A Worldwide Potluck
Sorry for the radio silence. As some of you may already know, we’re out in Tofino, in Clayoquot Sound. We made the pilgrimage late last week in an attempt to escape the snow and freezing rain and perhaps not shovel the sidewalks for every day of spring break. It only took until Abbotsford to seek out something green and growing. So we’re here, all of us, in the pouring rain and the lush green. There’s a garden already growing – plenty of kale and chard – in the yard next door. We’ve seen two rainbows over Meares island (out our window) and a few seals, and hundreds of baby crabs hiding under the rocks. We’ve jumped in the waves (those of us under 10 have, anyway), eaten fish and chips, played Frisbee on the beach and witnessed one spectacular sunset. (Looking at the forecast, I’m hoping it’s not our last.)
Somehow it feels right to be on the furthest west coast of Canada, right on the Pacific ocean, almost directly across from Japan, on a piece of land with a Japanese history – a Japanese family once owned it, and there’s still bamboo growing, and the remains of a koi pond and stream under a falling-apart-but-still-functional bridge. The first morning here I walked down to the beach and found a chunk of weathered porcelain bowl – an Asian noodle bowl – and the day after Mike found a rock so smooth and perfectly oval you can stand it on one end and spin it like a top.
It’s a good place to launch this little project I’ve had in mind. A lot of you have asked if I’m doing another Blog Aid book, this time to benefit Japan. I’m not. Long story. (I have been involved in a similar project, which hasn’t been announced yet, but will soon.) I’m impressed with all the things people are coming up with to help – in the past couple weeks I’ve had more luck coming up with ideas than I’ve had actually executing them.
My first Big Idea was to throw a virtual potluck. Because when it comes down to it, what most of us wish we could do is whip up a nice comforting pot of soup to bring to Japan to directly show our support and good wishes, right? Feeding people, nourishing them when they need it most, is the most basic and direct way to show you care, isn’t it? So if you could bring a pot of something warm and delicious to Japan, wouldn’t you? A nice casserole, perhaps? How much might that cost in ingredients? $10? $20? and what about your time?
Here, let me make it easier for you. The World Food Programme (WFP) has a new site that will allow you to input food items; it calculates the cost and approximate number of people that money will feed, and you can donate directly. I love that. You can punch in a tuna casserole or a dozen muffins. This is exactly the sort of thing I envisioned coming up with, except that I can’t program fancy websites. Lucky that they can, and already did. You can do it here.
In terms of relief for Japan, the WFP has launched a logistics operation to support the Japanese government’s delivery of relief items to victims of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis – some 350,000 people are currently in temporary shelters. From their website:
“Today WFP stands with Japan – one of the most generous humanitarian nations on earth that has always been there when others have needed help,” said WFP Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. “WFP’s emergency operation is a direct response to the government’s request for help in meeting the epic logistical challenges they face in their heroic rescue efforts.”
In addition, WFP has moved more than 1,500 metric tons of food into Eastern Libya – enough to feed more than 100,000 people for a month – and pre-positioned more than 6,000 metric tons of food in emergency supplies.
Of course there’s always the Red Cross – and the lesser known option to donate directly to the Japanese Red Cross. The CBC has compiled a list of agencies on their website, too. While you’re at it, hold a real-life potluck dinner for those you’re glad to have in your life, just because. Let everyone bring something delicious, feed each other, and celebrate all that which becomes more acutely precious after watching so many others lose it. I haven’t managed to pull together a real-life potluck, but will do soon. (Fortunately potlucks aren’t time sensitive.)
But then I thought the term potluck could really be expanded to mean much more. Its definition, after all, is “whatever is available or comes one’s way”, which is really what all this is about – things that come our way, big or small, expected or not, how those things affect our lives and how we can all have positive impacts on each others’ lives. A potluck doesn’t have to refer to food, but a new way to look at injecting some joy and goodwill within our own circles and communities – to those people we are able to directly impact. We could all use a little happy amidst this dragging-on-winter and onslaught of sad and scary news, don’t you think? If the events that have unfolded in Japan cause us all to hug our loved ones a little more closely, to be kinder to people we don’t know, to make an effort to spread a little more happiness, well that’s something. As someone obviously very smart once said: you can’t help everyone, but you can help someone. (Even if it’s yourself.) It seems the Japanese are living that lesson already, and we could all learn something from the example they’ve been setting every day.
At the same time I was pondering this idea, and how it might unfold into something tangible, my good friend C, the one who designed and laid out the Blog Aid book, emailed me with a story of her own sadness and time spent with a group whose family was in Japan. And although they had all been accounted for, she said, the heaviness of soul in the room was palpable. I think that’s as good a descriptor as any for the world right now – so many heavy hearts.
She told me about a geologist she met who spoke (in reference to the Japanese earthquake) about plate tectonics, and how the shifting of the earth’s plates and earthquakes are necessary for the survival of all life on this planet. A whole new way of looking at things that somehow shed some light on an otherwise overwhelmingly tragic situation and gave her hope. She reiterated what I had been thinking – that the best thing to do is pass it on, using whatever gifts and talents we have – our driving force last year with Blog Aid.
And so I’m hoping we can make this even bigger, something we can all involve ourselves in a little more deeply, and have it be more accessible to everyone, including those who may not have money to spend on a cookbook. We can all make a difference. I thought I’d put it out there and see what we can come up with between us – I know there are a lot of creative minds and plenty of good will out there. To help with our project, the good folks at Maple Leaf Prime (the ones who are giving away two trips for two on the Rocky Mountaineer with me in May!) have sent me fifty (FIFTY!) Walmart gift cards with a value of $25 each. That’s $1250 for us to spend on good things. Collectively we should be able to make a difference in a lot of lives, and hope it has a ripple effect. It always does. You never know what you’ll trigger.
If you want to get involved, think of something you could do to make someone’s life a little happier or more comfortable. Socks or toothbrushes for a shelter. Food for a food bank. A homemade meal for someone who needs it. A party for you and your friends (a potluck in honour of Japan!). Seeds to plant a community garden. It could help one person or a lot of people, it’s up to you. I know there are a lot of creative minds out there, and I know you’ll come up with some cool stuff. This is a great opportunity to get your kids involved – kids have great ideas, and it’s a good thing to get them thinking about how they might be able to help others. Perhaps you could come up with a way to turn that $25 into even more money – with a bake sale, lemonade stand or other fundraiser. It’s amazing the positive impact you can make with not much money. (Although you can buy just about anything you need at Walmart, you don’t have to anchor your idea to it. I’ll send the card anyway!)
In terms of divvying up these cards, if you want one, leave a comment with your idea. For the next five days we’ll choose ten a day and mail out cards. (Leave your email address, so I can contact you!) Later on, I’ll have a special gift for the most creative idea – not that they won’t all be completely great – a Japanese cast iron tea pot, meant to symbolize the everlasting strength and unity of the world.
When you do your thing – whatever it is – I want to hear about it! Keep us posted on what you did and how it went. Send pictures! I’ll pass the feel-good stories on via blog posts.
I’m so excited about this!
A BIG HUGE THANKS to Maple Leaf Prime for helping finance this project.
Let’s start the potluck!
March 29 2011 12:09 am | leftovers
Shira on 29 Mar 2011 at 1:51 am #
Hi–I work at an orphanage in Botswana and have had the pleasure of getting to know a 13-year-old girl that is really excited about reading. Books here are incredibly expensive, but I’ve been seeking out some used books for her, which she reads in about an hour and then asks for more. Yesterday I told her I was leaving Botswana in a month and she got really sad–not because of me, of course, but because it meant no more books! I told her I’d find some way to mail or send with friends some from the U.S. This would be a great way to start, as I know Walmart sells affordable books!
Lana in South Mountain (ON) on 29 Mar 2011 at 7:15 am #
This is beautiful. A project that Rachael would been all over!
I will bring this up with my girls tonight at the dinner table and see what they would do with 25$ to make someone’s life better. I love the idea of using the money to make more money to send to Japan.
Perhaps they will decide to make useful crafts that they can sell to family and friends! Or ingredients for a bake sale with the same idea in mind…the possibilities are endless…
Good one, Julie.
A Canadian Foodie on 29 Mar 2011 at 9:42 am #
A thoughtful, reflective and heart wrenching post with the best of intentions. Wonderful that you have a catalyst to provide a little starter for the uprising toward the growth of this project. I have been thinking for quite some time about what to do… I love the idea of POTLUCK as it is the quintessential Alberta Prairies sharing.
Valerie
Ellen on 29 Mar 2011 at 10:01 am #
I was going to leave a comment about books, as I’m on the advisory board of my local library, but it didn’t quite sound ‘important’ enough in relation to what some people in the world are going through. But! Start local! Our library just opened a new branch in an underserved part of the city, and within a week, over 50% of the entire collection had been checked out! Children’s books fly off the shelves almost faster than the staff can restock. With $25, I’d go to Walmart and buy lots of children’s books. A drop in the bucket, but a good start nonetheless. Thanks Julie and Shira for the inspiration!
Erica B. on 29 Mar 2011 at 10:17 am #
Recent events have made me want to give and connect more with my own community.
I’m a Director at Sylvan Lake & Area Community Partners Association. Our group runs a number of programs as well as the Compassion Fund. The fund exists to help people in the area in crisis – whether it’s a woman with children who’ve left an abusive situation and needs help with rent, or a family with emergency expenses who need groceries or any number of situations. In our town of 11,000 our organization is spending $1000/month on average trying to meet compassion clients’ needs. We do not receive any government funding other than the casino grant and our next casino is scheduled for the first quarter of 2012.
We could use the Walmart card to buy supplies for a Charity BBQ to help keep the lights on since operations grants are near impossible to find – or give it directly to a Compassion client.
JulieVR on 29 Mar 2011 at 11:54 am #
WOW, great ideas you guys! I love hearing about what people are already doing!
Kelly on 29 Mar 2011 at 1:18 pm #
My middle daughter will be 8 in May. She had been to a birthday party where the guests were encouraged to bring food bank items. She asked me if there is a food bank for animals (her passion in life), so I told her about the SPCA. She and I have since been spending our Saturuday mornings volunteering at our local SPCA, doing laundry, washing dishes, cleaning litter boxes and of course walking dogs and playing with the cats. It is amazing what the SPCA does/provides for these animals that otherwise would not be able to help themselves. There are so many things that that they require besides food and leashes to operate that most might not even realize…dish soap and laundry soap (there a A LOT of dishes and blankets/towels used every day), office supplies, electricity, water, phones. All donations to the SPCA get pu to good use, so a $25.00 gift card would be a great support for them.
Katharine on 29 Mar 2011 at 4:34 pm #
Charlie and I are going to brainstorm. I’ll get back to you.
Myan nguyen on 29 Mar 2011 at 6:20 pm #
I’m a new uoc grad and currently working for the uoc Development Office. It’s a fund raising department for the whole University. We like pants around here. I have been taking care of 11plants that we have in our office in the past 2yrs. I think that lately they need some plant food and new good earth. I plan to use that 25 dollars to buy some plant food, fetilizer, and possibly a new plant, in honor and sympathy for Japan. I hope to bring awareness to more people, and since we are fund raising people, we need to constanly remember the cause of what we do, and work toward positive impact for the community
lovetocook on 29 Mar 2011 at 7:31 pm #
This seems appropriate here:
10 Things to learn from Japan.
1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a nasty word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE THOUGHTFULNESS
Restaurants cut prices. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reporting.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly. An unguarded ATM is left alone.
Brigid on 29 Mar 2011 at 8:19 pm #
Donate a card to a teacher at your neighbourhood school to buy classroom supplies. Teachers spend hundreds of $$ from their own pocket every year to enrich the lives of our children.
Sonja "Max Payne" on 29 Mar 2011 at 8:40 pm #
What an incredible idea! I have already set up a project to help the people of Japan and the $25 card will help off set the costs of the project.
I started an Earthquake Preparation Project in my office, I researched what was needed to survive an earthquake here in Vancouver and will presenting and running a “make your own, earthquake survival kit, the office edition”. I’m asking everyone who participates to chip in $10, which will be donated to the Red Cross emergency services in Japan. the $25 card will help buy some supplies for the kits, something simple like glow sticks or emergency whistles.
Who every you choose – thanks for doing this project. the best part has been reading the responses to find out what great ideas are out there.
rock on!
Cathy on 29 Mar 2011 at 9:40 pm #
Brigid, my daughter is an Elementary teacher and I have been with her in the Teacher’s Store, seeing her spending her OWN hard earned $$$ on supplies for her classroom. I have even given her gift certificates to the store for Christmas at her request.
This is just not RIGHT!!!!! AND to hear of all the parents’ complaints about the lack of supervision and extra time spent with students. They do not realize what teachers contribute. Parents………time to start helping with your time and stop complaining about the petty details. Your teachers work more than 8 hour days and are NOT paid babysitters. Think about the education these professionals have gone through to nurture your angels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amber on 30 Mar 2011 at 2:37 am #
What an amazing project!
I asked my 9 year old daughter what she would do if she could help someone in need. She said she would buy baby food for hungry babies and cat food for hungry cats! I love her!
Thank you for the seeds of hope that have been planted with this idea. So many humble and ambitious wishes can be granted with these precious little gift cards, and I hope that the happiness created with this one selfless act will continue to evolve and grow – creating a positive chain of events across the World!
erin on 30 Mar 2011 at 8:30 am #
Hi Julie,
This is a lovely contest – it would be nice to win something that can help others!
I asked my sons what they would do, and my 7 yr old said he would buy a blanket for a homeless person, and my 4 yr old said he would buy food for sick people. I asked what kind of food he would buy and he said medicine and jello.
So that’s what we will do if we win!
Katharine on 30 Mar 2011 at 9:29 am #
I have isabella’s preschool drawing pictures of hope and love for Japan! My friend Shawn lives in Kobe and we are coordinating some relief efforts together! If we could put even a few care packages together – clothing, personal effects, batteries, infant formula etc…. It would somehow make a small difference to someone directly! More info to come! Shawn has some great ideas.
Robyn in Mountain (Ontario that is) on 30 Mar 2011 at 1:35 pm #
Sounds like a lovely holiday! And, how thoughtful of Maple Leaf Prime.
Gift cards for Walmart could help out local women’s shelters and food banks. I have been working for charitable organizations since 1987 and a little can certainly go a long way.
Let us not forget Haiti too!
Always enjoying your recipes, Julie. Cheers!!
Deborah on 30 Mar 2011 at 2:15 pm #
I am a volunteer for a local group called Made by Momma. We are moms helping other moms that are having a rough time, be it both parents have recently lost their jobs, or a new baby on the way with mom on bed rest, and dad has a back injury, or a new mom feeling overwhelmed. We help with cleaning, providing meals, a shoulder to cry on, our experience with baby raising, and much more. The gift card would allow Made by Momma to help out a family in need in whatever way best suited them.
Thanks for putting this out there, Julie.
Alexandra on 30 Mar 2011 at 2:59 pm #
Here is what I did: donated money to the Red Cross through my employer, and my employer matched my donation. If your employer matches charitable donations, please think about giving money through them to whatever cause you may support. Double the donation, and no added work. Win, win (win, as Michael Scott would say).
Lee-Ann on 30 Mar 2011 at 3:06 pm #
Many children nowadays have birthday parties, but instead of gifts, they ask for money or charitable donations. I think this is fantastic. Doesn’t just have to be for kids, adults can do it on their birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc, etc.
margaret on 30 Mar 2011 at 3:10 pm #
Hi, to help donate to raise money for japan I have earned money online by dong various surveys Etc. I have cashed out and sent money through pay pal. Also I belong to a site called swag bucks and have donated though there as well. I hope that every little bit has helped
Karen on 30 Mar 2011 at 3:17 pm #
Our local middle school grade 8′s work on an Interdisciplinary unit on starting your own business. They come up with an idea and market it and they have a day when the whole school can come to purchase their goods or services. This year many of the students have suggested that they donate their profits to Japan relief. I am happy when our youth suggest ways to be compassionate.
Bernadette on 30 Mar 2011 at 3:20 pm #
Buying Japanese products to help stimulate the economy is good. I have donated every possible award program I have online to this cause. I have a close friend in Japan and went absolutely insane trying to find him when this happened. Thankfully he and his family are safe for now but narrowly missed the tsunami by only miles. I’m staying in touch with him to find out how else to help and will post here when he lets me know xxx
Aimee Robison on 30 Mar 2011 at 3:25 pm #
I would use the $25 dollars to hold a bake sale, to help out people with HS. I suffer with a skin condition called HS, and it causes a lot of pain and can make people disabled. A lot of people do not understand what an HS suffer goes though, and I would like to bring awareness to this horrible disease, as well as make some money to give to the HS fund that helps people with this disease. With the $25 dollars, it would not only be bring awareness to the disease but the bake goods would turn the $25 dollars into more money for the HS fund, and it would benefit so many people that suffer with HS.
Peggy Clement on 30 Mar 2011 at 3:40 pm #
The first thing I would do is give the Walmart card to the Red Cross to buy something that is needed. The next thing to do is donate all or some of my/your HBC reward points that will go to the Japan disaster. This way if a person is cash strapped they can still help out
Anonymous on 30 Mar 2011 at 4:08 pm #
Hi: I would like to encourage people to donate clothes as well as any unwanted items to the salvation army which to me is the best chartitable organization being that they are always there in worldwide emergencies or any organization that I know will guarantee that Japan will receive it. Whether is’t money or not. These people need food and money as well as all the essential items they can get to make life more confortable as they rebuild. My name is Linda Inch and my email is malcolmxl@sympatico.ca
Lori on 30 Mar 2011 at 5:17 pm #
In addition to donating HBC points, which Peggy above has already mentioned, Air Miles and Aeroplan also allow you to donate points to several charitable organizations involved in the Japan Earthquake relief effort and in other programmes throughout the world. Tell your friends.
Alicen on 30 Mar 2011 at 6:05 pm #
I regularly clean out my closet and donate any clothes that don’t fit to local goodwill organizations, but I also clean out the bathroom cupboards for personal hygiene supplies and cleaning supplies. These are donated to the local homeless shelter to help with building maintenance (cleaning supplies) and provide personal grooming supplies to residents because these things can be expensive. Mostly it happens to be items I received as gifts but they just didn’t get used.
Also, when we finished building our house we donated the leftover paint which the shelter used to freshen up the place.
I would use the gift card to buy more hygiene supplies for residents. I know I just don’t feel like myself without clean hair and clean teeth
Paula on 30 Mar 2011 at 6:13 pm #
A $25 Walmart gift card will buy an essential package to be donated to your local food bank. And to assist in the Japan relief efforts, many of the reward points programs are allowing members to donate all or a portion of their points. Check out the ones you subscribe to for further information.
Pass it on!
Judy on 30 Mar 2011 at 6:57 pm #
I use coupons a lot in my grocery shopping trips in an effort to save money in today’s economy. And one of the easiest ways that I can think of to help raise money for Japan would be for me to donate the money that I save with my coupon use. It may seem pretty insignificant when you look at each coupon on its own, but I can tell you that with coupon use, on a weekly basis, it does add up. So, if all my fellow coupon shoppers do what I do and donate the money saved in using coupons, I’m sure that we can make a difference in our efforts to help Japan.
Melanie on 30 Mar 2011 at 7:32 pm #
For $25 a lot of seeds can be purchased and food grown. It could be shared with so many programs in our own community like shelters, the food bank, churches, lunches for school kids…
Seeds could be sent to Japan to help people have focus and a sense of purpose through the sowing and caring for a garden. It gives them something they need (food) and the ability to provide for their families.
Jamie on 31 Mar 2011 at 10:31 am #
I love the idea of donating points, i must live under a rock as I had not yet heard about this!
DD and I are crafty, and we were thinking of making cards, i know how much I love receiving cards, especially hand made. We are going to research which charities/groups in our area would like some and get busy crafting.
p.s. Tofino is my favorite place on the planet…
Amy Kilar on 31 Mar 2011 at 2:15 pm #
The $25 dollars could be used to help out the local United Way Back pack program, and buy school supplies for children that cannot afford to buy them. I would love to be able to put a smile on a child’s face
Joanne on 31 Mar 2011 at 3:13 pm #
I would use the card to buy yarn so I could knit up some scarves and hats to donate to the Ujamaa Grandmas annual fundraiser sale in October. (Stephen Lewis’s Grandmother-to-Grandmother campaign)
ELIZABETH on 31 Mar 2011 at 4:48 pm #
I’m thinking that if some nice stationary and envelopes were bought as well as maybe 4 $5 gift certificates the $25 could be used as a gift of kindness.
Right a little note telling someone to have a nice day and asking them to pass on the kindness to someone else. Put the note and a gift certificate in an envelope and give it to some random person. That is 4 strangers whose day has just been made better!
Jeanette Runions on 01 Apr 2011 at 9:27 am #
HI Julie,
What would I do… well, I just came through a battle with breast cancer and one of the things that helped me was a support group called “Healing Connections” out of the Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton. The group operates because of the time offered by a group of encouraging and compassionate women who volunteer their time. So, my hat goes off to them, and to honour them I would like to purchase some supplies to make heart shaped cushions (angel wings). These are given to women who have lumpectomy and are used by tucking them snugly under the arm to ease the owies…
Thanks, Jeanette.
Kathy on 01 Apr 2011 at 1:32 pm #
I have finally come up with an idea. My friend works as an advocate against Human Trafficking and Prostitution for a non profit. I would donate the $25 gift card to the organization she works for. Hope I am not too late to the “potluck”.
Heather on 01 Apr 2011 at 3:44 pm #
Hey Julie!
Thanks for your blog! It makes me hungry every time I visit. I would break that big gift card up into 5 little gift cards, and keep on passing it on! I’d share your idea with them, so that they can share it with someone else. Spread the word! Thanks for the links – I always want to donate or do some good, but I’m never sure where to start. I’m heading over to WFP right now – sounds great!
Marion on 02 Apr 2011 at 3:15 pm #
I’d make a $25 loan on http://www.kiva.org – an awesome website that posts microfinance loans from around the world for people who are trying to better their lives, and we can chip in $25 to finance the loans. It’s thrilling to see the person paying back steadily over the following months… and it’s truly a ripple effect because the $25 can then be re-loaned to someone else. I’m pasionate about local food so I usually choose to loan to women doing catering or buying agricultural supplies, but the variety on Kiva is immense!
Michael on 02 Apr 2011 at 7:20 pm #
I would make a habit out of sharing a meal with everyone I know who are following dreams rather than choosing high-paying careers (such as struggling artists or writers), so that I can help promote and live the idea that we can live well without money being the most important part of life.
Anita on 06 Apr 2011 at 11:52 pm #
I would take the card and use it to buy supplies to make mini cheesecakes and sell them(I was able to purchase cream cheese in the states for 4/1.00) so, $25 would make quite a few. The money raised from the sale would be used to buy further supplies to make quilts, dolls and toys to send to the children that stand in need.
Amelia on 08 Apr 2011 at 7:06 pm #
Hi Julie,
I have a friend who works with families in St. James Town (Toronto) where over 50% of the families live below the poverty line and many are new immigrants. I would give the card to her so that she could help those who really need it, whether it help some of the kids in the after school program or the moms in one of the community groups they establish. She has told me of numerous times where they value community and are eager to open their doors to others even when they have so little to give.
Thanks for this opportunity for so many to help others!
Japanese Technologies on 30 Oct 2011 at 12:37 am #
Japanese Technologies…
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