Good News Update

So Much More Than an Ample Harvest

August 4, 2011 by gpfadmin

"We are having an incredibly bountiful harvest this year, so much more than we can eat or give away. Thank goodness we found Ample Harvest! We have donated about 40 pounds of cucumbers, zucchini, squash in the past four days, plus cuttings from our mint, oregano, and basil plants. We expect the tomatoes to take off soon as well, and we will add them to the bags for the food pantry. We are thrilled to be able to donate these delicious fresh veggies, and hope that the people who receive it enjoy them."

When Gary Oppenheimer began AmpleHarvest.org back in 2009 he envisioned just what this Maryland gardener’s quote describes. Since beginning, Gary estimates that more than 700,000 pounds of produce has been donated to more than 4100 food pantries and soup kitchen’s across the country.

Read what the White House’s blog describing Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move!

program has to say about Gary and his ingenious creation:

http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2011/08/04/let%E2%80%99s-move-faith-and-communities-inspires-fresh-produce-100-food-pantries

Imagining a Book

July 31, 2011 by gpfadmin

"If it weren’t for Reading Village I would not be here. I would be in the field carrying heavy loads of vegetables."

To Linda Smith, founder of Reading Village, this simple statement coming from a young boy who is part of her innovative reading program in Guatemala, is like music to her ears.

It was only a few years ago when Linda lost her job (along with so many others) that the idea for Reading Village was born. Trying to get her bearings and think about the future, Linda traveled to Guatemala – for her, a serene place filled with smiling kids. As she walked around and spoke to the children she met, she asked, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" In most cases, the only response she got was a blank stare. Most kids growing up in Guatemala have very little; they are surrounded by profound poverty and little reason to hope that things might change. When Linda came upon a tiny local library where a group of kids were learning to read, she noticed the difference immediately…kids who know how to read can dream about what might be and it is the "dreaming" piece that actually helps change reality.

Reading Village works in small villages developing an environment where reading is important and encouraged. To effect this change, they form leadership groups of middle and high school students who act as mentors to younger children, reading with them and encouraging them to succeed. The program also provides scholarships for the leadership group as well as free books for local institutions and groups.

The Good People Fund was excited about providing funds for the purchase of new books – imagine the wonder in those young eyes when they can actually read about Peter Pan or James and the Giant Peach!

Reading Village has also developed a meaningful Hanukkah program, suitable for Jewish educators and families. Check it out:

http://www.readingvillage.org/light-up-literacy.html

On Pins and Needles

July 29, 2011 by gpfadmin

While recently in Uganda, the Trainees related many breathtaking stories…how their acupuncture treatments led to a significant reduction in size and pain from grossly enlarged spleens, a condition previously untreatable. …another spoke of one of his AIDS patients who, because of his acupuncture treatments, was once again able to walk… And another described how his treatments greatly reduced the severity and frequency of epileptic seizures.

This brief note came to us from Richard Mandell, a Boston-based licensed acupuncturist, a few months ago. Richard founded PAAP, The Pan African Acupuncture Project, in 2003. For people living in remote corners of the world where traditional medicine is limited or even non-existent, diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, or TB are daily realities. With the dearth of modern medicine available, alternative choices can be true life-savers and it was this problem that Richard chose to address when he began PAAP. PAAP’s volunteer acupuncturists have trained more than 200 healthcare workers, primarily in Uganda, to use acupuncture’s miraculous techniques in the treatment of these diseases.

Richard estimates that since beginning, more than 50 trainers, a number of whom have volunteered multiple times, have provided approximately 17,000 treatments each year-a very impressive number.

The Good People Fund offered of a $6000 matching grant to expand this amazing work and we were thrilled when Richard reported that his donors responded enthusiastically to the challenge.

We Sure Can Pick ‘Em

July 14, 2011 by gpfadmin

What a great surprise it was to just learn that Holly Hirshberg, founder of the San Antonio-based Dinner Garden has just been named a CNN Hero. We met Holly this past Spring (and wrote about her and Dinner Garden here in the Diary on May 17, 2011) and were excited to learn about her efforts to end hunger in this country. Holly has proven that people can help feed themselves and others by growing their own fruits and vegetables. Dinner Garden has distributed seeds and gardening information to thousands of people across the country and also facilitated more than 150 community gardens. A recent Good People Fund grant allowed Holly to mail out almost 5000 packets of seeds to home gardeners in several states. Congratulations Holly!

With Holly’s recognition as the latest CNN Hero, she joins the ranks of several other Good People Fund programs which include Gary Oppenheimer from AmpleHarvest.org, Pam Koner, founder of Family to Family and Irene Zola, founder of our newest grantee, LILY-Lifeforce in Later Years.

Not a bad track record at all! We wonder who will be next.

Check out the CNN clip on Holly and her work: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/14/cnnheroes.hirshberg.seeds/

Survivors We Have Forgotten

July 13, 2011 by gpfadmin

Zane Buzby, founder of Survivor Mitzvah Project was recently in touch to let us know that she had met her goal of raising matching funds for a grant we offered her program. The Good People Fund match will help make it possible for Zane to once again visit elderly survivors in Eastern Europe next winter. All of these elders live in extreme poverty, isolated, sick and lonely. Zane’s visits are nothing less than a life-saving injection of hope and compassion as she makes her way from village to village bringing modest funds, small gifts and her amazing personality.

Nothing can quite tell Zane’s story better than this recently completed video. It is an amazing story…stop and watch…you will be moved. http://youtu.be/bJLRKA2VhAY

You Never Know…

July 12, 2011 by gpfadmin

You never know where a conversation will end up. We spend so much time each day speaking to people all over the country. Many want to learn more about our work and some even want advice on how they can make a difference in their own communities. In truth, that is one of our primary reasons for sharing our "good people" stories…to inspire others to do the same, in their own way, in their own community.

About a year ago, Stacy Kamisar from Weston, CT was one of those callers. Stacy wanted to do something in her community… the question was what? We discussed several ideas and after some time Stacy decided that working with books was meaningful and could truly change lives.

We were not surprised when the following email arrived recently. Stacy has succeeded in every way. Today, local individuals and families are supporting the program in many ways including the donation of new books in lieu of Bar/Bat Mitzvah or birthday gifts. Read on…I know that we are inspired! Who knows what may come next?

Hi Naomi – I am thrilled to tell you that in the one year since we first spoke, I have finally gotten my books project up and running, and I have to credit you for the inspiration. After reading about all the work done by people you have met through the Good People Fund, I decided that our Westport UJA/Federation needed to do more to impact our local community. With NO budget, relying on the kindness of donated time and expertise, we have secured storage space, set up a website, formed an advisory committee and are finally ready to start serving beneficiary organizations in Connecticut that are in need of books. Please visit our website…www.books2connect.org and let me know your thoughts.

I can’t thank you enough for inspiring me to make this happen. I think we can have a very positive impact and I will keep you posted as to our progress.

Yasher koach Stacy!