Food & Care Coalition

I received this email recently and it really touched me. Maybe it was because this undertaking is being initiated by a friend/ward member/neighbor/and woman that Dave hometeaches; or maybe it is because the woman she mentions with a daughter who is homeless is also a friend/ward member/neighbor of ours; or maybe it is because I do feel like our family is incredibly blessed - especially during this time of economic struggle - to have a job, to have food, to have a house, to have each other.... Regardless of the reason, this email touched me. And I want to help.

And in case you want to help too, here's the email she sent:

Hi!

I have been thinking a great deal about the huge difference that a group of people can make when they come together. These thought have come because of an article I read in the newspaper recently. You see the Food and Care Coalition of Utah Valley is in the process of building a new facility. The Food and Care is known for providing meals for the homeless and poor. But they provide so much more than that. They have a work program where people can learn new skills and get experience and job training. They help clients find affordable housing. They have laundry facilities, showers and provide hair cuts. They partner with Lens Crafters, Share a Smile and the BYU Nursing Program to provide eye glasses, dental work and health services. They don't just give a hand out. They have a program set up where clients are required to "earn" these services by giving community service hours. They are out to change lives and lift people. And lives have been changed!

I have had the privilege of working closely with the Food and Care Coalition for more than 6 years. What they do is unique. It has been an honor for me to be a part of what they do. I have come to realize that the homeless are real people with real stories. Some have made poor choices that have gotten them where they are, I can't judge--I have made poor choices myself . Some have suffered things in life that have brought them to this place. Others suffer from mental illness they can not control and would not have chosen.

I was in church a few Sundays ago and a lady talked about her daughter who had ended up on the street despite her family's effort to help her. It made me realize just how close to home this can hit. Any of us may one day have someone we love in this situation. As I have worked with the clients of the Food and Care I have come to see the homeless not as a problem but as people, even friends.

The Food and Care has out grown their current building. They have undertaken to build a new facility that would make it possible to continue to provide their current services along with new services including: help with mental health, computer access for job hunting, resume writing and increasing computer skills, an on sight permanent medical and dental clinic, a larger dining room to serve the needs of more clients and on site residential housing. It is going to be an amazing facility where the homeless and poor can find help and hope.

They are currently short on the funds needed to make this happen. Grants have been written, moneys have been given--but it just isn't enough. I have had a few conversations with Brent Crane, the director of the Food and Care, about raising funds. It keeps coming to my mind that this should not be just one person's responsibility to make this a reality. One foundation should not provide all the funds to this project. The homeless are part of our community (no matter where we live) and we as a community should come together to help care for their needs.

So, what if each of us decides to help? What if each person who receives this e-mail sends $5 or $10 to the Food and Care? What if a few people decide that they are being especially blessed and can send $50 or $100 or much more. What if each business gave $1,000. Then what if each person forwards this to everyone they know and they forward it and they forward it. If we all did something, no matter how small, then I believe a miracle would happen and this building would be fully funded and completed on schedule--before the first frost hits the ground in the fall. And our homeless would finally have a home, a place to call their own. And the best part would be that it would happen because of the efforts of everyone, coming together as a community to help those in need. How cool would that be? We could make a miracle happen!

(Some of you may be thinking, "that's nice but I don't live in Utah County or even in Utah. One thing I have learned in my humanitarian trips around the world is that community is not defined by borders. Community is about people. That means we can all get involved.)

I know these are tough economic times . But maybe we could each sacrifice a little. Skip going to a movie, or eating out--even eating more simply for a week so that we could send in our $10 or $20 dollars (or more!). We CAN do this!

I know we have all seen the homeless. Perhaps you have felt guilty when they have asked for a hand out, or you may have felt helpless to really make a difference, some of us have felt fearful or even angry. Most the time we don't know quite what to do. Now today you do!

So, go right now--get out your checkbook, write a check and mail it to: The Food and Care Coalition 60 N 300 W Provo, UT 84601 ATTN: Brent Crane. under the for: write in "hope". Lets see just how much good we can do together. (You can also send cash). I promise to keep you updated on how much we have raised. By the way, this is not one of those scam e-mails. This a legitimate cause. In fact you can e-mail questions to Brent Crane at brentc@foodandcare.org at learn more about the Food and Care and see the progress on then new building on their web site at foodandcare.org.

Thanks! I won't tell you that if you don't forward this you will be cursed with warts, but I will tell you that if you DO send this e-mail on (and it may be the first really valuable forward you have ever sent) you will be part of doing something really good, something amazing and wonderful.

Thanks again!
Eileen B.