bill did not intend to recognize Mr. Fimbres from the floor. I walked up to Andrew, the other Co-chair who stood ten feet away from where Bill was and told him he should interrupt Bill and introduce our Councilmen. He did not know Mr. Fimbres by sight but said he would.

I went back to my wall post and waited. Again no action except Andrew stepped a few feet closer to Bill. My impatience grew more impatient. I raised my hand and interrupted the proceeding.

“I have two items, Bill. Can we move the proceeding along and make a motion on the grass. Also, I would like to introduce our Ward 5 Councilmen Richard Fimbres. He is accompanied by his wife Mary. Mr. Fimbres does a lot of wonderful things for our community and I thought all of you should meet him.”

On Thursday I talked to Bill about his lack of decorum and mentioned that I have a real problem with people disrespecting people, especially leaders in the community. I asked that in the future, since he knows what is right, he must do what is right. Bill apologized.

Nearly an hour into the meeting Bill turned to the BMX park. He began by explaining that Barrio San Antonio, our neighbor to the east, had expressed to Pima County Flood Control that they like the BMX park. Then he went on to say he has heard that there are some who want to open the BMX park to the whole city. He is against that. And then there is the parking issue, the drugs, the fact that the BXM park is not in the Pima County Flood Control plans.

That stimulated the audience a bit since the BMX park has been in existence for 5 years, hand built and maintained by BMXers, adults and kids. And not a speck of trouble reported to anyone. The drug issue was brought up a number of times by the same few. I thought that comment was really funny. Myself, I would love to see druggies on BMX bikes. They would sober up one second before they took their first jump or perhaps end up wrapped around a tree somewhere, never to bother us again.

An articulate 14-year-old girl named Willa who lives with her mother Shannon on Cherry Street countered the parking question.

“I have lots of friends who use the BMX park and their parents just drop them off on Saturday so there is no parking.”

The focus of the discussion narrowed when Greg who lives on Cherry Street made a motion. Based on his knowledge of Barrio San Antonio’s sentiment toward the BMX park, Greg’s motion stated that dirt trails were okay, but no concrete, no fencing and no lights is acceptable to our neighborhood. In other words, we like it as it is. That’s all he wanted to get into the record.

In the next 45 minutes, Bill stated his opposition in varying ways that included, “Who knows what will happen?” The Pima County Flood Control is in charge. They have no plan for the BMX park. And so on.

Greg moved around a bit in back of the circle of chairs slightly softening his motion each time two or three neighbors gave him support. I thought moving was a great strategy because it appeared several people were making the same motion. Later Greg told me he moved because he was frustrated. I’m going to give him credit anyway for a neat idea.

As it became more apparent that most of the neighbors in the meeting liked Greg’s motion and that Bill did not intend to represent the majority’s opinion to Pima County Flood Control, Andrew stepped in as Co-chair and offered a compromise. Actually he said the same thing as Greg but coming from him it went to a vote. That vote, 22 Yes, 6 No and 9 Abstain, highlighted the bewilderment of the neighbors. After the meeting the conversation turned to: “What was that all about? What’s the big deal?

The next day I spoke to Bill and Jamie at their home but listened first. Jamie said he had “witnesses” that one or two non-neighbors entered two Yes votes. That was our fault I said. It is apparent we don’t know our neighbors on sight.

Bill maintained that the Pima County Flood Control was in charge and they will have the final ruling on the BMX park. That’s all well and good, I told him, but it is his job as Co-chair to represent all of the neighbors, not his own special interest. We get enough of this kind of behavior out of the Congress in Washington. And we can’t do much about that, But in the Miles Neighborhood, my neighborhood, we’re not going to let that happen here. Kids are first, and they will get their parks and they will get their playgrounds.

On Sunday many neighbors talked to Kym, Barbara, Lenny and me as we made our One Can A Week rounds. They were surprised and concerned about the tension in the neighborhood meeting but many said they are going to attend more neighborhood meetings and will engage more to make sure we all remain civil. Now that is a beautiful thing.

More Thinking About the Kids
This Sunday it was apparent folks were considering kids when deciding on what to donate. We got lots of cereal and three toothbrushes. (Follow the red arrows.) One was a princess that runs on batteries. Some little person is going to really like that one.

We collected a total of 160 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $47.10, a $25.00 check and $22.10 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

136th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-08-15T21:23:00.007-07:00

Hi Folks,

BMX Athletes Want to Ride, Not Write

In the past week lots of Miles neighbors talked to each other about the proposed BMX dirt jumps in our new Arroyo Chico park. This is a good thing even though most of them didn’t know that BMX stands for Bicycle Motocross, a very popular bone breaking and nose bending sport millions of young men and women athletes just love. But who cares if they knew, they are getting involved in the community.

Barbara Farragut on 12th Street, which is near the BMX course, talked to her neighbors a week ago Sunday and the consensus was that if there were adequate parking for the BMXers and insurance coverage in case of injury, they were all for it. Of course, they also want the jumps closed by 10 pm. (This happens anyway because there are no lights.)

A BMXer’s World View – Whoa! This is not a sport for an acrophobic. Not only are there numerous heights to navigate, you fly through the air a lot, too. This photo was taken standing on the first mound above a sizeable pit.

The BMXers who built this site spent a lot of time, thought and energy making these mounts. The area is clean and no trash is visible except in the provided receptacles.

To check the course out for yourself, go south on Park from Broadway and then turn left at Miles Street. Drive to the end of the short block and turn left into the BMX grounds. (If you like, you can stop off at any one of those wonderful Mexican furniture store along the way.)

Parking Not an Issue – This is a long shot of the photo above—mounds in the background —which also displays about one third of the parking area available. There are other, less challenging mounts to the right.

Another neighbor, Greg Clark on Cherry Street, wrote a very informative letter he handed out and then posted in the Axis Food Mart.

“Current plans for the Arroyo Chico Detention Basin Park would remove the BMX area and replace it with a wide landscaped basin to catch flood waters, but Pima County is considering a proposal to keep a portion of the bike-riding area at its current street-level, and allow it to continue to be used as a dirt area for bike riding. There is no proposal to make the BMX area any larger or more elaborate than it is now, but only to make space at the westernmost end of the Arroyo Chico park to have a dirt course with dirt jumps amidst desert trees where biker are allowed to ride.

“Many members of the Miles Neighborhood believe that a BMX course is an excellent thing. It provides a fun local activity right here in the neighborhood. It promotes healthy athletic lifestyles, creates a recreational site shared by children, youth and adults—a place where people of varying ages and backgrounds gather and build friendships around a common interest. The area boosts the character and diversity of our neighborhood and generally makes it better, more interesting and fun place to live.”

A comment I heard was about tagging. My thinking is serious BMX athletes who use the course will probably only tag themselves—if there is any writing to be done at all—following in the tradition of the pros. Have you seen those champion bike riders on TV? Some major body art going on there.

You still have time to jump in on the BMX conversation and add your ‘two cents” before Pima Count Flood Control makes the final decision. Come to the Miles Neighborhood Association meeting this Wednesday, the 17th in the Miles Exploratory School gymnasium at 6:30 pm. Of course, you may drive, walk or ride your BMX bike to the meeting.

A Look at the Agenda
In addition to a conversation about the BMX course, there will be a discussion on introducing possible turf (grassy) areas in the Basin park, planning for a neighborhood clean up and the renaming of the new Cushing Street bridge in honor of Luis Gutierrez, our neighbor and long-time Tucson city manager.

Join us at the Miles Exploratory School Gym (pictured here) at 6:30 pm, Wednesday, August 17th.

Things Are Good Again
Any time I collect 168 lbs. of food on Sunday—our average donation over the past two and one half years—I’m delighted. Unfortunately, in the last few weeks I lamented that we were experiencing a decline. Today, I’m happy to report, “We’re Back!”

We collected a total of 178 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $35.50, a $25.00 check and $10.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

135th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-08-08T21:46:00.002-07:00

Hi Folks,

Now It’s Time for You To Help Us

Build Our Neighborhood Park

With the completion of the Arroyo Chico Detention Basin off Highland Avenue, we can now turn our attention to creating a new Miles Neighborhood Park.

Bill Richards, the Co-chair of the Miles Neighborhood Association wrote in his letter distributed this past weekend that “Pima County Flood Control, the developers and designers of this entire detention basin project, has asked for neighborhood input for the design and use of this space.” That’s really nice of them, don’t you think?

One consideration is a BMX course for racing bicycles on a track with obstacles. This sport is very popular with “riders from teen years into the 20s and 30s,” Bill stated.

“Having this course at the Park will be attractive to BMXers from around the entire city,” he added, but “…the influx of people and traffic…” needs to be examined thoroughly.

Other ideas or suggestions include park benches, BBQ grills, walking paths, community garden and so on.

The question is, what do you think should be done to develop this space? Your opinion counts so here are a couple of options you can use to express your ideas. Just call Bill at 629-9373 or email him at brichards003@earthlink.net.

Better yet, you can attend our first neighborhood meeting of the season at the Miles Exploratory School Gym on Wednesday, August 17th at 6:30 pm and talk about it then.

No matter what you decide to do, please know that your participation is very important.

Thinning Donations
With the economy being what it is and no solution in the hopper yet, we have to redouble our efforts to help those in need.

My plan is to call on some new neighbors this weekend and chat more with folks I already visit each Sunday. You may want to add a can or two to your donation or maybe talk your neighbor into participating.

I see it getting worse as we struggle to make it better. We have to keep in mind that we are feeding kids. I think about them all of the time and that’s what drives me forward.

We collected a total of 136 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $31.50, a $25.00 check and $6.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

134th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-08-01T21:45:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

Rosemary Makes One Fine Root Beer Float

When 11 o’clock rolled around Saturday morning at the Sunflower

Market on Speedway and Swan, Rosemary Chacon, the

Events/Marketing manager, was ready to dish out the ice cream

and pour the root beer. A few minutes later her first thirsty

customer arrived.

Last Wednesday I received an email from Rosemary.

“On July 30th, I’m doing a “Root beer Float” event from 11-1pm, for a $1 or a can of food. All the donations are going to One Can A Week.”

Those two sentences were the catalyst for a series of events, some inspirational, some definitely calling for a warning label.

Rincon Market First
Saturday started extra early for me because I had to be at the Sunflower Market by 11 am. So by 8:30 I was set up at the Rincon Market counting mounds of change. As I was leaving the Rincon Market at 10:30 am with my shopping cart filled with food, Don, a Rincon regular who had just parked his car a bit askew in the front of the store said he had some food for me. He returned to his car and grabbed a bulging plastic bag. When he handed me the bag I could see individual diapers rubber banded together. “None of these are used?” I asked.

He laughed and said "No, of course not."

Then I remembered Natasha, his wife asked me last week if I could take diapers. I expected a box, not something that looks like the end product of a changing table episode, all bundled up with ends poking out.

(I say yes to everything even non-food items folks decide to donate. I always want to be a resource for people feeling generous. Even if I just drop items off at the Salvation Army for them, I want my donors to know they can turn to me to help others.)

Serving Up Ice Cream and Soda
The second or third customer at our Root Beer Float table was an elderly, toothless woman on a scooter. When she learned the price of our Ice Cream Soda was $1.00 she fished through her bag, found an envelope and extracted one bill. I handed her the drink and she moved her scooter forward maybe eighteen inches. She was now directly in front of me and in position to drop her empty cup in the waste paper basked when she was finished. For the next few minutes I got to see, in profile, mind you, a formless jaw move an incredible distance up and down to devour a tasty treat.

I forced my gaze on other things, the front door, the melon bin but like that young girl in the America’s Funniest Home Video clip who stood next to the kid with the runny nose, I just had to check out the gumming of an ice cream soda. What is that fascination we humans have with disgusting?

Several Miles neighbors came by as did a mom and her two sons who heard the announcement on Bobby Rich’s Morning Mix and brought three cans to donate. She and her youngest son opted for the regular ice cream and soda. Her rather large teenager ordered diet everything. I have no idea why. He was a big kid for sure, but football big. He wasn’t overweight just ready for his school’s defensive line. Maybe his coach will straighten him out.

Soon Corina stopped by, a Southside Rotary Club friend who helped me in the very early days of One Can A Week. As we caught up on these not-so-good times, I prepared a root beer float for another woman. The moment the woman tasted the float she let out a low, joyful moan. And every succeeding spoonful of ice cream and root beer elicited the same response. My eyes darted back and forth from Corina to what sounded like Meg Ryan in the deli scene from the film“When Harry Met Sally.” Good thing the cup only held two ounces of ice cream and soda. I couldn’t have taken much more of her delight.

Going to the Markets
The food I collected at the Rincon Market Saturday totaled 100 lbs. This is a near record amount for a week’s donation and turned out to be a bit of an omen for the Sunflower Market which garnered 108 lbs. of food by the end of the Root Beer Float event. That is 4 more pounds than the amazing One Can A Week checkout counter stickers produced.

In talking with my friend and confidant, Ed Altamirano on Miles Street Sunday I told him about my wish to pursue more food markets with brightly colored Thank You Kid boxes and events. Unfortunately, the costs involved for printing and decorating the Community Food Bank boxes is a bit prohibitive, not to mention my time. I probably will have to find some grant money some place.

I was just thinking aloud but Ed immediately made a suggestion. He will contact a friend of his who is very much involved in grant writing.

This is a great idea. I just need information and some explanation of the grant process. I can write my own grant once I know which direction to follow.

It’s apparent I find discovering more ways to gather more food exciting. But I need to find a little help first.

Nice of You to Call
An hour or so after I finished my Sunday rounds I got a call from a neighbor on Miles. He was out when I visited his home earlier and he forgot to leave his donation. He assured me he would have something next week … even extra.

It’s only one can of food but it is as important to my neighbors as it is to me. That sure makes me very happy.

We collected a total of 158 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $37.50, a $25.00 check and $12.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

133rd Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-07-25T22:03:00.006-07:00

Hi Folks,

The Man Was Dressed

All in Black and His Money

Was Very Green

The automatic doors at the Rincon Market slid open and in walked a man looking like Roy Orbison in the latter years except no sunglasses were in sight. He was dressed in black shiny sweat pants and a black cotton polo shirt. His round face was smiling as he slowed to read the large sign in front of the One Can A Week table. His right hand found the invisible pocket seam in his pants and pulled out a wad of folded and rubber banded cash that was at least 2 inches thick I stared at Ulysses S. Grant who stared back at me with half a face. The rest of our 18th President’s gaze was on the other side of the bulging wad

He then motioned as if he were going to place the wad on the well-used paper collection plate. The muscles in my right arm were thinking about reaching out to take that hunk of money but I knew it was just a joke. He raised his eyebrows once or twice as if to ask, “Huh, what do you think? Should I?”

I just sat there motionless and said, “That would be nice.”

He quickly put the lump of money back into his secret vault pocket and walked over to the omelet grill. For the next few minutes I thought about his actions and wondered why he would participate in such an immature practical joke. Folks with that much cash seldom display their wealth. I took a bet with myself that he was feeling a bit foolish as he ate his breakfast. I do that a lot about things, you know, bet myself because I never have to pay when I’m right … or wrong.

I had just about finished counting this week’s donations when the man in black approached my table again. This time he pulled out a much smaller wad that measured about half an inch thick and was topped with a $20 bill. I know this was a different collection of money because he couldn’t have spent that much on breakfast even though the pricing and portions at the Rincon Market are quite healthy.

He peeled off the top bill and placed it on the paper plate. I thanked him and he left. Not one word did he speak throughout our two-act play.

Maybe thirty minutes later my friend Terry stopped by for coffee and a cup of tea that he graciously bought for me. I told him about the man in black and as we spoke, the man popped back in through the sliding doors.

“That’s the guy,” I said looking in his direction.

“I know him,” replied Terry. “I didn’t think he had money.”

I won three time on Saturday. I knew the man in black embarrassed himself. I also knew that he really knew how to handle his money by projecting an average Joe image. And finally, because I knew these things, I earned twenty dollars more for the Community Food Bank.

They Call the

Blue Box Shorty

Trying to fit in, yet wanting still to stand out,
the Community Food Bank Box is engaged in a visual experiment.

As we learned with the Community Food Bank box at the Sunflower Market on Speedway, a collection box is a good thing but if it’s a bit big, 37 inches tall, and a bit plain, lots of white with a little green printing, blending into the décor may be a struggle.

The new pink box at the Sunflower Market is doing a terrific job. It is collecting a steady average of 24 lbs. a week when just a short time ago there would only be a can or two in the box each week.

For the Senior Companion’s One Can A Week collection campaign at Our Family Services organization, the box was shortened 6 inches, covered in bright blue wrapping paper and bordered by the four 3D Thank You Kids.

The first reaction was a request for another blue box they can display in the Dodge Blvd. office. That is a very good sign.

The Sun is Not Sweet on Chocolate
Toward the end of my run on Sunday a neighbor included 6 Hershey bars along with his can donation. Fifteen minutes later the mushy bars were placed in the freezer awaiting Monday’s delivery.

It takes only 10 minutes to drive from my refrigerator to the Food Bank but still the candy bars were sweating and bending a bit. No matter, no one ever complains about chocolate bars, just the time it takes to stiffen them back up in the cooler.

We collected a total of 160 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $34.50, a $25.00 check and $9.50 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

132nd Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-07-18T22:34:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

Five in a Row

Frances Coleman and Peter Norback

My presentation to the Senior Companions at Our Family Services organization last week struck a cord. On Friday I received an email from Frances Coleman, Project Manager, Senior Companions that contained her message to all of her members

“The Senior Companions voted to adopt One Can A Week as their service project, and will bring at least one can to their monthly meetings. Some will bring more. With just one can, we will have 44 cans to donate to the Community Food Bank.”

Frances continued, “40% of the hungry in Tucson are children, which really shocked me. These kids desperately need meals 3 times a day so their brains have a chance to develop. 12% of the hungry are seniors. The remaining folks are the “working poor.” None of these statistics even include the homeless population, so hunger is farther reaching than the numbers reveal."

Stacey Harrington, Vidal Ramirez and John Rorke,
ASU School of Social Work – Tucson Component
graduate students

John called me today to set up a meeting at Chicago pizza Tuesday night. He wants to give me an update on how well the team is moving forward. He spilled the bean a bit though. The Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood is initiating One Can A Week in August and Bill Anderson, the past president is accepting the Coordinator position. Also, La Frontera, Arizona will initiate One Can A Week at its facilities in the next few weeks.

John apologized for taking so long to get the ball rolling for One Can A Week. I wouldn’t hear of it. What great work the team is doing and its only been a month or two.

Rick Stertz

On Saturday morning Rick Stertz stopped by my display table, coffee and roll in hand and picked up the Arizona Star news story I have on display.

“Does this list your contact information?” he asked.

It didn’t so I gave him a business card.

“I have a KVOI radio show to do in a few minutes,” he said, “and I want to talk about your good work.”

Then he was gone.

Rick is always saying I do good work. Not sure what he means because all I do is stand behind the table and smile. Really, that’s not much work at all.

Rincon Market Saturday morning

John, my favorite Systems Engineer graduate student at the U of A came up to the table to tell me he was hungry and he started One Can A Week in his neighborhood.

He visited 10 homes and 6 asked to participate and requested he come back every Sunday. That’s close to the percentage I experienced. Hope it’s a trend.

John ordered one of those terrifically huge Rincon Market omelets and his hunger went away…and then so did he.

Right when Al Shoemaker called me at the Axis Food Mart, I was extremely busy with a keg delivery and 5 or 6 customers. Al was having one of those “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” moments.

Kym Fuhrig

He slid to the floor between his couch and some other furniture and only had the strength to reach for his cell phone. He said he went down the list in his mind of his nearest neighbors but they were away on vacation…all of them.

Al called me because I’m around a lot. But at the moment I was swamped and couldn’t close the store and run to his aid. Then I thought of Kym, our volunteer on 13th Street.

Within seconds she answered the phone and started writing down directions. A few minutes later she was by Al’s side helping him up on the couch. Only Al’s pride was slightly injured…and whose wouldn’t be.

Kym saved Al and me that day. Next time I see Rick Stertz I’m going to tell him, “Now that’s what I call good work!”

Not So Much as Always
This is the first week in a very long time that we did not maintain our average of 168 lbs. I got a little sad but then I remembered … hey, there’s always next week.

We collected a total of 136 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $58.50, $50.00 in checks and $8.50 in cash.

131st Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-07-11T20:58:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

This May Work!

On Tuesday and Wednesday I’ve been invited to make a One Can A Week presentation to the Senior Companion Volunteers at Our Family Services. These folks are involved in a “national volunteer service initiative through which low-income women and men 55 years of age and older receive stipends to provide respite and companion services to homebound elderly adults and people with disabilities.”

Click on link to read more about Our Family Services.

The reason I say this may work is in the past when I explained how One Can A Week works to a group, someone immediately pipes up. “What a great idea. I can just have them drop off their donations at my home.”

For the next few minutes I have to explain—with a bit of a forced smile on my face—how that does not work and neighbors will resent having to do all of the work while the “organizer” cools his or her heals at home.

A few doubted my assessment of their approach and they pressed forward anyway. Unfortunately, their efforts or better yet, their non-efforts never paid off.

So the “visiting neighbors” conundrum is apparently off the table for Our Family Services’ Senior Companion Volunteers. It’s what they do.

In the email I received from Frances Coleman, the Senior Companion Program Manager inviting me to talk, she wrote, “It is my hope the Senior Companions will like the One Can A Week idea, and adopt it as their service project for the year.”

Great, now all I have to do is get them excited about the effectiveness of the program.

While creating the presentation I compiled a chart highlighting the donations the Miles Neighborhood made yearly to the Community Food Bank. This is a companion piece to the statistics enumerating who the needy are and how many the Food Bank serves. It’s really depressing if you think about it much. Facts like, one is seven children in Southern Arizona is at risk of hunger or 45% of the Food Bank’s client base is the Working Poor.

Shortly after adding up our donations I was smiling again. In 131 weeks we have donated over 30,725 lbs. of food and $5,850.64 in cash. Just counting the food, we have fed 7,878 folks three meals in one day. It’s a whole bunch more if we calculate in the money. Bill Carnegie, the Food Bank CEO says each dollar is equivalent to $10 dollars in food and services. That means we kind of donated $58,506.40. Amazing.

Will I be successful in convincing others to join our support of the Community Food Bank? Not sure, but I do have a terrific story to tell, thanks to all the Miles neighbors I visit each and every Sunday.

Racing the Rain

Think a record was set this Sunday. The gathering storm clouds caused me to scoot around the neighborhood. I finished before 2 pm but still had my 45-minute lunch. Then nuts, no rain!

We collected a total of 158 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $6.00 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

130th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-07-05T22:10:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

It Only Gets Better

Miles Neighborhood Community Food Bank Donations

2011 Second Quarter Results

Thanks to the Axis Food Mart we’ve had the best quarter so far. (See June 13th below.) Our total collection amounted to 5,350 lbs. of food and $659.06 in cash donations.

When you compare the first two quarters of this year to 2010 and 2009, you can easily see that we’ve improved on our ability to help the hungry here in Tucson.

    2011                                      2010                                      2009
8,223 lbs.                              7,452.5 lbs.                             4,411 lbs.
$1,242.56                              $965.40                                  $612.88

From a purely sociological standpoint, we have conclusively shown that neighborhoods—responding in a low key, consistent manner—can solve the hunger problem in America.

_______________________________

The Sunflower Farmers Market on Speedway

Proves Color and Location Generates More Donations

When the Community Food Bank donation box was white and tucked in a corner near the microwave oven, donations dropped from 42 lbs. to 2 lbs. per week. After we turned the box pink, added the Thank You Kids, and then moved the box into a high traffic area, donations jumped to 104 lbs. for one week.

The most recent two weeks have garnered 34 lbs. and 32 lbs. of food respectively, a more consistent and productive donation program.

The next donation box to “go pink” is at the Rincon Market.

The Pink Box is next to the electric scooters and the front door. In
its first week in the new location, the donations amounted to 32 lbs.

The week The Pink Box collected 104 lbs., it was sitting next
to the customer service desk and even a bag of trash did not
deter the donations.

The red oval on the right is where The Pink Box sat for a week
before being moved to its permanent location (red oval on the
left) next to the scooters. It reality, it went from one side of the
high-traffic front door to the other.

Donations Never Take a Holiday

Lots of folks got the jump on the 4th of July and headed for the mountains or the hotel pools. But no matter, we still came in above our weekly average of 168 lbs.

We collected a total of 178 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $48.00 … a check for $25.00 and $23.00 in cash.

See you Sunday.

Peter

129th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-06-27T22:07:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

The Beer Keg Caper

Thursday is my Friday at the Axis Food Mart since I only work a 4-day week. So I’m extra happy on Thursdays to see my shift end at 1 pm. I planned to get a quick bit and head to my 2 pm computer lesson. Maen called about 12:15 and asked me if I wanted a Double Doubler from the In and Out Burger folks. That was a gift I couldn’t refuse, of course, but I told him I’d have to eat it in the car.

Then I got busy with lots of customers until 12:45 when Maen walked in carrying the much-anticipated lunch. Just for the heck of it, I checked my cell phone messages because my client often sends me a last minute cancellation notice. Sure enough, there it was. A 12:40 “not today” pocket vibration that I did not feel. Right away I told Maen we could have lunch together.

After our 10 minute munch fest, I got busy again behind the register with more customers and Maen started checking in a big beer delivery. As I handed change to the last customer in line, I looked up and immediately recognized a scruffy looking young man who pushed through the double doors and briskly walked down the soda aisle.

It took maybe 5 seconds to get to Maen’s side in the back of the store. “The Keg Kid is here. What do you want me to do?”

He quickly ushered me into his office and gave me a business card he untacked from the wall. “Call Detective Mark and tell him to hurry.”

I punched in the cell number and got Det. Mark on the third ring. He identified himself as a Tucson Police Department Licensing and Enforcement Officer and listened intently. “I’ll be there in 15 minutes,” he said, “and I will drive as fast as I can.” We hung up.

Later I remembered that it sure was a comfort to reach the police in three rings. Then speak a few words and get the wheels not merely rolling but screeching.

8 Months Ago
A short time into their relationship, Maen became more and more uncomfortable dealing with the Keg Kid. Generally, a deposit of $30 is placed on a full keg of beer at the time of purchase. In a day or two when the keg is returned empty, the deposit is refunded. The Keg Kid never bought any beer but every few weeks he had anywhere from 4 to 8 kegs stuffed into his well-used car. He told Maen his grandfather owned a restaurant before he died and left him all of the kegs.

Maen paid $20 per keg because the Kid was never a customer. Then one day, he abruptly told the Keg Kid to take his business elsewhere.

2 Months Ago
About 11 am Det. Mark and his partner Det. Debbie stopped by Axis to talk to Maen who was not in yet. Although they had met Maen during the liquor licensing process and the relationship was somewhat contentious, they had come to ask for Maen’s help. It is apparent they knew his character but were just being “tough cops” when it came to the licensing of a new business to sell alcohol.

This day they wanted to get all of the info they could on beer kegs. In confidence, they said they are involved in an ongoing investigation centered around stolen kegs. I told them what I knew and about the Keg Kid which was news to them. Maen showed up and gave him a license number he took down from the Kid’s car. They asked Maen to call them if the Keg Kid showed up again. He said he would but it was unlikely.

Not Professional Stallers
After I told Maen I reached Det. Mark and we needed to hold the Keg Kid here for 15 minutes, Maen approached him.

“Hi, how are you doing?” “How’s business?” “Things are slow here for the summer.” “Do you have any kegs to sell?”

Lots of quick questions and lots of charm.

The Kid said yes and Maen replied “let’s get them”

There were 8 kegs crammed into the Kid’s Integra and they were hot as blue blazes from the sun. That took maybe 3 minutes to get them out of the car and into the storage area in the back of the store. Then Maen took a phone call and I told the Kid it was family business and may take a while. Two minutes later Maen showed up at the register where the safe is and the cash he need to pay the Kid. I was hoping Maen would have taken longer on the phone. Oh, well.

“Did you open the safe this morning and reset the timer?” Maen asked me in front of the Kid.

“No, I’m sorry I didn’t.” I was thinking, what timer but said nothing. Oh, that timer! I get it.

Maen mentioned he had about 8 minutes to go before he could open the safe. I kept looking nervously out the window and blamed my actions on the number of customers the Kid apparently cause to stop by the store. I told him you brought us luck and asked his to step aside as I rang up the sales.

Finally, and very slowly, Maen opened the key but “sometimes timer” safe to get the Kid’s $200. He deliberately counted the twenties into two neat piles in front of the Kid and picked them up again. Maen said later he did not want to hand the Kid the money and have it confiscated as evidence. “It is our slow time, remember.”

Moments after Maen picked up the cash the detectives pulled up behind the Kid’s Acura in front of the store and stopped. The Kid saw this and became a bit anxious. They sat in the car for a very long minute or so before getting out. They entered the store with a couple of customers and walked up to the Kid. He was surrounded by two plain-clothes detectives and two uniformed officers. It was all over and Maen still had the $200 in his hand. It turned out that the officers didn’t need the money, but they would have had to keep it if the $200 were in the Kid’s possession.

Epilog
Propped up by the large garbage bin on the walkway in front of Axis, the Keg Kid admitted stealing the kegs and admitted the needles in his car were his. He also admitted there was a ring involving employees of businesses around town who sold him kegs. Det. Mark thanked Maen very sincerely because he was at a dead end in the case before the call. And as seen dozens of times on TVs’ Law and Order, his captain just that morning leaned on him to get some results because someone higher up was leaning on him.

Stand Up, Folks
Maen has this thing about being responsible for how his world turns. He always wants it pleasant for his customers, his employees and especially his family. So he sees trouble and stops that trouble whenever he can. The next day, Friday, a customer asked Maen about all of the cops in front of his store yesterday. Maen said he just stood up for the neighborhood. Maen then asked him if he ever “turned in one in your lifetime?” The customer replied he had not. “Well,” Maen suggested, “if everybody worked with the police and turned in just one, what a better life we all would have.”

Not Too Hot – The temperature reached 107 degrees on Sunday but food was on the porch, and if it weren’t, folks quickly answered their doors. Of course, right after they handed me their donation, they closed them just as quickly.

We collected a total of 170 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $43.10 … two checks for $35.00 and $8.10 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

128th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-06-20T23:13:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

When Your “I”s Are Too Close Together

You Can’t See Anything

Mike showed up again with his charming wife, Rachael Saturday morning at the Rincon Market. He’s a systems engineering student at the university and is thinking seriously about starting One Can A Week in his neighborhood. He said he’d have breakfast first and then join me for a talk about the process.

My dad loved systems engineers. He was VP of Production for a number of famous shirt manufacturers such as Arrow and Van Heusen and relied on these professionals to help him keep production rolling. I guess if he were more mechanically inclined he would have become a systems engineer himself, but instead he majored in philosophy. That decision turned out to be important in my life as you will discover down the page.

Systems engineers are those special people who see and can manage complex and complicated projects involving many disciplines. Just think about how many different professions are involved in building a space station or a product like Oreos. They are very detailed oriented and highly conceptual folks.

When Mike came back to my display table, he opened up the conversation by asking why I started One Can A Week. This was the beginning of his fact-finding mission. I could tell he was wondering if his philosophy was consistent with mine.

There were many reasons, I told him. For instance, as I was driving to the Rincon Market I was thinking about how neatly our food donation program fits into my approach to life and that seemed the right place to start our dialog.

The only thing of value we have is our word. If you do what you say, all is well, but one question from anyone can cause doubt. One Can A Week is structured, engineered, if you like, to counter any doubt, supported by Community Food Bank receipts and quarterly food donation reports.

Next, we covered the idea of focusing one’s attention on others. This is easier said than done because most of us put self-imposed constraints on our time by acquiring material things and family obligations. This eventually becomes a perpetual motion machine paid for by a job which may leave precious little time to devote to others. Early on I decided helping others and few possessions was the life for me. My dad was very instrumental in this decision

One day when I was a teenage, he brought home a letter he received from a job applicant and handed it to me. I started to read it when he interrupted me. “I just want you to look at the letter,” he said.

There were three paragraphs and apparently dad circled all of the “I”s . I counted 30 some When I looked up he said, “If your “I”s are too close together, you can’t see anything.” To this day, dad’s lesson on paying attention to the world and staying committed to others is always on my mind.

Mike had one more question in his quest to discover the make up of a potential One Can A Week organizer. Why aren’t there more people picking up the gauntlet in more neighborhoods? This is my personal opinion but I believe people think they know things and they really have no idea how the world works. “I can support myself, why can’t they?” “Just tell them to get a job.” “We spend too much on education.” And other silly questions and statements.

What could we know; we have only been out of the caves for 12,000 years. That is such a small amount of time in the scheme of things it is nothing but arrogance to believe we know anything. (See chart below to get a different perspective on life and the passing of time.)

Just the other day, another friend of mine who is also named Mike, sent me a link to photos of a man in Costa Rico whose best friend is a 17-foot crocodile. http://www.rense.com/general94/friend.htm Reptilian brain or not, this wonderful creature feels emotion. We have so much to learn.

My new friend Mike really perked up when I told him the crocodile story and he wanted the link. Mike is a good interrogator and a good listener, too. I think he is going to do just fine with One Can A Week and most everything in his life.

All Humans are Born with a Blank Slate and Then They Forget
We look at a picture of a 4,000-year-old Pyramid in Egypt or an illustration of a 12,000-year-old cave dwelling site in Europe and we have difficulty imagining those things that happened such an incredibly long time ago. It is almost impossible to relate to or grasp that we are directly involved in such ancient history especially if we are viewing those photos or drawings on our laptop or iPad. But we are related and in reality it wasn’t that long ago.

If you change the time prospective, it seems quite within reach as it should be. If we use a linear scale of human longevity, say a lifespan of 100 years, then from our grunting cave man and woman days to today, June 20, 2011, 120 people in a row, where born and died. (That’s how many folks are in the illustration above.) In other words, one person was born, lived to 100, died and another one was born on the same day for 12,000 years. That’s a checkout line of 120 people, something you may run into at a Wal-Mart super sale or hit movie premier.

If we limit their linear lives to 50 years, there would have been 240 people since the damp cave days. If we stick to the 25-years-per-generation figure, there were only 480 people in the time measuring line. Think about a nearly full 380 Airbus which seats 520 passengers.

We’re only in the very, very early stages of human existence on the planet Earth and we can’t forget that fact. We don’t know much about where we are or why we are and to pretend otherwise is unwise.

Cereal Sunday
The Community Food Bank always suggests people donate cereal for kids. (Non-sugar coated, of course.). This week a couple of neighbors heard the word and loaded us up with a huge shopping bag full.

We collected a total of 202 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $56.50 … a $25.00 check and $31.50 in cash.

See you Sunday.

Peter

127th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-06-13T23:21:00.007-07:00

Hi Folks,

It’s a Penny Business

A story about a convenient place where everybody wins.

Almost a year ago, Judith Warner published an article in The New York Times. In it she talked about The Charitable-Giving Divide. “For decades,” she wrote, “surveys have shown that upper-income Americans don’t give away as much of their money as they might and are particularly undistinguished as givers when compared with the poor, who are strikingly generous.”

“A number of other studies,” she continued, “have shown that lower-income Americans give proportionally more of their incomes to charity than do upper-income Americans. In, 2001, Independent

Sector, a nonprofit organization focused on charitable giving, found that households earning less than $25,000 a year give away an average of 4.2 percent of their incomes; those with earnings of more than $75,000 gave away 2.7 percent.”

But what would happens if a man of means is as generous as his working-class customers? Instead of a survey or study that tells us how such a partnership would benefit charity, we have just one case study. And that case study happens right here in our Miles Neighborhood every day.

Maen Mdanat, owner of the Axis Food Mart has two habits, one good, one

bad. He’s trying to give up smoking, the bad one. But his generosity, the

good one, is something he wants to become more addicted to. “I just love

to help people," he confesses. So he took an old coffee tin when he first

opened his store here and created a very visible change drop for

his customers.

Now to the business side of Maen’s personality. All of his distributors

know Maen is always looking for a deal. They know this because he is

always pushing them for a deal. Last Wednesday Finley Distributing

called Maen and told him they had lots of Sunny D that recently

passed the Best By date.

The price for all of those Sunny D cases—more than 2,700 lbs.—decorating

the front of the Axis Food Mart was only $400. Maen will donate $100 and

the rest of the money for the Finley invoice will come from customer dimes,

nickels, quarters and pennies dropped in the Food Bank canister. Capitalism

at its finest! Customers love to donate change to the Food Bank, Maen loves

to be generous and work deals and the hungry really appreciate the help.

I saw Jake today when I dropped off our donation at the Food Bank. He gave me

the Axis Food Mart receipt for 2,781 lbs. and told me that the Sunny D was

already out of the warehouse and distributed. That was such good news…

and they just got the product Friday. It’s so true, the Community Food Bank

needs it now and we are helping now.

As I was leaving the Food Bank I thanked Jake for all of the help. Juan, who sits

behind the receiving desk said, “Jake helped you? We’re always trying to

get him to help us.” It was a joke, of course, but as I am writing this post I

looked at the photo of Jake operating the automatic tailgate lift with his right

hand and controlling the fork lift with just one finger of his left hand.

He’s either super strong or maybe there is something to that not-working-

too-hard comment Juan made.

Setting a major record – PJ Trujillo collected 344 lbs. for the Miles Neighborhood in one week back on June 15, 2009. That record stood for one hundred and four weeks. The Axis Food Mart just set a new record this week by donating 2,781 lbs.

This new record will probably stand until we land on Mars or Maen Mdanat works another deal. (Notice the photo of the Sunny D soft drink plopped in the cart. Humorous, no?)

We collected a total of 2,939 lbs. of food, including 2,781 from the Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $38.50 … a $25.00 check and $13.50 in cash.

See you Sunday.

Peter

126th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-06-06T22:24:00.005-07:00

Hi Folks,

Getting Comfortable with an

Uncomfortably Big Food Donation Box

The Thank You Kids are easily spotted from most of the
checkout lanes.

Probably the most exciting aspect of the Sunflower Market’s donation box experiment is they are sincerely working with me to try to discover a way to blend in their store a large, permanent Community Food Bank donation box and at the same time, generate lots of food for the needy in Tucson.

To date we have learned that a large donation box supported by a small sticker on the checkout stand works well. The food box can be off to the side and it still fills up. However, when the sticker is removed from the checkout stand, the food donations drop dramatically. (See chart below)

My next move was to forget about those stickers and pretty up the box in addition to adding some 3 dimensional Thank You Kids. People liked the look—well, the few who saw it—because it was somewhat hidden next to the microwave oven along the front wall.

Even on a stroll in front of the 7 checkout lanes, the
Thank You Kids are in plain sight.

Rosemary, the Events Coordinator and her coworkers decided the box could take up residence beside the customer service counter on the west end of the store. Within a few days the box filled up with 104 lbs. of food. It was the best showing so far.

But another problem became apparent. The big box got in the way of the door to the accounting office which the managers have to access dozens of time a day. They were constantly bumping into the box entering and leaving the small room.

One manager suggested highlighting the box in the dining area directly in front of the checkout stands. There is a space between two booths that is right in the center of the section. Perfect. Most everyone entering or leaving the Sunflower Market cannot help but see the Thank You Kids smiling away.

Now only time and donations will tell if the big pink box has found its Feng shui in the Sunflower Market and will collect significant amounts of food for ever more.

Not As Many Neighbors
With summer vacations and folks moving out of the neighborhood, there are fewer homes to visit, but this Sunday, as with every other Sunday, the donations were sizeable.

We collected a total of 186 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $44.00 … a $25.00 check and $19.00 in cash.

See you Sunday,

Peter

125th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-05-31T22:56:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

When Ordinary is Not Ordinary

Fruits and Veggies
by local artist Diana Madaras

Three weeks ago Kristen Hershberger, the Volunteer Manager at the Community Food Bank tricked me a little. She said the breakfast meeting on Wednesday, May 25th was for volunteers so I went prepared to talk about One Can A Week in hopes of convincing a few CFB volunteers to consider starting our program in their neighborhood. What she really meant was, the breakfast was their normal monthly CFB staff meeting and they were going to acknowledge a volunteer … me. I found this out moments after I took my seat next to Pauline Hechler, the Vice President of Development.

I got a hint something else was in the air when Pauline called me about 7:15 that morning and said she was going to be a bit late and that I should save her a seat next to me at the table. I agreed but at that moment I was more concerned about the guy who was going to cover my shift at the Axis Food Market.

He was already 15 minutes late and we had planned this morning a couple of weeks in advance and then confirmed just the night before. I got more anxious when Pauline hung up because I wondered what does she have to do with volunteers?

At 7:25, after clearing it with Maen, the owner, I closed Axis and hurriedly drove to the Food Bank five minutes away. Now I was doubly anxious because I woke Maen up and then closed his store down. Can’t wait to hear that guy’s excuse for why he was a half hour late. Nope, not even going to ask.

Turns out I was third on the agenda, right after Bill Carnegie, the CEO lead the “Drawing for Valuable Prizes” and Robert Rosalva Fuentes was introduced as a new employee. Those two activities were given 2.5 minutes each.

At 7:35, Pauline stood up and spoke for a few minutes. She described the work I had done in the Miles Neighborhood and closed thanking me for getting them involved in a program that is garnering some national attention.

Jacob Coldsmith, the Food Drives manager, spoke next about how pleasant it has been working together over the past two and one-half years. I smiled and nodded my head in agreement.

Then Pauline presented me with a beautiful print by Diana Madaras, a renowned Tucson artist. That was some surprise and I thanked everyone.

Pauline leaned over and whispered that I could skip out on the rest of the meeting if I like, but I wanted to stay … out of respect and I was curious about their working community. The next 40 minutes of the staff meeting was devoted to medical insurance and the open enrollment period. It was just like the meetings we had at Merrill Lynch. Plan A. Plan B. And lots of question on how to protect themselves best without giving up the ranch.

On Sunday, the mood of my collection was quiet and purposeful. At the end of my route, while loading up my trunk for the Tuesday run to the Food Bank, my mind filled up with thoughts of how ordinary the task of feeding the hungry had become for my neighbors and me. I also saw this same resolve and commitment exhibited by the folks at the Food Bank on Wednesday.

Cans on the porch each and every Sunday, me driving around collecting those donations and serious talk about health insurance, yet we all are making a concerted and consistent effort to end hunger in Tucson.

On the border of the cardboard frame of the Diana Madaras print is the Community Food Bank logo and their motto, “Working together towards a hunger-free Pima County.” What the Food Bank staff and my neighbors and I do is quite ordinary. We think about and we feed the hungry as a part of our daily lives. Things would be a lot better for all of us if we just had a little more ordinary in the world.

Never Too Late
A recent new neighbor who had not donated before but who knew about One Can A Week invited me into his home and gave me most of the can goods in his food cabinets. He was moving to Alaska and wanted me to take what he could not use to the food bank.

I was sorry to see him go but glad he had a chance to cover his time in the Miles neighborhood with a huge donation.

We collected a total of 206 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $90.51 … a $75.00 check from the Axis Food Mart and $15.51 in cash.

See you Sunday.

Peter

124th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-05-23T22:24:00.003-07:00

Hi Folks,

A Wallflower at the Sunflower

Last Wednesday when I picked up the Sunflower Market donation of two cans and talked to Rosemary about the situation, she said the Community Food Bank box has to be positioned up against the wall and out of the way of traffic. And that it is.

Unfortunately, the customers coming out of any of the seven checkout lanes seldom catch sight of the white box even with the cute Thank You Kids beckoning. The photo below shows the visual dilemma. Without the obvious red arrow marking the spot, it would be difficult to locate the box in the picture.

I brought this fact up and Rosemary, not one to dwell much on the negative said, “Well, can you make the box hot pink or something?”

In the next two days I picked up a new donation box at the Community Food Bank, bought some “very” pink wrapping paper at Wal-Mart and by Saturday afternoon I had the box a sight to behold. Even without the red arrow, that bright spot under the window and up against the wall is easy to see.

Before and After

Even though the Community Food Bank box is still a wallflower at the Sunflower Market, its new look will surely attract a lot of attention and a lot of donations for that matter.

This is what the Sunflower customers see and experience when they step up to help the needy in Tucson.

Back in the Cabriolet Again
The best part about this Sunday for me was having my Cabriolet helping me collect food again. It’s just more fun driving that little bug with a big red umbrella. There’s a new starter motor, a new freeze plug and several new vacuum system thingies I put in myself.

It starts right up now and as a reward for such good behavior, I let it sun itself in the mornings at the Axis Food Mart Monday – Thursday. Turns out it is a great conversation piece, too.

We collected a total of 172 lbs. of food, including 14 lbs. from The Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $30.50 … a $25.00 check and $5.50 in cash.

See you Sunday.

Peter

123rd Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-05-16T22:29:00.006-07:00

Hi Folks,

‘Thank You’ Kids at the

Sunflower Farmers Market

Four adorable 3D kids say “Thank You”
to every person dropping off a donation for
the Community Food Bank.
(Click on photo to view larger.)

A week after the manager at the Speedway Sunflower Market eliminated the One Can A Week reminder stickers on the credit card checkout stands, the donations to the Community Food Bank dropped in half. This week they were lower still coming in at 14 lbs. Both Rosemary, the Events Coordinator and I were disappointed but Rosemary suggested I create more energy around the donation box itself.

The first thing I thought of was a group of kids in Community Food Bank Tee shirts standing around the donation box chatting up the customers as they walked by. When practicality kicked in about two seconds later, I had them standing on sticks in 3D cutouts.

While I was putting the display together today, a woman walked by and said, “Oh, darn, I forgot my donation. I’ll take it to the office tomorrow.”

So maybe the kids will work as well as the credit card machine stand reminder. Rosemary and I are hoping this will be the case. Of course, the kids are not as in-your-face as that One Can A Week sticker, but they sure drive home the need if you just happen to look them in the eye.

USPS Food Drive Missed Us This Year
Jacob Coldsmith at the Community Food Bank said that budgetary constraints limited the number of blue bags available this year and of course, the Post Office is facing its own financial crisis. However, Jacob said overall donations were down just a little bit this year. This is good news.

We have some good news ourselves. We collected a total of 164 lbs. of food including 8 lbs. from the Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $125.50, $15.50 in cash and $110.00 in checks.

See you Sunday,

Peter

122nd Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-05-09T22:18:00.012-07:00

Hi Folks,

Fifty Years in the Making

Ellen Schiffman - 1960 Clayton
High School yearbook photo

Only two people have talked to me about starting their own One Can A Week program in their neighborhood during my Saturday morning stint at the Rincon Market. The latest was Patricia. Actually, she was speaking for Maria, her 15-year-old daughter, who wants to go to Harvard Medical School in a couple of years and she thinks it is important to get involved in community service now. With a community organizer president who is also a Harvard grad, making a mark in the White House these days, more and more schools are looking at volunteer service in addition to grades to determine acceptance.

A few days later Maria sent me an invitation to join her at 11 am, May 7th at the Catalina Vista neighborhood’s annual picnic. Part of the festivities involved donations for the Community Food Bank.

Punctuality is a good thing except for picnics. I got there at 11 am as directed but only Wendell the grill man was there scraping off some remnants from his last social gathering. I looked around as a few more neighbors arrived and noticed many of these folks where my heavily-wrinkled contemporaries. So it wasn’t long before “back in the day.” conversations sprang up. Something about the Johnny Carson, Dean Martin and The Tonight Show description made me think about generation gaps … and I’m in that generation.

Merle Stolar - 1960 Clayton
High School yearbook photo

Instead of listening in silence and shaking my head in dismay, I walked to a shady bench under a large treesome 50 yards away. The weather was magnificent, a slight breeze and very little humidity. It was a perfect Tucson day and like Ferdinand the Bull, I paused to enjoy the moment.

About ten minutes into my reverie, I saw a young girl and her 10-year-old brother, I assumed, walking up to the nametag table. As I approached, the writing on her nametag became legible. It was Maria. After a quick introduction and some conversation about the best place to set up, I walked to the Cabriolet parked nearby and unloaded my display things and table.

Maria is bright and unusually focused for a sophomore in high school. She asked meaningful questions and quickly understood the answers. I especially liked how she took charge of the situation. It is her One Can A Week project and she stepped in moments after some one walked up to our table. Most were older folks and confronted me first. After a sentence or two, Maria politely interjected and told them who she was and where she lived and that she was starting One Can A Week in August. (She’s giving herself some time off from school work to rest a bit. See, another smart move on her part.)

Peter Norback - 1960 Clayton
High School yearbook photo

Following our conversation with the neighborhood’s recently retired mail carrier, a woman came up my side of the table and proudly announced that “she knew the guy who created One Can A Week and she went to high school with him.” Maria had a puzzled look on her face, as did I. The woman continued to mention about all of the newspaper articles on One Can A Week and at this point I interrupted her. “I’m the guy you are referring to,” I smiled.

“I’m Ellen Schiffman” she excitedly replied and stepped around the table to give me a big hug. I knew her name instantly but couldn’t place her face mostly because I had not seen her in fifty years. The lasting image I have of Ellen is an energetic teenager engaged in a lot of school and social activities.

And she couldn’t place my face either even though I’ve had a few photos in the local papers. Another Clayton High School friend, Merle Stolar, is an attorney here in town and she did call me after seeing my photo. (Clayton is a suburb in St. Louis, MO.)

We’ve had several very pleasant lunches and during the course of our first get together Merle mentioned Ellen and Mark Nathanson who also live in Tucson.

“You know, I wanted to have lunch with you and Merle”, Ellen said as if we were back at Clayton leaning on the lockers in the hall, “but she said no. I guess she wanted you all to herself.”

Maria and I looked at each other blankly. “I have to tell you, Maria,” I said, “that never happened to me back in high school.” Maria‘s face blossomed into a huge grin.

This Thursday Ellen and I are having dinner at the Red Lobster to catch up after a half century of going our separate ways. In August, Maria will be begin her own One Can A Week adventure. There is something to be said about listening to the beat of a different drummer. You end up with lots of interesting stories to tell and sometimes you get invited to a lobster dinner.

Racing Off to Help Their Moms Celebrate Mother’s Day
But no matter, our neighbors didn’t forget about the hungry families here in Tucson. And come to think of it, isn’t that the first thing Moms teach us to do anyway? Take care of everyone no matter how busy you are.

We collected a total of 170 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $36.50, $11.50 in cash and a $25.00 check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

121st Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-05-02T23:05:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

Sunflower’s Subtle Reminder

Rosemary is the new Events Coordinator at the Sunflower Farmers Market on Speedway and Swan. So what happened to the old Events Coordinator? Well, Michelle is her name and she now manages a store in California where her daughter attends college. That worked out well.

A monster 37-inch tall

Community Food Bank

box stands ready at the

Swan and Speedway

Sunflower Farmers Market.

In her first week on the job, Rosemary discovered our little One Can A Week shelf talkers and had an idea. She taped one below each of the credit card readers at the seven checkout counters. By Wednesday, the normal pick up day, the Community Food Bank box was nearly half-full. At today’s weigh-in, their donations tipped the scale at 70 lbs.

That was highly unusual because over the past three weeks, the food donations have been slowly dwindling: 38 lbs., 22 lbs. and 14 lbs.

Prior to her leaving, Michelle and I had a conversation about the culture in her store. She knew the Rincon Market and its success which she rightfully contributed to its casual atmosphere. People go to the Rincon Market for a pleasant meal and a little shopping.

On the other hand, Sunflower shoppers just want to get in, buy the healthiest of foods and get out.

Michelle didn’t blame them nor was she surprised by the small food donations.Who has time these days to dawdle in a supermarket? At least that was our conclusion.

Seventy pounds of food donated
by Sunflower Market customers
in one week.

Then along comes Rosemary who figured Seventy pounds of food donated by Sunflower Market customers in one week. out that by simply posting a little sign with a gentle suggestion: “Please don’t forget your One Can A Week food donation for the Community Food Bank,” those folks living the harried life can be encouraged to pause a second and think about the needy.

This is a good lesson for One Can A Week. Subtly works in the neighborhoods where participants are quietly thanked or reminded to donate food each week. Rosemary discovered subtly will work everywhere One Can A Week is introduced. Hunger is a long-term problem and perhaps by simply prompting folks respectfully each and every week we can create a long-term solution.

May Day on Their Minds
Pool parties were the order of the day last Sunday so lots of folks were out enjoying the incredible weather. No matter, we still collected enough food to top a basket.

We collected a total of 164 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $33.50, $8.50 in cash and a $25.00 check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

120th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-04-25T22:46:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

Anna and Her All-Grown-Up Kids

The Story of Anna

Before moving to the Miles neighborhood in 2002, I lived next door to Anna on E. Vernice Street which is just a couple of block south of Kolb and Golf Links in the Stella Mann neighborhood.

Anna had a Corrections Officer husband and four young children and we always said hello whenever we met on the sidewalk in front of our homes. Over time I learned that the two girls were very bright students especially in math and science, and the boys … well, they were really good at baseball which meant they were bright, too, in a non-book way.

About three years into our friendly sidewalk greetings, Anna told me she was getting a divorce but was not moving. I liked that because the kids would have one more stable element in their lives besides their mom.

Now and then I helped Anna with heavy, man things like fixing doors and carrying heavy packages. One day Anna mentioned she had to deal with mortgage payments and refinancing and she confided in me that she always let her ex handle the finances.

My solution to help—which is another man thing I do, but sometimes I just listen, too—was to introduce her to my accountant friend. I knew he could really help her. In our first meeting we sat in a small conference room a few doors down the hall from my friend’s office and he explained a little about refinancing a home and Anna sat there in silence. I could tell she understood the meaning of the words spoken but her somber face portrayed her lack of understanding of the whole process. Quietly Anna began to cry. “I don’t understand anything,” she sobbed. “I don’t know anything.”

My friend told Anna everything would be okay. He would help her through the whole process. My “two cents” centered on learning itself. “Anna,” I said, “none of us knows anything in the beginning. We just ask questions and hopefully remember the answers.”

9/11 and its effect on my income forced me to move to Farmington, Missouri and stay with my brother and his wife for one year. When I returned to Tucson I ended up in the Miles neighborhood and lost track of Anna. On a sunny spring day while walking my Westies in Himmel Park, a school bus stopped right beside me and Anna popped off. That was a very nice surprise.

In the next 15 minutes while she waited for her ride, we caught up on all those years we were apart. She was graduating soon from Pima and was headed to the U of A to complete her degree is social work. Anna said she loves school and got over her fear of not knowing anything. In fact, she said she sits in the front of all her classes and asks a lot of questions. At first she thought she was being a nuisance but the other students came up to thank her because her questions help them understand, also.

Two days ago I got a friend request from Facebook but did not recognize the last name.

“Hi Peter! It's me Anna, your old next door neighbor. (I took back my maiden name).....I saw your smiling face today in a presentation for one of my Grad school classes! The One Can A Week project that some of my classmates worked with you on! Very, very impressed with the level you all took this and wasn't surprised at all that you started the idea...still a giving person!! :-) Well I am just finishing up my 2nd semester part-time working on an MSW (Masters in Social Work) degree along with John, Vidal & Stacey. We'll have to catch up!!! Great to see you're still in town making a positive difference!!

The best part of this story is I was around when Anna just decided to make a difference … in her life, in her kids’ lives and everyone she comes in contact with every day. Nothing can beat the feeling of helping someone take complete control of his or her world. For me it’s the real joy of life!

A Good Case of “Average” Creep
In our first two years of donating food to the Community Food Bank, our weekly average was around 168 lbs. It’s different this year … very different.

Our first quarter average was 219 lbs. a week. In the first four weeks of our second quarter, our weekly average is 244 lbs. How “better than average” is that?

We collected a total of 188 lbs. of food, including 2 lbs. from The Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $33.45, $8.45 in cash and a $25.00 check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

119th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-04-18T23:40:00.008-07:00

Hi Folks,

Something to Sing About

Every week our poundage is quite healthy. Just look at that tuna resting against the handle and the fruits and vegetables at the foot of the cart. There is even a huge bag of Vet Special Diet dog food.

We collected a total of 318 lbs. of food, including 110 lbs. from The Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $34.50, $9.50 in cash and a $25.00 check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

118th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-04-11T23:30:00.009-07:00

Hi Folks,

Going to the Dogs

Jerky Tenders sure looked inviting especially with samples of the product showing through the clear oval window on the right side of the bag. However, once you get past the images and start to read, the word “dog” suddenly appears. Oh, well, they are our best friends so they deserve enticing packaging, too.

We collected a total of 192 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $33.50, $8.50 in cash and a $25.00 check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

117th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-04-04T22:35:00.003-07:00

Hi Folks,

Three ASU School of Social Work – Tucson Component graduate students –
Stacey Harrington (left),Vidal Ramirez and John Rorke – take on the
challenging task of citywide community outreach andeducational
materials implementation for One Can A Week.

Influencing the Influential

In the world of selling new ideas, there’s an old saw: Nobody wants to be the first to buy, but there is always a line for second.

I learned this first hand in my publishing day in New York City. My brother and I had book ideas like The Misspeller’s Dictionary, Great Songs of Madison Avenue (The Jingle Songbook) and Great North American Indians, but for nearly a year we couldn’t sell any publisher on taking a chance with our concepts. Maybe a week after Quadrangle/The New York Time Book Publishing Company bought our first book, The Misspeller’s Dictionary, we got calls. In the next 8 years, we sold and published 22 books with the likes of Random House, Simon and Schuster and Macmillan.

For some time now I have been having that New York feeling about One Can A Week. No matter what I tried to do to get others to get involved in our program, nothing sparked. But I keep making sales calls. Most of them were those no fun, “I wish I didn’t have to do this” cold calling. Grab the door handle, take a breath, walk in the office and say, “Hi, my name is…”

Of course, the failure rate for cold calls is quite high. After I get rejected and a bit dejected, I tell myself that Babe Ruth had far more strikeouts than home runs. That works for me most of the time. The other times I just keep pressing forward.

Then on January 20th I walked into the offices of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and met John Rorke. He motioned to me as he hung up the phone. Within a minute or two I learned he was the mentee for Gabe Zimmerman and that he will take my card and present my idea in the morning staff meeting.

The fall election had two weeks to go when I met Gabby Giffords during my Saturday stint at the Rincon Market. If you remember from an earlier post, Gabby thought her volunteers might want to hear about our One Can A Week program because they may be looking for something meaningful to do after the election.

I told this story to John and I saw in his face that he liked what he just heard. John said he would call me in a few days and that’s exactly what he did.

In the beginning of our phone conversation he was talking slowly and choosing his words carefully. My first thought was “here comes another no!” But that was not what he was trying to tell me. He wanted to take on One Can A Week himself as part of his graduate course work and create a community outreach and educational program that will be presented to all of the neighborhood associations and gated communities in Tucson. He wants to develop a sustainable program that will build strong communities by focusing on one unifying project. For him, One Can A Week is such a project. It’s simple, cost effective and fun.

Last Wednesday Stacey, Vidal, John and I met Bill Carnegie and Pauline Hechler at the Community Food Bank. Bill is the CEO and Pauline, the VP of Development so we were in decision-making company.

Pauline opened the meeting by asking Stacey, Vidal and John to tell her a little something about themselves. It wasn’t long before they all realized they had lots of family and friends in common. Pauline and Bill knew the Harringtons, Stacey’s family, Vidal’s La Frontera connections and most of John’s coworkers at Gabby’s office.

Somewhere near the halfway point in their educational materials presentation involving slides, charts and a large graphic display, Pauline turned to Bill and said, “We have to include the printing costs of these materials in our budget.” Bill didn’t hesitate. “Yes, give them a budget.”

This is where these graduate students showed their most professional demeanor. They didn’t flinch. They had reached their goal even before finishing their presentation and they just calmly agreed that a budget would help them move forward.

Of course, in the parking lot things were a bit more emotional. And I was as excited for them as they were for themselves. If this is how effective John, Stacey and Vidal are out of the gate, imagine what they will produce when all of their materials are printed and they are making presentation to neighborhood associations throughout the city.

They got their first buyer…now the other buyers will just have to get in line.

It Was Nuts This Week
Every week there is always a special food that sticks out. Maybe it’s lots of cereal boxes or peanut butter jars. This time it was two huge bags of walnuts (upper right in the cart). What great food and a very thoughtful donation. So many nutritional benefits in every bite.

We collected a total of 194 lbs. of food including 48 lbs. of produce. The money we donated amounted to $59.00, $34.00 in cash and a $25.00 check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

116th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-03-28T21:57:00.006-07:00

Hi Folks,

We’re Feeding Some Families Now!

Our quarterly food donation numbers always look impressive; however, they are just numbers. This quarter I’ve decided to state our quarterly results as we have in the past (see chart below) but this time, take an additional look at all of our numbers over the past 116 weeks and put a face on them, so to speak.

Based on 1.3 lbs. per meal, the total amount of the food we collected could feed 6,506 people three meals in one day. That breaks down to about 56 people each week. Since approximately 130 Miles families participate in One Can A Week each and every Sunday, two of our neighborhood families are helping feed one needy person each week.

Considering the Community Food Bank’s buying power of $9 to $1, the amount of money donated by the Miles Neighborhood is the equivalent of $48,344.04 in food and services.

It only takes one coordinator and three volunteers to collect the food. The total time spent weekly collecting and delivering the food to the Community Food Bank is approximately 7 hours.

These numbers say a lot about our neighborhood. Mostly that Miles is a bit of a paradise where caring for the needs of other is just part of our weekly routine.

Miles Neighborhood 2011 First Quarter Food Collection Results

Click on Chart to Enlarge

So many Pinto Beans
A Miles Street neighbor asked his friend on the way to Costco to pick up “some” Pinto Beans for he and his son. Either he forgot what it means to go to Costco or his friend wants them to become Vegan.

Twenty-five pounds of Pinto Beans for two people is a lot of Pinto Beans and since the Food Bank only takes unopened packages, our Miles neighbor decided others could benefit more from his bean bonanza.

We collected a total of 206 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $38.50, $8.50 in cash and a $30.00 check.

See you Sunday.

Peter

115th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-03-21T22:46:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

One Can A Week

Now in the Great State of Virginia

On the 16th I received an email from Bill Carnegie, the Community Food Bank CEO talking about one motivating aspect of One Can A Week.

He wrote, “Your concept is simple, yet dramatic. Often times people feel discouraged when they hear how many men, women and children are in need.

“They don't feel they can make a difference. Your concept allows them to make a difference for a local family in need. Every can and every dollar makes a difference.”

Bill must be clairvoyant. The next day, Thursday, I heard from Sandra Sullivan, Chair Food Pantry Transition Committee in Stanardsville, Virginia. She is charged with increasing the size for the community food bank in her area because there is such an increased need.

“We have been running a food pantry since 1995,” Sandra wrote, “and suddenly in May of 2008, two local plants shut down without notice, and the requests for food skyrocketed and hasn't stopped since.

“Our donations have kept pace with the need, but we have outgrown the church facilities where we have operated free all of these years, and suddenly must raise money in addition to food.

“Last night I was invited to make a presentation on our several food programs to the "Domestic Divas", a local social club that I knew nothing about until they invited me. As a group they are supporting another charity on a monthly basis, but if they each went back to their neighborhoods and started your program, that would be really exciting.

“This morning I was looking for ideas for flyers and ran across your "one can a week program". It sounds perfect! I believe that will "catch on" in our county!”

Our One Can A Week program is in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and now Virginia. Can’t wait to list all fifty states.

Surprising Sunday

The great thing about my Miles neighbors is they are very consistent. And then they are not. For no special reason we doubled what we normally contribute which is about 168 lbs. a week. This week we donated lots of fruit, spuds and even some garden grown onions besides a basket brimming with cans and jars and boxes.

We collected a total of 356 lbs. of food, including 42 lbs. from The Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $32.50, $12.50 in cash and a $30.00 check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

114th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-03-14T22:41:00.005-07:00

Hi Folks,

Off To A Great Start

Emy Sladek’s little boy Teak just helped his family deliver their
One Can A Week neighborhood food donation to the
Desert Mission Food Bank in Phoenix.

Teaching Kids To Be Grateful
Remember Phoebe Fox? She lives in Phoenix and started a One Can A Week program in her neighborhood some time ago. Recently she added to her success by encouraging her friend Emy to help feed hungry folks also.

Today I got an email from Emy who began One Can A Week five weeks ago. She is collecting food from her neighbors and educating them at the same time on the many programs and aspects of the Desert Mission Food Bank. It sounds so fresh, too, because she is just reporting back on what she just learned.

“Hi all!
We had a really awesome first trip to the Desert Mission Food Bank yesterday! After 4 weeks collecting "One Can A Week" I'm proud to announce that our little 13th Pl contributed 41 lbs of canned goods!

“After weighing our donation the director took us on a tour and explained how things work there. I was so impressed! It's really a nice set up, very clean and orderly. They have a small staff and over 75 volunteers. It was such an upbeat and cheery atmosphere! They have different programs all centered around feeding

those in need with respect and dignity. I encourage you to go check out the Desert Mission Food Bank 4th Street Market.

“I also learned that they not only take canned goods, plastic bags, and citrus... but will also take any extra fresh grown garden produce and dog, cat, and bird food!”

Emy then closed her email thanking her neighbors for helping her raise her two young children, Teak and Payson.

“As parents we strive so hard to teach our kids to be grateful. To appreciate what they have and to give to others in need. Thank you for helping me instill that in my kids. And helping our community food bank! It really does mean so much!”

Once in a while I get a little discourage because One Can A Week is not growing as fast as I think it should. Then I get these terrific little emails and realize I just have to wait for those One Can A Week little guys to grow up to make things really happen.

And thumbs up to you too, Teak!

Inedible Good Stuff
Squash, bananas and lots of cans ended up in the cart this week. But we also donated Q-Tips, a bunch of dog food, shower gel and deodorant (top left). These personal items are need also so if you’re thinking of regifting something you don’t want or need, why not regift it to the food bank.

We collected a total of 172 lbs. of food. The money we donated amounted to $33.50, $8.50 in cash and a $25.00 check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

113th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-03-07T23:06:00.003-07:00

Hi Folks,

There’s a New Sheriff in Town

Maen Mdanat, owner of the Axis Food Mart and his three
children, Petra (left) Rayah and Michael enjoy an In and Out
Burger lunch at Axis.

I was almost finished with my rounds on Sunday when I stopped to talk to a neighbor on 12th Street. During the course of our conversation, I mentioned I worked mornings at the Axis Food Mart.

“Tell me something,” he asked, “why should they get a liquor license. Circle K and Safeway sell liquor. Why do we need another liquor store in the neighborhood?”

Even if there is a license involved, I don’t think competition in business should ever be restricted. If competition is restrictions, the consumer always pays higher prices. But I could tell my neighbor was not looking for a lesson in capitalism. He lived right behind the Axis Food Mart and has dealt with homeless folks drinking and messing up the alley for years.

The former owner of Axis allowed all kinds of unneighborly activities around his store. But 15 months ago a new owner, Maen Mdanat took control of Axis and the homeless problem abated, mostly because Maen, in his twenties, was a special forces soldier in the Jordanian Army before coming to America. Although his nature is to be kind and giving, confrontation is not something Maen finds distasteful. The homeless had to behave and not trespass and drink in the alley or they would face arrest. Recently, a number of neighbors told me they are surprised by the very small number of homeless in the neighborhood lately. “It’s all Maen’s doing,” I’d say.

Chatting in the Parking Lot
Sunday night, Maen and I were standing in the front of his store talking about my conversation with our neighbor earlier in the day when a patrol car drove across the Axis parking lot and Cherry Street and parked in the Circle K lot facing Broadway. A minute or two later a patrol car drove slowly east on Broadway in front of the Circle K and the parked patrol car shining a spotlight on a fenced off home on the far side of the street.

As soon at the patrol car’s spotlight passed the fenced off home, a young man inside the fence jumped up and scurried over the fence. He darted across Broadway and headed straight for the parked patrol car.

Maen sprang into action because he saw the office was going to be slow exiting the patrol car and wouldn’t catch the runner.

Like a defensive back Maen adjusted his speed and angle as he shot across Cherry arriving just in time to grab the runner’s hooded jersey which the runner abandoned immediately. The officer, who had long legs was by now in pursuit of the runner behind Maen. But those long legs gained no ground on Maen’s piston-action sprint. The runner was the first to reach 12th Street and turn left into the darkness with Maen hot on his tail.

I picked up the hoodie and headed down Cherry toward 12th Street. Before I reached the corner, Maen appeared, not breathless at all which surprised me because it was such an adrenalin-filled sprint. He took the hoodie back around the corner and gave it to the officer.

When he joined me again on Cherry, I asked Maen what happened and he said it got really dark as soon as they turned the corner so he moved in on the runner and pushed him to the ground, holding the guy down with his knee in the guy’s back. Two or three seconds later the officer ran up with gun in hand. “That was the scary part,” Maen said, “considering how dark it was.”

We walked back to the store. Maen stooped to pick up several pieces of his cell phone off the street. It had popped out of its holder on his hip during the chase. The pieces all went back together and the phone worked fine.

So tell Me Again Why We Need Another Liquor License?
Although the process of things often distracts us—stores, homeless, drinking, and broken bottles in an alley—we forget that none of that really matters. It’s always the people and the character of those people.

I can’t tell you how glad I am that the fates allowed Maen to move into our neighborhood. With his special talents and unique experience he makes me feel safe and every one of my neighbors protected.

Now it’s our turn to protect Maen and his business so he can compete in the marketplace. I am going to do everything I can to make him feel welcome in Miles. And if I am ever again asked why we need another liquor license in our neighborhood I will say, “Actually, we need Maen and if he comes with a liquor license, so be it.”

Still Showing Our Appreciation
Remember when Quaker Oats awarded us that $500 grant way back when to pay for signage on the car and our display table? Well, every time I see an opportunity to promote them I do. I know it’s nice…but they were nice, first.

We collected a total of 146 lbs. of food, including 10 lbs. from The Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $36.50, $11.50 in cash and a $25.00 check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

112th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-02-28T23:07:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

Teachers Say Most Kids Rely on

School Meals as their

Primary Source of Nutrition

For more than 15 years, Jeff Bridges has been a spokesperson for and an

active participant with Share Our Strength.

A new study found that at least 65% of the teachers in K-12 schools see hungry kids every day. To help combat their students’ hunger, four out of ten of these teachers spend an average of $25 a month buying food.

Not helping the situation are three huge teacher challenges: 84% name discipline as a major problem, 42% site lack of school supplies and 40% point to student hunger. And of course, hunger can and often does foster unruly student behavior.

Share Our Strength, the Washington, DC based non-profit authored the study in an effort to highlight the expansion of child hunger in America. But Share Our Strength also offers a solution. Their primary mission is to fully maximize the effective government programs that “provide nutritious food to children at home (SNAP, or food stamps, WIC, and nutrition education), during school (breakfast and lunch, and through nutrition education) and when school is out (afterschool snacks and summer meals).”

About 60% of the students who qualify utilize the lunch program and only 40% of the 60% take advantage of the breakfast program. This means there are funds available, $1 billion or more, but parents don’t know about the programs or are reluctant to join because of a perceived stigma for them and their children.

After viewing the Share Our Strength video on CNN, I scrolled down to the comments section and was a bit surprised by a number of “programmed” responses. “Parents are at fault.” “If you can’t feed your kids, don’t have kids.” “Make more money, save more money”

Stigma, I guess!

Hunger is Not a Fault
The one thing none of these opinioned folks considered was making money is a skill, not a process like breathing in and breathing out or running off at the mouth.

Some people are good at baseball, most are not. Some people are good at running a business, most are not. It’s the same with making money. Some, about 1% are good at making money, 99% are not. If someone makes a “good living” so to speak—say $100,000 or $200,000 a year—that’s an incredibility poor performance when compared to the 1% folks.

And what’s so great about the ability to make money anyway—because no matter who we are—we all end up in line at the Pearly Gates. There, bags of gold have absolutely no value, only bags of good deeds help pay the entrance fee.

Get the Hungry Kids Signed Up
If you know a family in the school lunch program, go talk to them about the breakfast program and the backpack program. Or call the Community Food Bank and ask them how you can help promote the food assistance programs at you neighborhood school. As my dad used to say, “It’s not a sin to be poor…just damn inconvenient.”

Decent Collection This Week Except for the Half Naked Popcorn
The exposed popcorn bag on top promotes itself as half naked but offers no further explanation. Checked out Google and still no clear description of even what clothed popcorn is. Perhaps one is supposed to eat this popcorn in a darkened room.

We collected a total of 152 lbs. of food, including 26 lbs. from The Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $59.50, $9.50 in cash and two $25.00 checks.

See you Sunday,

Peter

111th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-02-22T22:50:00.004-07:00

Hi Folks,

One Can A Week is Much More than a

Food Donation Program

It All Started with a Pizza
Around the 20th of January I stopped by Congresswoman Giffords’ office and spoke to John Rorke, who was Gabe Zimmerman’s mentee. My idea was to tell someone about my earlier conversation with Gabby and her One Can A Week concept.

When I met Gabby at the Rincon Market in early November—just before the election— she mentioned that perhaps many of her volunteers would want to and perhaps need to do something after the election. She thought introducing them to the One Can A Week program might be an option.

John was very busy but patient with me and took the time to listen to what I had to say and then jotted down my phone number.

A week later John called me with an idea of his own which we discussed a couple of days later over pizza at the Old Chicago restaurant on Campbell. He also introduced me to his associates Stacey Harrington and Jose "Vidal" Ramirez.

John, Stacey and Vidal are graduate students at the ASU School of Social Work - Tucson Component. They are working as a team on a “change project” and wanted to submit a proposal to their professor utilizing One Can A Week.

Yesterday I received an email from their professor, Kent Burbank, Faculty Associate, responding to their project for his Social Work Practice Class - Spring 2011.

Professor Burbank’s opening paragraph made my day. “Vidal, John, and Stacey, Your planned change project for my ASU Social Work class sounds good. I am glad you are working with One Can a Week. I like One Can a Week because it combines community/neighborhood organizing and education with efforts to eradicate hunger in our community.”

The first time I learned that One Can A Week was more than a community food collection program was back in 2009 when Brett Weisel called me from Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. He was the first one to explain the full potential of One Can A Week to me. He also introduced me to Sandy Scott, Sr. Communications Advisor at The Corporation for National and Community Service.

What both of these gentlemen told me lo those many months ago is true. Last Wednesday, 25 or so neighbors showed up—not the normal 4 or 5— to our monthly Miles Neighborhood meeting after I distributed on my Sunday rounds a little flyer detailing the agenda.

Now with sociologists focusing on the community building aspects of One Can A Week, I feel more hopeful than ever that we can and will end hunger here in Tucson.

A Little Gleaning Time
Near the end of my rounds on Sunday, Dan on Manlove handed me a can of tuna and suggested I take a bunch of tangerines from his tree on the side of the driveway. Since I always have a plastic bag handy and a love of plucking, I quickly filled a bag with some very fresh

fruit. No wonder One Can A Week is successful. Food is everywhere in the Miles Neighborhood.

We collected a total of 186 lbs. of food, including 18 lbs. of produce and 38 lbs. from The Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $12.50 in cash. Add to those 186 lbs., another 354 lbs. from the Miles School, the Sunflower Market and the Rincon Market. We just dropped off 540 lbs. of food.

See you Sunday,

Peter

110th Week Update - Miles Neighborhood Food Collection Project

2011-02-14T22:38:00.001-07:00

Hi Folks,

A Spectacularly Ordinary Day!

Every time I sit down to write I get to relive Adam (on the left) and Molly enjoying the sights and sounds at the St. Philip’s Plaza a few summers ago. The photo is the most positive screensaver I’ve ever had and their image puts me in the right mood almost immediately. But today I was more interested in finding an idea to write about than appreciating the moment.

Since opening the Axis Food Mart at 7 am, I had been contemplating different idea …some related to food; some not. Should the Egyptian Army be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize? Or how come the turnout at the Hi Corbett Field “Tucson Has Heart” photo shoot Sunday was far less than the predicted 12,000 participants? I was looking for something provocative. Soon I was settling on just interesting but nothing was happening.

After work ended at 1 pm and lunch at 2 pm, I drove our Sunday collection to the Community Food Bank. Keith was there to help me and I had all of the food logged in by 2:30. With the window down on the drive back home, the weather and the warm breezes were starting to work their magic on me. What an incredible day! My flu is nearly gone, my neighbors and I just fed a lot of hungry folks so what am I stressing about?

We collected a total of 200 lbs. of food, including 12 lbs. from The Axis Food Mart. The money we donated amounted to $21.00 in cash. Add to those 200 lbs., another 174 lbs. from the Miles School, the Sunflower Market and the Rincon Market. We just dropped off 374 lbs. of food.

In the short 15-minute drive to my home, I had a complete attitude adjustment. The rest of the afternoon and early evening consisted of a one-hour nap, a long walk with the pups at the Williams Center and a tasty dinner of enhanced Campbell’s Healthy Request Chicken with Rice soup. (I toss in a whole bunch more chicken and reduce the recommended water by half.) Mmmmm…good!

Now that I understand and appreciate what today was really all about, I’m ready to write. And you know, that’s another great think about today … I finished writing even before I began.

See you next Sunday.

Peter