trial & error

abbyjean:

spirit of service #6 (i think)

there are a lot of homeless people in our cities, and the number is only increasing with the economic downturn, increasing foreclosure rates, and dwindling social service budgets. a lot of those homeless are hungry. it’s not a perfect match - there are some homeless who aren’t hungry, there’s a lot of hungry and food insecure people who aren’t homeless - but a number of private citizens have come up with a clever wait to feed the homeless in their communities. burrito projects.

the exact history of the first burrito project is unclear, but basically, a few people got together, bought some dry rice and beans, made a pile of foil-wrapped burritos, and went out on the streets to distribute them.

their mission is simple: “to provide people with the means to become active members in their community … to bridge a gap between the fed and the hungry … a respectful extension of our collective dinner table. A way to recognize people who throughout the day are often ignored, and even demonized.”

there are a number of independent chapters operating throughout the US (so cal, buffalo ny, fort worth tx, eugene or, etc.) and even a falafel project in damascus, syria. you don’t need any permission or charter or enrollment to start your own - the burrito project page has all the info you need. there’s the diy startup guide, recipes, even photo illustrations on how to roll a burrito.

the benefits of this project are amazing. not only are you feeding the homeless, you’re strengthening bonds in your community by getting food donations or wholesale pricing, you’re spending quality burrito-making time with like minded people, you’re getting to know the homeless community and what it’s really like out there. plus, you’re sure to gain mad burrito rolling skillz.

This appeals to me. Who’s in?