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5 Whys and 3 Hows to Help the St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk

September 25, 2012 in Evansville with 0 Comments

The Society St. Vincent de Paul is one of the best kept secrets of the Evansville – Tri-State area with its effort to help those who are needy in our community.  What are the details?

St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk

  • Saturday, September 29, 2012
  • Evansville State Hospital Grounds
  • Registration is at 8 a.m., and the walk begins at 9 a.m.
  • 1 Mile and 5K routes will be available.
  • Financial and food donations are welcome.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Help the Friends of the Poor Walk

  1. There will be 160 other Walks for the Poor on the Same Day – you’ll be walking with over 18,000 others across the United States.
  2. All funds raised by the Walk for the Poor will be used in Southwestern Indiana to help the poor and the needy.
  3. In the Evansville district, there are 26 Catholic parishes actively involved in SVdP services. (Posey, Vanderburgh, Gibson, and Warrick Counties) who provide direct emergency assistance to the local poor. Half of the funds raised Saturday will directly help those parishes help the needy in their own back yards.
  4. Lasts year, SVdP helped more than 4,900 families and individuals in the Evansville area.
  5. SVdP must raise its own funds not only to help with parishes but to manage their food pantry (which provides food to low income people who can visit the store once monthly if they qualify) and the thrift store which is open to the public but provides clothing and household items to those in need. SVdP does not receive funding from the Diocese of Evansville or the Daughters of Charity.

Top 3 Ways to Help the Friends of the Poor Walk.

  1. Join the walk. Bring your friends and donations.
  2. Donate money online. If you search for the following walkers and donate to their walks, your money will stay local: Beamer, Jill, Gries, Pamela, Gries, Janet, The Jackson Family, Cor Unum, Torrevillas, Wilchela, Torrevillas, Wilchela, or Williams, Cynthia.
  3. Donate food items to the Tri-State Racquet Club. They are accepting donations through September 28.

 

How to Help Evansville Food Pantries

August 5, 2012 in Evansville with 0 Comments

This morning’s Courier notes that cupboards are almost bare in several area food pantries. As of June 30, the Tri-State Food Bank has received 41% fewer commodities from the USDA, at the same time that donations from the food industry have also declined.  Unfortunately, local donations are also down by 9% this year.  When food pantries purchase food items, they, too are impacted by rising food prices. And demand for their services – from those who are hungry – has increased.

How can we help? Donate. Listed below are local food pantries and places you can donate to. Donations can either be monetary or shelf stable food items.

I am posting this now to help get information out. If you know of collection sites to help food banks or pantries, let me know so I can include them on updates.

Please share this with your friends, your church groups, your business networks, and other organizations you think could help us help one another during a long, hot, dry summer.

Vanderburgh Needs a Fireworks Ban Now

June 30, 2012 in Evansville with 3 Comments

In the midst of a historic drought, where there is at least one field fire every single day in our Tri-State area, I simply do not understand the delaying of a fireworks ban in Vanderburgh County. As a homeowner, I’m thankful I live in the city where we do have a fireworks ban.

The fact that one of 3 commissioners is out of town is not an excuse in the 21st century. The business of government surely has mechanisms such that all 3 do not have to be in town to get anything done. If not, it’s high time we developed them.

Methods by which a decision could be made without an in person meeting of the 3 commissioners:

  • Telephone (ancient technology)
  • Fax machine for signatures on documents (old technology)
  • Emailed documents
  • Skype or other virtual meeting platforms
  • Delivery service. If it needed to have an actual document signed and in place today, then the documents could have been prepped yesterday, signed who knows where, and delivered by way of Federal Express early delivery today.

If there is no way that any decisions can be made in Vanderburgh County without the presence of all 3 commissioners, then we need to vote in a requirement that they must stay within the county limits for the term of their office to ensure the business of the county can continue. (sarcasm intended)

We have farmers struggling to survive the worst drought in 50 years, where thousands of acres of crops are dying. Why would we risk burning subdivisions, farms, and fields while at the same time putting people and animals at risk to let someone light a firecracker or a sparkler?

Now, we have the beginning of a water shortage. Hmmm…let’s see. If a firecracker let off in the county starts a fire that burns 200 acres, it just might strain our limited water resources further.

More efficient uses of that water than fighting fires because the county commissioners haven’t issued a fireworks ban:

  • Factories that employ local people who are taxed and contribute to our area’s tax rolls.
  • Irrigation of farm fields to keep crops from dying.
  • Personal use by families – as in drinking, bathing, and laundry water.
  • Commercial use by restaurants not only in the preparation of food but also in cleaning those commercial facilities so the food is safe to eat.
  • Commercial use by livestock farmers and stables who are working to keep animals alive.

If we can prevent catastrophic damage, and preserve limited water resources, why wouldn’t we?

If a fire happens from a firecracker set off in the county, will the commissioners who chose not to issue a fireworks ban be listed along with those who shot the fireworks in lawsuits? Or will it be our whole county, where we all will pay for their failure to set a ban?

Disclaimer: Eleven years ago, our home and business burned. I know the devastation (personal and economic) that fires cause and simply can make no sense whatsoever of this failure to invoke a ban.

My Martha Kent Moments of Motherhood

March 23, 2012 in Evansville with 1 Comment

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These days, as a mom, I increasingly feel like Martha Kent. During the richest, most rewarding years of my life, I have poured my energies into the raising of my children. As they begin to leave home, one adventure at a time, I’m that crazy mom back home watching them leave to pursue their own destinies while I stay in the background in Smallhome instead of Smallville.

Except I’m probably more like the going grey Martha Kent of the comic books of my day instead of looks too young to be an older mom Senator Red Queen Martha Kent a la Annette O’Toole in the TV series.

My kids still live here, but each new adventure takes them a little further from home. Sometimes they leave the nest at the same time for their own unique journeys.

On their journeys, they do things their way which can be different from my way. Sometimes when they share their solutions for problems, my first instinct is to ask, “What?” Their approaches can seem alien to me. Over time, I’m learning that instead of pushing them to do everything my way, the outcome is better when they develop their own way. What works best for me will not always work best for them.

That reminds me that my kids aren’t my children given to me to keep. They were given to me to raise and let go.

Most of the lessons I could teach my kids have been taught – talking, the tying of shoes, reading, writing, arithmetic, and a work ethic. As they leave the nest, I wonder at the places they’ll go and the people they’ll be. As they soar on eagle’s wings, I thank God for the chance to know them and raise them. They will venture to places I’ve only dreamed of seeing.

In Superman talk, their adventures will lead them to discover unique ways to honor “truth, justice, and the American way.” As they do so, I’ll play the Ma Kent role back on the family homestead, cheering them on and cherishing them through the victories and loving them through the defeats.

Now, as the back seat cheerleader, I can only repeat the words of St. Catherine of Siena:

Be who God meant you to be and you’ll set the world on fire.

 

A 4-H Remixed Recipe Challenge

March 7, 2012 in Evansville with 0 Comments

When I say “I have a dream,” my husband cringes because it often means some massive new project. Well, this time, I was in a dream and it inspired a vision of a new 4-H project: Remixed Recipes. The purpose of the project would be to take old family recipes, analyze their nutritional content, and remix them with changes so they are healthier and provide more nutritional value.

Back story? As our 4-H leaders were recently preparing box lunches for a meal (described in my Box Lunch Balancing Challenge blog), I pushed and prodded more nutrition in each lunch. The president of our 4-H leaders told me as we prepped lunches she had a dream about me the night before.

She dreamed that I started a new 4-H project to encourage healthier eating. In her dream, she saw the project rules:

  1. Members would take a family favorite traditional recipe and analyze its nutrition content.
  2. Members would then replace or add 3 ingredients to make it healthier to eat. They would analyze the nutrition content of the new recipe.
  3. Members would prepare a sample of the new recipe for judges to try and would exhibit the old recipe, with the new one.
  4. These recipes would be kept and accumulated each year so as members continued in the project, they would have a collection of healthier alternatives to family favorites.

This has real potential to be a great 4-H project. Since I’m already covered up as superintendent of 2 project areas (creative writing and robotics) and assistant superintendent of a 3rd (computers), I don’t have the time to make this dream a reality.

In order for it to happen, in our county, we would need to find a superintendent and then work through a process of project review to add it.

Since I was “in a dream,” I now “have a dream” to make this a reality and am looking for someone to shepherd it through the 4-H project process for Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

Then, this morning, national 4-H tweeted about a comparable opportunity. The CDC has a new Recipe Remix tool to remix your favorite recipe.  I asked if there were any counties running this as a project. They said no. Challenge accepted.

  • Can we find someone to make this project happen in our county?
  • If you’re in 4-H in a different county, why don’t you try to make it happen in yours?

In 4-H, we are working to foster a revolution of responsibility, where our young members learn responsibility by doing projects and accepting challenges.

Maybe it’s time as 4-H leaders we start another revolution: a Revolution of Responsible Eating.

My Box Lunch Balancing Challenge

February 27, 2012 in Education, Evansville with 3 Comments

Can food providers provide healthier food options that are affordable and that people will eat?

Vanderburgh 4-H Leaders addressed that challenge this weekend as we provided box lunches for Startup Evansville, a weekend activities to encourage business startups. We needed to provide easy to eat box lunches for participants.

In our county, to help cover the cost of project manuals for 700 4-H members, leaders volunteer to cater fundraisers.

As 4-H Leaders, we are fully committed to teaching youth to make healthful choices.  With this box lunch gig, the question presented itself: will we practice what we teach? If so, how? What will people eat?

The USDA may technically identify a pickle spear as a vegetable (no wonder those school burgers included pickles), but they are a nutrient detriment that adds salt to the diet. So we shopped and bargain hunted, still including some traditional options. Our final decisions?

Day 1 lunch:

  • Hoagie turkey, ham and cheese sandwiches
  • Potato chips
  • Chocolate chip cookies
  • Organic spring mix lettuces
  • Veggie packs with broccoli, grape tomatoes, celery, and organic carrots.
  • Apples or bananas

Day 2 lunch:

  • Turkey and ham wraps with cheese and organic baby spinach on artisan whole wheat tortillas
  • Potato chips
  • Chocolate chip cookies
  • Veggie packs with broccoli, grape tomatoes, celery, and organic carrots
  • Apples or bananas
We also included additional trays with extra tomato slices, cucumbers, and green peppers in case anyone wanted to add them to their sandwiches.

After delivering the second day, I stayed to observe participants eating. What foods would they eat? Which would they skip?

They ate the vegetables. (and the chips, cookies, and wraps) Not everyone ate everything, but most of the participants did eat vegetables when offered them as an alternative. Several also chose the fruit.

My challenge to you: if you organize a meal or event, add at least 1 additional fruit or vegetable into the menu.  And add 1 more vegetable a day to your own plate, at each meal.

Comment below to share how you meet the balanced box lunch challenge.

The USDA has ideas on how to incorporate more vegetables into your diet if you need it.

Bottom line: we can balance the traditional box lunch without breaking the bank.

 

For Those Who Mourn

February 23, 2012 in Evansville with 0 Comments

In a terrible moment, lives change and worlds turn upside down. Tragedy strikes, time stops, and it seems as though the earth under our feet has crumbled.

When we see those tragedies happen to those we love, we struggle to find the words and know what to do. So all we can say is we’re sorry, we’re praying for you, we’ll do whatever whenever we can to help you.

Evansville, Indiana may be bigger than the town of 6,000 where I grew up, but it’s really a bunch of small towns all sewn together by road maps. We have many ties and love our neighbors. At least most of them.

I struggle to find words this morning to comfort those who mourn and just wanted to share the words of my friend Bill, Evansville Watch, that he posted on Facebook:

Life can change in an instant. Tonight’s tragic accident is a reminder to us all of that fact. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the fallen firefighter, to the injured firefighter and to their family and friends. To the McCutchanville Fire Department family, please know we are praying for each of you. We can’t begin to understand your pain but as a community, we mourn with you. So often we lean on your shoulders as you help us through life’s tough moments. Please feel free to lean on us now..we are here for you.

I know that any firefighter across the country that hears of tonight’s tragedy will feel a pain in their heart too. They are part of one big brother and sisterhood and when one hurts, they all hurt. As I said the other day, these guys and gals walk into places you and I run from. They are our everyday heroes and when a tragedy like this strikes, it deeply affects us all.

We pray for the fallen firefighter..we pray for the injured firefighter..we pray for their families and friends..we pray for each and every one of you. 

May God be with you.
May God bless you all.

Bill, Debby, Jaga, Richard, Kristi and
the 16000+ members of EvansvilleWatch

For those who mourn, our tears join yours. You are lifted in prayer.

Please know that those who love you will do whatever we can to help you during this terribly tragic time.

Plan Your New Year’s Challenge

December 26, 2011 in Evansville, Inspiration with 0 Comments

If you break resolutions as soon as you make them, perhaps you’ll want to join me this year in a New Year’s Challenge. I was inspired this morning by Susan Oglesby Hyatt as she spoke about making real lifestyle changes in the new year on Local 7 News Lifestyles.

Susan hit home ways to make real changes and how to look at change from a deeper, big picture perspective.  Following her advice, I’ve chosen my word for 2012 – plan. I hope to be more intentional and do a better job of planning my life choices.

Another item she hit on on making real change is to write down a resolution and to share it with someone. So…I’m going to share it with more than someone – with my blog.  This year, I hope to better plan:

  • Incorporating exercise into my daily lifestyle by scheduling it on my calendar
  • Making better food choices for my family.

Following Susan’s suggestion, I’m looking for an inspirational song that will bring to mind the word plan, and I am soon going to have little plan cues around my home and car to keep me on focus.

A plan takes action, so I did 2 things this morning:

  1. Put exercise onto my calendar for the week and then rode an exercise bike for 30 minutes.
  2. Enrolled in the President’s Active Lifestyle program (free online). Many years ago, I did this with my children. Now, I’m back in the game, whose rules have changed a little. Five days a week, I’ll exercise at least 30 minutes and log the exercise in their program. Each week, I’ll choose 1 of 8 different nutritional goals and work to incorporate it into our food choices. If I complete 6 weeks of this challenge, then I’ll have earned the first level of an active lifestyle award. It’s time for me to take care of me because it’s the right thing to do – not just because I’m helping my kids develop their own fitness habits.

Maybe if I take a risk and blog this, I’ll be more likely to stick with it. You’re welcome to join me on this new year’s challenge.

My bigger goal is that making this change to plan will trickle into other areas of my life – to help me better focus and have the energy to complete at least 1 of the next 3 books I want to write. If I plan my work, and work my plan, I hope my plan will work.

Thanks to Susan Hyatt and your TV appearance this morning – I think you’re about to make a major, positive difference in my life in 2012.

What’s your goal, your challenge, or your resolution for 2012?

 

Yes, Kids Can Like Vegetables

November 19, 2011 in Evansville with 0 Comments

This morning, a friend of mine, Cheryl Mochau, and I signed copies of books we had written for next year’s members of Seton Harvest, a CSA in Evansville, Indiana. Throughout this year, I’ve watched young families bring their children to collect their produce shares.  Many of them are preschoolers, developing good eating habits for a lifetime.

Yes, kids can like vegetables. Here are some of the wonderful things I’ve seen:

  • When eggplants were in season, a mother took her preschoolers into the fields each week so they could pick an eggplant to take with them. She explained that eggplant was their favorite vegetable, and they loved it.
  • A young boy stood eating a fresh radish like it was an apple, enjoying every bite.
  • With the surplus this week, one couple took their kids to the field to pick some arugula. Their 4-year-old daughter told me, “We don’t pick it. Mommy cuts it with scissors for salad.” My favorite part was listening to her brother beg to go get arugula.
  • A third grader told me he loves to make salad with his family after they visit Seton.
  • A fourth grader told me he likes to eat kale when it’s cooked with salt and pepper.
  • The weeks that we were able to pick strawberries, young children ventured to the strawberry patch to gather fresh berries.
  • Kids help their parents gather fresh herbs from the herb garden.
  • They also get to visit the farm’s chickens, donate compost, and savor for a little while each week a quieter, steadier rhythm of life.
Farmer Joe, Sister Virginia, and all the Seton staff work hard to make children feel welcome every week. When turnips were dug and a 7-pound turnip was discovered, it was displayed and some members’ kids posed with pictures of it. The afternoon of our shareholder potluck, families could ride hayrides around the farm, and kids got to hit a pinata in the pole barn.
As my own kids are now teens, about to leave home, I doubly enjoy watching young families on the child-raising adventures. They illustrate once again that kids can learn to love vegetables beyond potatoes, ketchup, and corn.
Seton offers its shareholders more than the opportunity to enjoy fresh produce 26 weeks a year, from early spring to late fall. It helps us raise up a generation of children who look forward to their weekly treat to visit the farm, see some fun things, and enjoy good food to eat. Their fresh, local produce not just a way of life but a way to enjoy better living.

Ten Years Post Fire & Why I Love Evansville, Indiana

August 11, 2011 in Evansville with 1 Comment

'House Fire' photo (c) 2009, Doug Shick - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/On the night of August 11, 2001, our home burned, along with our 1-year-old mom and pop shop business. We rebuilt, and our business survived, by the grace of God and with the help of good friends.

Neither Richard nor I grew up in Evansville. We’re both transplants. That night, and the months that followed, changed our lives forever. I can never thank enough those who helped us survive. Some heroic memories last forever:

  • Bob and Steve working with Richard, pushing and dragging our office equipment over wet, debris covered stairs.
  • Jean, Kathy, Lori, and Andrea helping me salvage some pictures and family items – and then finding clothes to lend our family.
  • Friends who hosted a rebuilding party so we could set up a temporary home in an apartment.
  • Friends who helped us find temporary office space and equipment.
  • Local contractors who helped us pack out, demolish, and rebuild in 3 months.

In my soon to be released book, He Uses It For Good, I describe how so many friends did what they could to help us. God used them all to carry us during a terrible time.

The morning after our fire, we went to Church, albeit in borrowed clothes, with no home, no idea how to save our business, and no clue how we would survive. I think it was more humbling to see my children in borrowed clothes than my own wearing them. How would we provide for our children?

By the grace of God, and the heart and grit of Evansville friends, we survived. We may have been transplants, but our Evansville friends made us feel as welcome as family.

That Sunday morning, on my knees, I begged God to carry us. Other than a Sunday after a broken arm and one after surgery, I’ve been in Church every Sunday since. The first thing I do is thank God that He blessed us another week.

Then, I thank God for bringing me to Evansville, Indiana, the land – and the city – I love.

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