Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine’s Post

We have a story in the latest issue of Neighbourhood Media detailing all the work we do via Addison Road Food Pantry Camperdown, our low-cost grocery store which makes use of rescued, donated and purchased food to support the local community and its needs. The story (link below) shows how we help feed people from Mission Australia's Common Ground housing project and the nearby Johanna O’Dea Court, a multi-storey NSW Family and Community Services apartment block. It also explains how we serve people living on a tight budget in Camperdown and Glebe, as well as people who come to the pantry from right across the City of Sydney LGA. Most of all, the story is a celebration of our monthly Addi Road 'Let's Get Cooking' sessions (AKA "the Cook-Up"), which offers 260 free hot meals for Mission Australia and Joanna O'Dea residents, as well as those shopping at our Addi Road Food Pantry Camperdown. These sessions involve a monthly cooking demo inside the Common Ground building. Food literacy is the ultimate goal behind Addi Road's Let's Get Cooking program. As well as simply providing a free hot meal (and dessert) each month, we look at helping people to shop AND cook with often very limited funds. Each month there are easy recipes on offer (and ready to be tasted) along extra tips for stocking people's kitchen cupboards; a list of essentials to facilitate simple, inexpensive and nutritious recipes that will match whatever Addi Road Food Pantry might have in stock. It's about building an integrated food ecology for people battling. With a few extra special ingredients over a shared meal as the community comes together: camaraderie and connection. + #Addiroad #cityofsydney #foodrelief #foodjustice #housing #inequality #Camperdown #Glebe #MissionAustralia #homeless #battling #costofliving #poverty #resilience #mentalhealth #wellbeing #nutrition #diet #charity #community #freemeals #cookingworkshop #volunteers #caring #education #connection #letsgetcooking #neighbourhoodmedia https://lnkd.in/gs7vVEvM

Meet Ray, one of our incredibly volunteers! Every week, he rescues fresh food from a grocery store and delivers in to the No Cost Grocery Program at Spirit of the Sun. Want to volunteer with us? We have shifts every day of the week, and they take less than 2 hours. Sign up through the link in our bio, or at DenverFoodRescue.org. #foodaccess #foodrescue #foodjustice #foodsecurity #healthequity #healthequitynow #healthequityjustice #healthequityforall #foodwaste #denvervolunteers #volunteer #foodpantry #denverfood #denver #giveback #sustainability

Nurture is our onsite catering service that serves both our residents and clients who come in for our daily lunch service. The kitchen at The Crypt is operated by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that everyone is well-fed. Our team sometimes has to get creative with food donations to ensure that everyone receives a nutritious, warm meal for lunch. Our rehabilitation program, Growing Rooms, provides opportunities for individuals in recovery to volunteer and give back to The Crypt while learning skills that can help them find employment. David explains how Nurture facilitates this and how volunteers can give back while gaining something extra. "All the clients in Growing Rooms, after being with us for three months, have the opportunity to take on an online college course that includes food hygiene level 2 and health and safety. There are 12 different qualifications they can earn, and the idea is that everyone gets their own online account, which they can access as and when they need to. Everyone has different learning abilities, so there is less time pressure." This means that by the end of the Growing Rooms program, which typically lasts between 12 and 18 months, clients will have a portfolio filled with certificates that can be used to help them secure employment. "It gives them a sense of self-belief that they're not just here volunteering for us. It gives them something at the end of it that's credible, which they can use to gain employment." We spoke to Andrew, who is working in the Crypt kitchen and is currently in the process of obtaining his qualifications. "I enjoy working in the kitchen; it's a good atmosphere. It's a busy atmosphere, but with good people to work with. I have never worked in a kitchen before, but I have some experience in cooking at home. The staff here are great, always happy to lend a hand." It's important to us that our clients not only undergo a journey of recovery but also discovery, where they can try new things, gain new experiences, and prepare themselves for re-entering the working world. These new qualifications open up a huge opportunity for those working in the kitchen as it reinforces their confidence in the pathway to recovery. We would not be able to operate our kitchen or offer other services without the kind donations of the community. Please donate here: https://ow.ly/A8kL50TlJcs

999? It’s an emergency! 🚨 Millions of pumpkins are in danger. 🎃 The average family throws away £80 of food every month. Halloween is no exception. Last year, over 12 million pumpkins ended up in the bin. 😱 Each one could have been a delicious feast: a risotto, muffins, or pumpkin mac and cheese. 🧑🍳 So save the knives for later and don't carve your pumpkin: decorate it instead. Less mess, less stress, and you can eat the whole thing after. 😋 Have you tried decorating it yet? Check the new promo film below and catch it on All4 throughout the month as part of our Eat Your Pumpkin campaign. ++ P.S. I'm CEO of environmental charity Hubbub. We create campaigns with business, government and civil society that inspire environmental action. Follow me - Alex Robinson - for insights on environmental change, leadership and more. #environment #sustainability #EatYourPumpkin #PumpkinRescue #FoodWaste

*** LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS/SUPPORT (Cooking Competition) *** In Bloomington, Indiana, food insecurity runs rampant, creating problems for the community ranging from increased youth crime rates to strain on local hospitals. As an individual with access to nutritional foods, I find it my role as a citizen to play a part in giving back to the community and bringing up those around me. With these principles in mind, RedCapes was born. RedCapes is a student-led volunteer initiative aimed at targeting food insecurity and encouraging students to always look for ways to help others in their community. With the backing of the Salvation Army, we are organizing an iron-chef-style cooking competition, where we estimate over 500 servings worth of food to be made and donated to those in need. We are searching for eager students and professionals located in Bloomington to volunteer some time on November 16 to help make these meals, and the support of kind-hearted donors willing to help bring this project to life. Participants will receive verifiable volunteer hours, and all donors will be provided a full budget breakdown. Our goals are ambitious, but the need for a project of this nature will only grow, as long as these issues aren't addressed. The principles behind RedCapes involve invoking as much community support and volunteer action as possible to make the biggest impact we can -- anyone and everyone can help. This type of project is greater than any one of us. If we do not begin to pool our energy together as a community and set a trend of generosity, harsh realities like youth crime and hospital overload in Bloomington will remain at large -- is that what we want for the future of our home? Use our LinkTree for more information, sign-ups, and to make contributions. Each of us, in some way, is a hero: come wear your cape on the front with us!

Water is Life. That's what the bucket hat of someone in Aryna Sabalenka's team said. It caught my attention. So, I Googled "Water is Life" And the first result was WATERisLIFE, a non-profit that helps people in Africa and Latin America get clean drinking water, sanitation, and access to hygiene education programs. If you've ever watched a tennis match, you know the teams of the players get almost as much air time as the players themselves. Now, I'm not sure what role the guy in the bucket hat has in WATERisLIFE, but it's a good example of how to use that "free" airtime for brands to garner more awareness. I likely wouldn't have known about WATERisLIFE if it wasn't for that bucket hat. This example got me thinking about how there are so many opportunities out there for brands to expand their reach and pique people's interest.  Think branded.. Pens you can give restaurants for patrons to sign their checks.  Koozies that are great for summertime beverages.  Sunscreen bottles for beach vacations. What are some creative ways you've promoted your brand? #morningthoughts

Saturday, April 20, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, is our day for an ALA-Oregon Chapter fun-filled social event full of camaraderie, bowling, and food! Register by April 10! Several of you participated in past events supporting the Sunshine Division, and we want to continue that support! We are hoping that you can bring one or more non-perishable food items for donation to the Sunshine Division as your entrance to this event—the more the better! This is an exciting opportunity to connect with your fellow members and business partner colleagues while we continue our support of a local community partner. Perhaps a bit of competitive bowling or competitive eating—who knows! Knowing that weekends are often family time, our event is open to your +1 and kids. The Grand Central Bowling venue should be a fun way to mix and mingle, enjoy some good food, enjoy bowling at your leisure, or take in a few arcade game activities. Space is limited so register at oregonala.org EARLY! Be sure to register yourself as well as any family members who will join. Please email Lori Hughes at [email protected] with any questions. Let her know if you will be bringing any children so that we can plan the menu and arcade opportunities. Let’s kick off spring together, support our local community, and spend time with the best in our community -- you! Sunshine Division Food Donation Recommendations: "We rely heavily on food donations to make our mission possible. We are always looking for the following non-perishable items: canned meats, pasta, rice, cereal, soup/broth, peanut butter, canned/dried beans, canned fruit, canned vegetables, cooking oil and shelf-stable milk.    To ensure food safety we cannot use: Noncommercial or repackaged items, perishable items, open or used items, alcoholic beverages, damaged or unlabeled cans, homemade items." #networking #ALABuzz #LegalManagment #FoodDonation

Is your kitchen feeling more crowded than a gourmet food market on a Saturday? Let's simplify! Start by rummaging through every cabinet, drawer, and pantry nook. Toss what's expired or broken, and bid farewell to the gadgets you haven't touched since last spring. Clear containers or chic baskets? That's your next move for a Pinterest-worthy pantry. And those extra six spatulas? It's time to donate, discard, or deal them away. Your reward: a kitchen that's as inviting as the aroma of fresh coffee on a Sunday morning. It's not just decluttering; it's reclaiming your space!

Is your kitchen feeling more crowded than a gourmet food market on a Saturday? Let's simplify! Start by rummaging through every cabinet, drawer, and pantry nook. Toss what's expired or broken, and bid farewell to the gadgets you haven't touched since last spring. Clear containers or chic baskets? That's your next move for a Pinterest-worthy pantry. And those extra six spatulas? It's time to donate, discard, or deal them away. Your reward: a kitchen that's as inviting as the aroma of fresh coffee on a Sunday morning. It's not just decluttering; it's reclaiming your space!

Is your kitchen feeling more crowded than a gourmet food market on a Saturday? Let's simplify! Start by rummaging through every cabinet, drawer, and pantry nook. Toss what's expired or broken, and bid farewell to the gadgets you haven't touched since last spring. Clear containers or chic baskets? That's your next move for a Pinterest-worthy pantry. And those extra six spatulas? It's time to donate, discard, or deal them away. Your reward: a kitchen that's as inviting as the aroma of fresh coffee on a Sunday morning. It's not just decluttering; it's reclaiming your space!