As I Still See It

About 10 years ago I started a weekly column (Fridays) in the newspaper. It really was a dream come true. I grew up reading The Lake County News-Sun and I have always loved to write. I called it a “Day in the Life” and I had quite a following. The paper was going through a bumpy transition at the time and I moved on, but I always regretted my decision. I usually don’t bail out on things and my ego got into the way a bit. Lessons are hard learned, but I am grateful for every one of them even when I am clearly wrong.

Life for me has changed, the newspaper business has, our area has, and I am sure the readers have in the last five years. However, more than ever I believe that my kind of column remains a voice that identifies with the majority. Whether it is talking about Lake County in the present or past, reporting on events recently attended, or discussing the topics that touch our hearts and drive us mad- I want to write a column we can all relate to in some way. The people I grew-up with find it hard to relate to what this county looks like now after leaving years ago. Yet, many call this home and relish the memories we share.

In the last decade, I have gone through a lot of changes. I am now retired, one class away from a BS in psychology, have two accomplished grown daughters with their Masters working in education, a husband of 37 years, two amazing granddaughters, have traveled a more spiritual path, become more active in my community, and continued to feed my passion to write whenever possible.

Think about all that has changed since 2003 in the world and more importantly in your lives. Newspapers are not read for the latest news, but what is relevant in our lives. We can find out what we need to know, minutes after it happens on the internet. The networks loop news all day long, but we don’t hear what is going on in our neighborhoods, what important changes our happening in our towns, or how our schools are doing. Facebook is so popular with adults because we want those connections with others. With friends today and the ones faraway, touching base if only for a minute as we deal with our hectic schedules, and as the song from Train laments, “We all have bruises”, knowing we aren’t alone in this life.

Maybe reminiscing about our shared favorite spots, the latest bonehead move in the government, or aligning our chakras. All interesting ideas we can flesh out and explore in the weeks to come. Do you know where I am coming from?  So, are you with me? Willing to give me another chance? Life as I see it, your take on it, and what is important in our lives every day. That’s what I’m talking about…

Doing My Heart Good...

I saw a post from a friend on Facebook about a volunteering experience she had recently been a part of and how great she felt about it. A teacher, mother, and spiritually enlightened individual, my friend had to make time to give time and yet received a sense of accomplishment far greater than she expended. I wanted some of that, too.

So, a few days later, another friend and I signed up for a shift at the Libertyville location for FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN. Not sure what all it entailed when I put in my reservation to work, we showed up to make meals to send to underdeveloped countries around the world. After signing in, we received a hairnet and an invitation to join the others in a large room with lots of wooden benches. We were introduced to the guy in charge, saw a brief video on the organization, had an overview on what we were going to do, and proceeded to scrub up and get down to work. I learned we were making manna.

You might have heard of the word manna in connection with the Bible. Manna was the miraculous food that fed the Israelites when they were in the Egyptian desert. Manna is also defined as an unexpected, but much needed gift, divine nourishment, or some special assistance to relieve pain or discontent. You get the gist.

Costing less than $1.32, the manna I am talking about and that I helped prepare is a prepackaged dry meal, which provides a nutritionally complete and protein-rich serving for six. It addresses hunger for the severely malnourished child, while being in an acceptable form for all cultures. This is very important, because these three special formulas prepared solely by volunteers in seven permanent sites are distributed to almost 70 countries.

FMSC is a Christian nonprofit organization and was started in 1987 to provide complete nutritionally-based meals for starving, malnourished, and recovering children. It has a four star rating from Charity Navigator for eight out of the last ten years. A much higher score than many more recognizable charities, with 92% of total donations going right to the task of feeding children.

There are a number of sites to volunteer at in the Chicago area, but the Libertyville location was closest for us. You could go by yourself, with a group, or plan an event with your family. Birthday parties with a twist for children, scouting events, school or church outings can be scheduled for two hour shifts on Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday. Children as young as kindergarteners are welcome with an adult, and as the kids get older the number with an adult increases. Just go to fmsc.org for more information and make a reservation.

I guarantee this is the best two hours you’ll ever have for volunteering. The room is full of like-minded individuals joining together to feed the world. If standing is a problem, sit down jobs are available. From adding the dehydrated veggies, soy, enriched vitamin powder, and rice or potato base, weighing, sealing, filling the cases, and moving them to the warehouse, everyone had a job. Even the waste was used to feed local farm animals. Music played and the cheers when another case was ready for the pallet was heard from each station named for one of the countries serviced. Some of the earlier shipments were diverted to the Philippines ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan in November. Our food was being shipped to Honduras, as were the other shifts of the day.

Before our session ended we were given a sample of what we just packaged and we heard the numbers we produced. In our session, we made enough for 51 kids to eat for a year. In two short hours we made a major difference. I tell you, it did my heart good.

**Update- Gurnee School District 56 and specifically River Trail School collected $900 for this worthy cause and all the middle school kids will go as a field trip later in the school year and work a session. The good news continues…