As the demand continues to rise for food assistance in the region, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest will host their 16th Annual Empty Bowls Dinner this Sunday. Over the course of the last 15 years, this fundraiser has brought in $428,000 to help fight hunger in the Pittsburgh area.
The fundraiser is a meager meal of soup and bread but Joyce Rothermel, CEO of the Food Bank, says 30 restaurants and caterers have donated more than 300 gallons of soup ranging from exotic selections including Maryland Crab and Butternut Bisque to standards like vegetable and chicken noodle.
Rothermel says the most notable feature of the event is the handmade bowls donated by local amateur and professional potters...."Over 1,000 wonderfully crafted pottery bowls that will be available for people who come to choose the one that matches who they are as a reminder of people who are hungry."
In addition, there will be an auction on bowls signed by celebrities including Paul McCartney, Sidney Crosby, Mike Tomlin and Bon Jovi.
Rothermel says more and more people in the Pittsburgh community have need for food assistance and 1 in every 7 Americans receives food stamps.
The event is Sunday, March 6 from 2-6 p.m. at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Oakland. Tickets are $20.
Showing posts with label social justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social justice. Show all posts
Friday, March 4, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Legislation to Ban the "R" Word
Two state lawmakers this week introduced identical bills in the House and Senate that would remove the term "mentally retarded" from Pennsylvania laws. Legislation authored by Representative Jake Wheatley of Pittsburgh and Senator Andy Dinniman of Chester County would redefine the term "mental retardation as "intellectual disability" in state laws.
"The point is this: words do matter," said Dinniman. "They carry weight and they carry power. It's time that we abandon the use of this archaic and derisive terminology in favor of language that is inclusive and accepted by the physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities community."
Allegheny County changed the name of its Office of Mental Retardation last July to the Office of Intellectual Disability. Don Clark is the deputy director of that office and says nationally the terminology began to change in 2007. Clark says it's more than a matter of perception..."But also describing better that these are people with strengths and can contribute to their community. Many are out holding down jobs, living independently in the community. Some need additional support but many are contributing to their society."
Clark said they support this legislation because language is very powerful..."The words mentally retarded and retarded have some very negative connotations." He says by changing the terminology "it's hoped that this language will allow people to look at people individually and view them through their strengths."
Wheatley's bill has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee and Dinniman's to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.
"The point is this: words do matter," said Dinniman. "They carry weight and they carry power. It's time that we abandon the use of this archaic and derisive terminology in favor of language that is inclusive and accepted by the physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities community."
Allegheny County changed the name of its Office of Mental Retardation last July to the Office of Intellectual Disability. Don Clark is the deputy director of that office and says nationally the terminology began to change in 2007. Clark says it's more than a matter of perception..."But also describing better that these are people with strengths and can contribute to their community. Many are out holding down jobs, living independently in the community. Some need additional support but many are contributing to their society."
Clark said they support this legislation because language is very powerful..."The words mentally retarded and retarded have some very negative connotations." He says by changing the terminology "it's hoped that this language will allow people to look at people individually and view them through their strengths."
Wheatley's bill has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee and Dinniman's to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Local Groups Call for End to Gaza Fighting
Four events are coming up calling for an end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. A coalition of local groups including the Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, the mostly Jewish Middle East Peace Forum, the Muslim Student Association, and the Thomas Merton Center Antiwar Committee are holding vigils and leafleting campaigns starting Thursday.
Pittsburgh native Jonas Moffat now heads Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt after spending 2 years in Palestinian areas. He says there was a humanitarian crisis and lack of basic necessities in Gaza even before the latest hostilities. Moffat says the situation now, after twelve days of fighting, is unbelievably dire for Gaza residents, who are trapped there.
Moffat condemns any military action against civilians, including Hamas rocket attacks. On Saturday, some concerned Pittsburghers will bus to Washington to urge the Bush Administration to take a more active role to end the fighting in Gaza.
Events:
Thursday, January 8, 5 p.m.: vigil on corner of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Blvd.
Friday, January 9, 8 p.m.: photo exhibit at the Kimbo Art Gallery, William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh
Saturday, January 10, 12 noon: vigil and leafleting on corner of Forbes and Craig St. for those who can’t take bus to Washington, D.C.
Sunday, January 11, 7 p.m.: outside Cathedral of Learning, the Tel Rumeida peace and justice circus
Pittsburgh native Jonas Moffat now heads Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt after spending 2 years in Palestinian areas. He says there was a humanitarian crisis and lack of basic necessities in Gaza even before the latest hostilities. Moffat says the situation now, after twelve days of fighting, is unbelievably dire for Gaza residents, who are trapped there.
Moffat condemns any military action against civilians, including Hamas rocket attacks. On Saturday, some concerned Pittsburghers will bus to Washington to urge the Bush Administration to take a more active role to end the fighting in Gaza.
Events:
Thursday, January 8, 5 p.m.: vigil on corner of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Blvd.
Friday, January 9, 8 p.m.: photo exhibit at the Kimbo Art Gallery, William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh
Saturday, January 10, 12 noon: vigil and leafleting on corner of Forbes and Craig St. for those who can’t take bus to Washington, D.C.
Sunday, January 11, 7 p.m.: outside Cathedral of Learning, the Tel Rumeida peace and justice circus
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