Hoots batted me a blog link yesterday. Ed Nicholson over at Tyson Foods had this thought in his blog,
“Yet the overwhelming majority of the communication I receive from some hunger organizations is, “Please send us another ten dollars. It will help feed twenty hungry kids.” I know this. So do the tens of thousands of your other supporters. It sounds eerily like a 1980’s Sally Struthers TV spot.”
You can read Ed’s full post here. I don’t know Ed but it seems like he’s passionate about feeding people and the cause of hunger in general. Yet I was bothered by the implication that most of the organizations who are “talking” about hunger are only asking for money.
That’s certainly not the entire point of his post but it was what hung me up. That “hand out” stuff isn’t about relationship. And it isn’t what most of you do.
Maybe the nonprofits we know are different, but the conversations I’m involved in deal with the root cause of hunger and the long-term implications. Lately, the very real plight of the newly-poor has occupied our thoughts. Many of you have been working through the spiritual implications of hunger.
One thing I know about Ed from reading his blog is that he’s passionate. Hey, passion is one thing we at Oneicity understand–and if you’re a regular here, you’re passionate, too.
So, do me a big favor: drop in on Ed’s blog. Leave him a comment about what you think about hunger. If nothing else, help him understand why you don’t want to talk about hunger. I came close to saying that his concept was boring (I’m hoping he’ll understand that I didn’t mean he was boring). And tell him that Steve Thomas over at Oneicity sent you. Let’s lift his spirits, have some fun and get a conversation going.
So, is hunger boring unless you’re the one whose stomach is growling?
Steve Thomas
Partner, Oneicity
(photo credits: vmiramontes)