International Centennial Project Gains Momentum

In response to chapter leadership feedback following the 2010 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Pioneers Headquarters has been working with Pioneer leaders and members to create the first ever Pioneers International Centennial Project.  This September, we hope you will join in the largest North American-wide project in Pioneers history – Pioneers Dish It Up!  
 
Following months of talking to Pioneers, developing criteria, vetting, and tweaking, we will be coming together to address the issue of food insecurity in our local communities.  Pioneers have been feeding the hungry throughout our history through a variety of projects and programs – and this issue has never been more pressing than it is today.

The goal of this project is to mobilize and unite as many of our 620,000 Pioneers as possible over a two week period in September to help the ever-growing food insecure population across North America. 

There are 49 million “food insecure” people in the United States.  1 of every 4 children is at risk of experiencing hunger.  In Canada, over 800,000 individuals access food banks on a monthly basis.

Food banks have experienced severe shortages for the past few years as charitable giving has declined and more families have needed a helping hand.  

While there are many people doing great things around this issue, our research brought to light some harsh realities about the food being provided to those in need.  For example, many families have to eat highly processed foods that are full of preservatives and lack nutritional value, as that is the only food available at their local food pantry or affordable at their grocery store.  We all know that a healthy diet helps children grow, develop and do well in school and enables people of all ages to work productively and feel their best.  What people eat also can help reduce the risk for chronic diseases and reduce the risk of obesity and high blood pressure.

Pioneers can help address this issue by collecting and donating nutritious food to organizations that provide food, as well as by participating in service projects that help feed those in need.  This builds on the Pioneers history of food drives, working in soup kitchens, and other food projects.

Pioneers Dish It Up will kick off on September 11, 2011, the National Day of Service and Remembrance, with a focus on collecting nutritious, non-perishable food that will go directly to support local food banks and other food service agencies.  The project will wrap up the weekend of September 24-25, 2011 with food being delivered to the recipient organizations as well as the execution of the other service projects that help feed the “food insecure.”

Over 70 chapters/units have already signed up to participate and have even already started talking about ways they might collect the food listed on the recommended donation list including:

• Creating competitions/incentives (i.e. largest individual donation, each bag donated earns a prize, challenge teams to fill a box, etc.)
• Hosting a party with the cost of admission being a bag of food.
• Collecting food at life member luncheons or other Pioneers meetings.
• Asking your friends, family and/or colleagues to skip a meal and donate what they would have spent on food for the donation.
• Inquiring about the opportunity for your place of worship to hold a “reverse collection” where individuals give food in support of the Pioneers food drive rather than their normal cash donation.
• Including food drive information in take-home notices, school newsletters and calendars.
• Notifying your local community centers, churches, libraries, and the media about your event.
• Collecting food at sports events such as high school or college football games, etc.
• Involving fraternities and Sororities – they are often required to do community service and are often looking for service projects.
• Showing short videos such as cartoons or travelogues at lunch and suggest that admission is a few cans of food.
• Handing out donation lists to individuals entering your local grocery store for them to purchase and donate food on the spot.
• Encouraging cash donations.

If you are interested in participating in Pioneers Dish It Up: Feeding Families Healthy Food, call your Chapter President to see if and/or how your unit plans to participate.  If your chapter, council or club does not anticipate participating, please contact Kari Biesendorfer at 303.571.9262 or kbiesendorfer@pioneersvolunteer.org to see how you can get involved.