A virtual cooking class on wheels, the RV Cooking Show takes viewers on adventures to some of the most sought-after or interesting but little known RV locales then creates a healthy, easy destination-related RV recipe in host Evanne Schmarder's RV kitchen. Tune in to our RV TV...it's always delicious!

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

RV Cooking Show Launches Online Holiday Food Drive - You Can Help

I am blessed and chances are if you are reading this you are, too. I will not go to bed hungry tonight – unlike many Americans – adults and children – among us. The holidays only amplify the situation. Together we can make a difference.

Join your good friends at the RV Cooking Show in our First Annual Online Holiday Food Drive. It couldn’t be easier – simply leave a comment anytime between now and December 31, 2008 on this blog entry noting what you are grateful for this holiday season. It can be a single word, an illustrative story or anything in between. For each comment on this RV Cooking Show blog entry – maximum 3 per person/per week – we will donate 1 item of non-perishable food to a local food bank in the area we are traveling through. I will report back as things progress.

So to recap, partner with the RV Cooking Show to fight hunger this holiday season by:

• Leaving a comment about what you are grateful for this holiday season on this blog entry between now and December 31, 2008

• Be prolific – you may comment 3 times per person/per week

• The RV Cooking Show will donate 1 non-perishable food item to a local food bank for each comment received

• Check back for frequent progress reports (and comment again, okay!?!)

And now for some hunger facts that might blow your mind…

The Department of Agriculture recently released their 2007 Food Security Report. “Food security” seems an odd term to me and fortunately 89.9% (104 million) of US households are food secure. But that means that 11.1 (26 million) households were food insecure meaning at times during the year, these households were uncertain of having or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food. Food-insecure households include those with low food security and very low food security. That’s 36.2 million people including 12.4 million children. 2008 stats are expected to be greater.

Don't think you, as an individual, can make a dent in those astonishing numbers?

Have you ever heard this parable: One day a man was walking along the seashore. He noticed that during the night many starfish had washed upon the shore. Enjoying the morning sun and sea air, the man strolled along the sand. Far off in the distance he saw a small figure and as he drew closer he noticed that it was a child. The girl was methodically picking up starfish from the shore and tossing them back into the surf. The man paused for a moment, puzzled, and then asked, “Why are you throwing those starfish?”

“If I leave these starfish on the beach,” she replied, “the sun will dry them and they will die.” The man was thoughtful for a moment, but then he motioned up and down the miles and miles of beach. There must be millions of starfish along here!” he said. How can you possibly expect to make a difference?”

The young girl pondered the man’s words for a moment, then she slowly leaned over, reached down and carefully picked up another starfish from the sand. Pulling back, she carefully arched the starfish gently into the surf. She turned to the man and smiled “You may be right,” she said, “but I made a difference to that one!”


(from the movie Holy Man with Eddie Murphy)

Please, take a moment to comment – if we help even one family, one person, one child we will have succeeded.

Evanne
RVCookingShow

38 comments:

RVCookingShow - Evanne said...

I am grateful for my freedom to travel.

C'mon everyone - let's fill a belly this holiday season!

Evanne

Anonymous said...

I am grateful that I was able to travel to Alaska this summer even with the extremely high gas prices.

Anonymous said...

I am SO thankful for my good health!

Anonymous said...

I'm grateful that we're going to be able to sell our house this year to full time in our rig!

Anonymous said...

Even though I have been laid off from work, at 60 yoa, I'm gratefull for my loving & supportive wife, and for our good health!

Anonymous said...

I am thankfun for the love of family and friends. Our problems are trivial ones as compared to people who have no food, shelter, or family.

Anonymous said...

It amazes me that in this, the greatest country in the world, we still have folks going to bed hungry at night. I hope that this helps and that with a new admin in WDC, we will conquer this problem. I am thankful to be able to travel and to be able to help those less fortunate.

S & M, Las Vegas

Unknown said...

I'm happy to be in reasonable health and that all my family are well and doing ok in these tough times.

Anonymous said...

I am thankful that we have the opportunity to help others at this time of the year when we all should be helping our fellow Americans.

Anonymous said...

I am thankful for all of God's blessings.I'm thankful that my sister is cancer free for now and is doing well. thank you for this opportunity to help others.

Rob and Joanne said...

I am thankful that I still have my Mother here on Earth who is healthy, happy, and living in her own home at the age of 93. I am grateful that I have learned from her to laugh every day, respect others, and above all live my life with my head held high.

Rob and Joanne said...

I am grateful to my husband of 23 years for convincing me 5 years ago to take a chance with him and become full-time RV'ers. Without his courage to take on this lifestyle, we would never have traveled to so many places, seen so many beautiful sights, and met so many wonderful friends!

Anonymous said...

I am thankful for a happy and healthy family and a wonderful husband who makes each day worth living.

Anonymous said...

I am thankful we can afford a nice home.

jettkas said...

Hunger hurts...no child should feel that pain.

Anonymous said...

I am Thankful for family and friends. Our Good Sam chapter collects food at our monthly meeting which is donated to a local food bank or senior center.

Anonymous said...

I am thankful for my health.

Anonymous said...

We are so vey lucky to have run into the RV Cooing show at Glouster Point Family Campground in VA. Lovely folks who let us try some tasty pork.Our family has been blessed with fairly good health. Our disabled son who loves the great out doors has his ups and downs. We just take that one day at a time. May everyone have Happy Holidays, good times, and good food!

Anonymous said...

I am thankful to be ME--Mother of a loving daughter and wife for 43 years to a very special husband.

Ms. Magic & Friend said...

I'm most grateful right now for my dog, Ms. Magic, and that we have plenty to eat and that we (currently) have a warm, dry, safe and clean and clean place to live.

Ending Thought: As the "Golden Corral" TV ad says 'Everyone deserves a good meal every day'".

Anonymous said...

I am thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed upon my family and I. May everyone have a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year!

Anonymous said...

Amoung other things, Evanne I'm thankful for you and this food drive you are doing. The parable you wrote about the girl and the starfish brought me to tears.(Okay, its true I am a soft touch)

Anonymous said...

I am thankful for my family,my family's health,and being able to be happy by just hitching up and camping. Thanks to Rv Cooking Show for making a differrence.

Anonymous said...

I am so thankful that my grandson only had to have four stitches after running into our fireplace hearth.

Anonymous said...

I am thankful that my family is all healthy!

Anonymous said...

I am thankful that my family is all healthy!

Anonymous said...

Hey Evanne,
I'm back again to post another comment and cost you some food to donate! I want to say again that efforts like this are examples of the way the world is supposed to work. Neighbors helping neighbors. People pulling together to solve problems.
Folks giving a you-know-what about their fellow humans.
It really does work, and lets all try to think of some way, every day, we can make a difference. One starfish at a time.
Dan Wright

Anonymous said...

I am thankful for our Emma Dog. We went for years without a dog and didn't realize how much love and devotion we were missing!

Anonymous said...

I am saddened that more folks have not responded to this offer! Thank you, Evanne.

kim said...

Evanne,
I am grateful that we have discovered the RV lifestyle!
Kim

kim said...

I am thankful to be living in Boerne, TX. What a great place with warm and friendly people.

Anonymous said...

Hi Evanne,
Dan Wright here to cost you some more food and try to fill another belly.

The thing about helping to feed people is that it's not just about Thanksgiving and Christmas. People need to eat every day.

Thanks again and safe travels.

Dan

Anonymous said...

Hi Evanne,
I'm back again to cost you another donation, and to get up on my soapbox a for a minute. Your food drive is a wonderful way to engage people and nudge them to be mindful of their neighbors while they count their blessings. Thank you for that.
And while we all know that charity begins at home, I just want to say that due to the food price increases, people in some very poor countries such as Haiti and Nicaragua and many others are suffering very terribly. I have seen real pictures of young children digging through garbage dumps to find scraps of rancid food in order to survive.

What can we do about that? Lots.
A year or so ago I met a very kind and gentle man named Father Paul Walsman. He is a retired from his work as a Catholic Priest, but still works tirelessly to promote an organization called Food For the Poor. Food for the Poor provides food, education, water systems and other direct aid to some of the world's poorest people in some of the poorest countries. They do this directly as opposed to giving money to governments that may be corrupt or at best inefficient. They are also one of the world's highest rated charities by watchdogs such as Charity Navigator. In fact, 96% of the money they collect goes to direct aid for the poor. I encourage anyone to check them out, check their ratings, and make a donation. Even a very small donation can make a difference to a hungry child. Think about it. Do it. Make a difference. It matters, to a starfish or a hungry child.

Anonymous said...

I'm thankful to be a Christian in these uncertain times.

Anonymous said...

I'm so thankful for our new Tango trailer that we can go camping in. I'm also thankful for my husband of 36 years and my two sons and my three grandchildren. I'm thankful for the beauty of God's creation and all the wonderful places to explore. I'm thankful for a trip last summer to Canada to see Branff, Jasper and Waterton National Parks.

Anonymous said...

I'm thankful for the freedoms we have in this great country of ours. I'm thankful for my job and my car to get to my job. I'm thankful for friends who love me. I'm thankful for my computer to keep in touch with my friends. I'm thankful for finding this site and making a new friend who can cook up a storm!

Anonymous said...

I'm thankful for Evanne and her compassionate heart for families who need our help, especially the children who are hungry. P.S. I loved your video of the tour of the Tango factory.

Anonymous said...

I am thankful for my parents who instilled a great work ethic into my life by example and training.

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