Yavapai Food Council Green Bag and Backpack Programs
By Joy Sinnott
All of us who are blessed to live in beautiful Sedona, with comfortable homes and plenty to eat, often have no idea of the hunger issues existing right in our own back yards. It's called being "food insecure", and I was one who had truly no idea of the scope of this problem, or what I could do to help solve it. Oh sure, I took donations to the Food Bank when I remembered, but what I learned and how I became joyfully involved is a story I want to share with you.
I read in the paper about a meeting at the Library here in Sedona about a "Green Bag Program", so I went, just to get some information. Boy did I ever!!!! I learned how 1 in 5 Americans face hunger, and how more and more middle class families are dropping into the poverty levels. I was shocked to learn that in our own areas,1 in 3 children go to bed hungry. I learned that more and more working folks were needing help from food banks just to get by. And I discovered that the Yavapai Food Council, with it's Green Bag Program is helping to solve this awful problem, and that I could easily be part of the solution. This project stays in our Verde Valley community , supporting so many of our neighbors who we didn't even know needed help. It helps the children in our schools through the Backpack Program. I learned about so many studies that prove how much better children learn when they are well nourished. The Backpack Program provides nourishing and healthy food for the kids to take home for the weekend when they no longer get the meals provided by the schools. And which they often share with their families.
The Green Bag Program was another eye opener for me, and my heart told me I had to become involved. But how? It was so easy!!!! As a coordinator with the program, all I did was talk to my neighbors and post a sign at our HOA clubhouse, telling folks how easy it is to participate in this wonderful effort. Then all I do is to remind my neighbors of a date every other month when I'll stop by their house to pick up their Green Bag, which they've filled with healthy, nourishing food. We even provide an easy list of food and items that are appropriate and most needed. Because the bags are collected every other month, it's easy to just pick up a few extra items each time you go shopping, or when things are on sale, and before you know it, the bag is filled. I start out at 9:am to collect the bags in my neighborhood, and by 10:00 I'm at the drop off point where all my bags are unloaded ( what service!!!) from my car by super efficient volunteers, and I'm given new bags for the next pick up. Sometimes donors aren't able to leave out a bag, and that's OK. Some don't always leave a full bag, and some leave overflowing or even 2 bags!!! It doesn't matter, every single item is so needed and appreciated.
Participating in this program has been such a blessing to me on so many levels. I get to connect with friends and neighbors that I don't see often enough, and I get to appreciate their kind and loving hearts. I get to join in a program that is so well run and efficient, with so many benefits to my own community. Its almost embarrassing how easy an act of kindness this is to do, and it truly fills my heart to overflowing.....not to mention my own Green Bag.
I read in the paper about a meeting at the Library here in Sedona about a "Green Bag Program", so I went, just to get some information. Boy did I ever!!!! I learned how 1 in 5 Americans face hunger, and how more and more middle class families are dropping into the poverty levels. I was shocked to learn that in our own areas,1 in 3 children go to bed hungry. I learned that more and more working folks were needing help from food banks just to get by. And I discovered that the Yavapai Food Council, with it's Green Bag Program is helping to solve this awful problem, and that I could easily be part of the solution. This project stays in our Verde Valley community , supporting so many of our neighbors who we didn't even know needed help. It helps the children in our schools through the Backpack Program. I learned about so many studies that prove how much better children learn when they are well nourished. The Backpack Program provides nourishing and healthy food for the kids to take home for the weekend when they no longer get the meals provided by the schools. And which they often share with their families.
The Green Bag Program was another eye opener for me, and my heart told me I had to become involved. But how? It was so easy!!!! As a coordinator with the program, all I did was talk to my neighbors and post a sign at our HOA clubhouse, telling folks how easy it is to participate in this wonderful effort. Then all I do is to remind my neighbors of a date every other month when I'll stop by their house to pick up their Green Bag, which they've filled with healthy, nourishing food. We even provide an easy list of food and items that are appropriate and most needed. Because the bags are collected every other month, it's easy to just pick up a few extra items each time you go shopping, or when things are on sale, and before you know it, the bag is filled. I start out at 9:am to collect the bags in my neighborhood, and by 10:00 I'm at the drop off point where all my bags are unloaded ( what service!!!) from my car by super efficient volunteers, and I'm given new bags for the next pick up. Sometimes donors aren't able to leave out a bag, and that's OK. Some don't always leave a full bag, and some leave overflowing or even 2 bags!!! It doesn't matter, every single item is so needed and appreciated.
Participating in this program has been such a blessing to me on so many levels. I get to connect with friends and neighbors that I don't see often enough, and I get to appreciate their kind and loving hearts. I get to join in a program that is so well run and efficient, with so many benefits to my own community. Its almost embarrassing how easy an act of kindness this is to do, and it truly fills my heart to overflowing.....not to mention my own Green Bag.
200 Hats???
No Problem!!!
With the cold winter we had this past year, we want to be prepared for next winter with a supply of warm hats. Thanks to the generous donation of yarn from Red Rock News readers, we are well on our way to meeting our goal of knitting 200 hats for area school children through the Yavapai After-School Backpack Program.
If you’d like to join the knitters, donate yarn, or make some scarves…please contact us.
If you’d like to join the knitters, donate yarn, or make some scarves…please contact us.