Make Social Change A Reality

Last Fall, I volunteered at a disorganized event for a nonprofit. I was griping to one of the other volunteers and she told me about a nonprofit that she works with that runs like a well-oiled machine: God's Love We Deliver (GLWD). I looked into the organization and learned that they deliver handmade, nutritious meals to people in New York City and Hudson County, NJ who are home bound due to serious illnesses like cancer, MS, and HIV/AIDS. I love to cook and figured that this might be a match, so I went to an orientation last week. I left after the hour session with more energy than I've had in weeks. In 1985, Ganga Stone was volunteering at a hospice and she brought ingredients for a meal to one of her clients who had HIV / AIDS. Unfortunately, he was too ill to prepare even the simplest of meals. Seeing this desperate need in her community, she joined forces with Jane Best and Restaurant Claire to form GLWD in 1986. Restaurant Claire prepared meals that Ganga and volunteers...

Someone I know received a treadmill for Christmas. What a fun and purposeful piece of equipment! You can walk...jog...run like wind, in short, you'll get a great workout. That got me thinking about how important it is to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Great for the body...ehhh not so great on the wallet. Now yes, you don't need exercise equipment to get and stay in shape but without fresh veggies and meats (let's just say fresh food), how could your inside be healthy? Well I eat fresh food. I really do enjoy them and never understood why kids put up a big fuss about it. And so, I know the pro's (and con's) of eating healthy. But if obtaining these fresh foods weighs down your wallet and there are things you NEED to do with that money - pay a light bill, mortgage, car note - how do we choose which is more important ? What do you think? This post was written by Chanelle Carver, social entrepreneur, nonprofit consultant, and founder of the Literacy 'n...