Community in Stuart, Florida

I am now in Stuart, Florida.  A place my mother and I have been coming to together for the last 5 years.

This year the local grocery which was just 1 block from our condo closed.  I was not surprised because each year I saw the store struggle more and more to survive.  This was a big deal for us since we do not keep a car here.  Fortunately since the day I arrived neighbors have offered to take me to the grocery store with them when they go.  My friends Dave and Jane Hutchins stopped at Publix on the way in from picking me up at the airport just so I could stock up.

Yesterday my friend Joyce called me and said her husband Don was going to the produce stand that afternoon, so be sure to give him a call later, he was waiting to take me.

I bought a ton of fresh produce for around $20. Example: 10 oranges for $1, 10 grapefruit for $1......

The Produce stand Don Staub took me to yesterday in Stuart, Florida

I realize now how hard it would be when the major grocery store goes out in a neighborhood , especially a low income one, where people do not have cars or access to efficient transportation, and there are no fresh fruit and vegetable stands near.  Are there any non profits yet that travel around to low income communities with a produce van?  I would like to do something like this if I get the opportunity as an outreach of One World Everybody Eats.  A sort of farmers market on wheels!!!  So much to do, so little time.

Community with the Sancta Clara Nuns in Canton, Ohio

Sister Gretchen and Sister Mary Ischmel having fun making the soup!!!!!

The best Tomato Soup!!

The third weekend of every month there is soup and bread for sale at the Santa Clara Monastery.  When I am home in Canton I like to help the Sisters.  We have fun making bread and soups and filling to go orders for three days. I love spending time with the Sisters. The environment is very peaceful.

They make a wonderful tomato soup, lentil, chicken noodle and wedding soup. Every soup comes with a bread stick. 

The money earned is used so that the nuns can sustain their monastery.  The sisters take special requests for prayers of the community and beyond. I learned today that they have been praying around the clock and each take a shift.  I forgot to find out how long this has been going on for.  I also heard they are turning their guest house into a small retreat center if you need a place to contemplate for a while.

Today I was filling orders with a woman and I thought she looked familiar......she was a high school teacher I had over 30 years ago!! Janet Tilletski.

ONE WORLD EVERYBODY EATS 2nd annual summit in SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

Hello everybody!! sorry I have not blogged in so long. 

We held our 2nd annual summit in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  I used to live in Santa Fe and it was so nice being there again.  It really made me homesick.  Perhaps I will get to live there agian some day.................

Our summit was fantastic!!   It was just like a family reunion.  All the cafes from Denver were there, Spokane, Salt Lake and people who are in the planning stages from all over.  What a great group and we had a lot to celebrate and many new plans to make.

Our guest speakers were Mark Winne and Regan Koch who were both excellent in their own right.

Giovanni speaking to the group about his year at One World Salt Lake     

Sandy ( Comfort Cafe) Brad and Libby ( SAME Cafe) and Cathy Mathews( Cafe 180) look on as Libby  (from Cafe 180)speaks on relevant issues

One of our summit posters from the lobby of The La Fonda Hotel     



Michael Patterson ( California) and Regan Koch ( UK) talk at the lounge after a full day, Keith and Jan Raschko ( One World Spokane) in background

 The summit next year will be in either Denver or Philly.  See you there!!!

COMMUNITY IN PEACEDALE,RHODE ISLAND

I met Susan Gustaitis when I was on location in Denver, Colorado this June.  Susan was chosen as one of the ten top executive directors in RI as a fellow to pursue her next " Big Idea".  It just so happens that Susan's next big idea  is a community kitchen in Peacedale, Rhode Island!!

So this December I went to Peacedale and Susan and I co-facilitated a community meeting to raise awareness about a possible community kitchen project. It was a great meeting with about 30 people in attendance. Many important questions were asked.

We spent the rest of my visit touring The JohnnyCake facilities and other non profit organizations and even attended a fund raiser event for a neighboring 501c3. It was a great trip!

We had lunch one day at a local soup kitchen.

Susan will know in January if she has the green light for her vision!