Giving

This thread got me thinking.

We all eat so well every day. We look forward to our next meal and treat dining as an adventure. We are emboldened by this online community (and its associated technology).

It is very easy to forget that there are those who do not know where their next meal is coming from. They live within miles, blocks, or doorsteps of us.

My thoughts led me to the idea of harnessing the collective power of LTHForum.com to help fight hunger in the Chicagoland area. This city feeds us so well that we have the strength and the power to help see that fewer of our neighbors are hungry.

Here are a few ideas to help seed discussion and gage interest:

1) An annual canned food drive. We could have "captains" for each geographic area to collect food.

2) Participate en masse in the annual 5K Hunger Walk. (June, I think).

3) Periodic group volunteer efforts at one of Chicago's many anti-hunger charities.

...and celebrate the successful completion of any event with a group meal.

There are over 600 members in this community, and at least 100 of them are what I would call "very active". Even if a dozen people participate in regular events, we are doing good and strengthening our semi-virtual community.

Of course, I humbly place my ideas at the feet of the generous moderators. If plans like this are already in the works, then I am all the more pleased. Also, I understand that many of us already have charities and give generously to a variety of causes. I only ask that you consider the collective power of community-based giving.

Thoughts? Ideas? Discussion?

Best,
EC