William Penn Life, 2002 (37. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
2002-05-01 / 5. szám
Ideas There is a great deal of preparation that must be undertaken in order to give effective testimony. Here are two suggestions on how to begin: (1) You and your classmates may already have a specific idea on what can be done in your community, such as turning a vacant city lot into a community garden or urging the local Department of Education to insure students who need them get free breakfasts and lunches or school supplies. (2) Another way to approach this is to support a cause already underway in your community. Pay close attention to related hunger issues being debated by the media. When issues have received media attention there is often an outspoken, visible leader pushing för legislation. If this leader's ideas cortiiect with yours, you can call the legislator after you have researched the topic and tell her you want to testify. Charity Links To learn more about how you can battle hunger in your community and your world, contact: O Kids Can Make A Difference P. O. Box 54 Kittery Point, ME 03905 (207) 439-9588 www.kids.maine.org The email address is: kids@kidscanmakeadifference.org Note: It is essential that you and your fellow classmates research your issue thoroughly before approaching City Hall or the local school board. (For instance, who owns the vacant lot? Does the surrounding community want it turned into a garden? Are they willing to help tend it? How will it help the community? How will the food be distributed?) Fund-Raising There are countless activities you can organize to help raise money, awareness and support. From bake sales, car washes and costume balls to talent shows, flea markets and walk-a-thons, there are many ways to make a difference while having fun at the same time. Get together with your friends, classmates, parents, teachers and others interested in helping, and decide on an activity. Enlist the support of local politicians and businesses. Ask them to donate things like a place to hold our activity or materials you may need. Contact local newspapers, radio and television stations and ask them to print or air announcements about your activity. You'd be suprised how willing people are to help if you simply ask them, [jjjf] What other Kids have done »J; ::: ' / ’ ’• ■ * 1 Si' Aus .»AH• Seventh grade students in South Portland, Maine conducted a program at the Portland Museum of Art entitled “Celebrating The Arts In Honor of World Hunger Education.” This same class “adopted” a single parent family living in a local shelter and provided them “with a Christmas they will never forget.” For more details on the program at The Mahoney Middle School, please see the Fall 1997 Kids Newsletter. • Another group of fourth graders in Eliot, Maine conducted a fund raising event at the school and gave the money they raised to their local food pantry. • A seventh grade student researched the topic of hunger for an honors program he was taking at his school in New Jersey. He developed a theory for ending world wide hunger and presented the results of his findings to the World Hunger Year Board of Directors. ® Students in Concord, New Hampshire hosted a “hunger banquet” for their parents. Everyone was required to bring canned food for the local food pantry. • Fourth grade students in Kittery Maine ran a canned food drive at their school and donated the food to the local food pantry. Representatives of the classes helped prepare the food for distribution to the clients of the food pantry. < • A Chicago community health clinic that provides services for poor, pregnant women and jnfpnts was about to be shut down for lack of funds. fjftyrchildren organized a protest in front of the clinic drawing the attention of the media and lawmakers. The clinic t0 remained open. , • Students from the sixth grade at a private school in New York City gave up a weekend to help raise funds for World Hunger Year. Some of them were on the phone bank during the annual HUNGERTHON radio show. • An award winning video was developed and produced by a sixth grade class in Bellingham, Massachusetts. The students were responsible for the choreography, costumes, scenery and every member of the class performed. _ gource. £an Make A Difference llilliiim Pen Lile, May 2002 9
