avezfooddriveSEE THE LATEST UPDATE HERE

Again, I’m writing a post that makes me a little uncomfortable and perhaps says too many things that we think but shouldn’t say aloud.

The week before Thanksgiving, I saw news footage of long lines at food banks all over the country. With the economy in the tank, people need help. Lots of people need help. Donations are down and the need is up.

So I decided I needed to do something — the Avenue Z Virtual Food Drive. My goal is to prompt donations of at least one ton of food.

But here’s where the uncomfortable comes in.

First, it’s a heck of a lot easier not to do anything. I’m busy. I have work to do and running goals to meet and coffee dates with friends. I don’t want to spend my evenings going door-to-door collecting donations. I’d rather hang out with D.J. or watch episodes of House on the internet.

Second, it worries me that I might be bugging my friends and neighbors with my requests. Do they roll their eyes when they get yet another “I need your help!” email from me? Will I become she-who-must-be-avoided if I keep asking? I really like my group of friends, and I don’t want them to stop hanging out because I’m too pushy about my causes.

Third, if I’m doing this thing, I want to do it right. I want big graphics and a whole separate web page. I want to use social media to spread the word, and I want the response to be overwhelming. I want it to be big, Big, BIG! And that’s going to take time and energy… maybe I should wait until next year, when I can devote more time to getting this done right.

So there they are… three solid, stupid, selfish reasons why I should do nothing. It  would be easier on my energy level and my social life if I just quietly gave a bag of groceries to my food bank and left people alone, right?

I just can’t do it. I can’t see a need this great in a country this great and take a backseat. I sit here in my comfortable San Diego apartment and worry that I’ve gained too many holiday pounds. I fret a little about whether I should indulge in a latte because I’m too lazy this morning to mess with the coffee maker. I am so incredibly lucky to be living the life I live, and I have an obligation to lend a hand, even if it’s a bother.

If you consider yourself among the lucky this year, join me in helping out a little. For the next two weeks, I’m going to ask my blog readers, my friends and my family to participate in the first ever Avenue Z Virtual Food Drive. Visit the Food Drive page, leave a note about what you’re going to do or what you have done and share in our success. Let’s set a goal of December 17 to have our donations in to whatever charity in your area is lending a hand.

Your contribution can be anything you can afford to give. Clean out your pantry and donate a bag of canned goods (not the canned beets from 1996, please!). Donate a little cash to an organization in your area that helps. Perhaps you can find the time and energy to do a little more, such as asking your friends and family, your neighbors, your co-workers. You’ll find that most people are happy to give — you just need to ask.

If just 200 of my readers each give one bag of groceries to a local food bank, we’re talking one ton of donations (based on a bag of canned goods being about 10 pounds). One ton. That’ll help. That’ll make a difference.

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