I don't usually do this, but it is something I feel strongly about (and its my tumblr anyway, right?)...
Obviously this is meant a little more for my closer friends and those in the Twin Cities. For those who haven't met me and want to be part of something that makes a difference, please come and meet me on 1/24/12 :)
I am sending you an invitation to ask you if you will attend a 1 hour informational and fund raising breakfast for the Hallie Q. Brown food shelf on Tuesday, January 24th from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The program and breakfast will be enjoyable, educational, and organized to last only the hour for which it is promised. There will, of course, be an "ask" near the end of the program, but there is no cost to attend the breakfast (it has been underwritten by Grand Referrals Networking) and no requirement to donate as such.
I would truly appreciate a Yes or No RSVP by January 10th so that we can make sure we have seating and food for all attending. If you do RSVP yes, please make every effort to attend as we will be purchasing food for the number of guests attending.
I would also like to give you an idea of why I became involved in HQB food shelf a year or so ago. There were three main reasons:
1. Even though the HQB Community Center is on Kent Street in St. Paul, their food shelf has been located in the lower level of the church I have attended for 25 years on Laurel and Oxford in St. Paul's Grand Avenue area. They have been having more and more trouble meeting the needs of their area client base since the market and jobs crisis began several years ago and I wanted to be part of making a deeper connection between HQB and the greater community to serve these needs.
2. With Dr. Amble's office on Grand Avenue, he and I see people and businesses, even in this healthy St. Paul business neighborhood, struggling to make ends meet and want to do what we can to help all the people in need during these trying economic times.
3. As I have gotten to know the services, staff and beneficiaries of Halle Q Brown I have continued to grow more and more impressed with their desire to serve and meet needs in a way that provides not only pounds of food, but healthy cooking and eating options and education along with a large serving of dignity and respect to their clients.