'Bea Gaddy' Needs Our Help
I've lived in Bawlmer for three Thanksgivings, and each year it's the same story. The Bea Gaddy Charity is once again low on food.
For those of you that don't know, Bea Gaddy was a resident of Baltimore that started a community food kitchen to feed the city's poor and homeless. Known mostly for her annual Thanksgiving feast, Bea Gaddy and her charity have changed and helped numerous lives in this city for more than 25 years.
Driven by the experience of her own struggles as well as her desire to help others, Bea Gaddy began a tradition in Baltimore that has survived even after her death. Every year, her charity collects massive amounts of food to feed the city's poor and homeless on Thanksgiving. From a humble feast of a few dozen neighbors to the 45,000 meals that are expected this year, this annual tradition has impacted more lives than any one of us could possibly imagine. For the many that are fed, this day is significant. These folks are our fellow Baltimore residents, and for one very important day, all that is required of them is to show up, be grateful, thankful and fed on a day that many of us take for granted.
Many of us bloggers live within city limits and are constantly reminded of the struggles of our neighbors. Each morning as I commute to work, I see the homeless in their tent cities. Walking through downtown, there are men asking for change or holding signs asking for assistance. On our city blocks, there are children playing in the streets without proper shoes or coats. Poverty is all around us in Baltimore, and because it is so widespread, many of us forget or ignore that there are thousands of people in this city that could use a big helping hand.
I'm not asking for a lot. But as a small blogging community, we have a chance to make a difference by collecting food for Bea Gaddy's Thanksgiving dinner and helping to spread the word to our fellow bloggers and readers to do the same. I challenge each of you to collect canned goods, boxed goods, paper goods (plates, etc.) and food storage goods (aluminum foil, etc.) and drop them off at a collection center. Take photos of your donations (food and monies) and the donations of your friends and post them on your blog to recognize people for their generosity.
Please remember that Thanksgiving is two weeks away. Don't wait until your 'shopping day.' Don't wait until you run out of milk and need to go to the store anyway. Go today. Go today and load up on one bag, two bags, or more bags of supplies, and drop them off on the way home. We may not be a big group, but even in our own small way, let's do something for our city and make a difference.
Donations to Bea Gaddy's charities can be sent to:
The Bea Gaddy Fund
P.O. Box 38501
Baltimore, Maryland 21241.
CORRECTED: Non-perishable food items may be dropped off seven days a week at 425 North Chester Street in Baltimore ONLY. (Or if you'd rather... I'll drop them off for you. Just ask.)
For those of you that don't know, Bea Gaddy was a resident of Baltimore that started a community food kitchen to feed the city's poor and homeless. Known mostly for her annual Thanksgiving feast, Bea Gaddy and her charity have changed and helped numerous lives in this city for more than 25 years.
Driven by the experience of her own struggles as well as her desire to help others, Bea Gaddy began a tradition in Baltimore that has survived even after her death. Every year, her charity collects massive amounts of food to feed the city's poor and homeless on Thanksgiving. From a humble feast of a few dozen neighbors to the 45,000 meals that are expected this year, this annual tradition has impacted more lives than any one of us could possibly imagine. For the many that are fed, this day is significant. These folks are our fellow Baltimore residents, and for one very important day, all that is required of them is to show up, be grateful, thankful and fed on a day that many of us take for granted.
Many of us bloggers live within city limits and are constantly reminded of the struggles of our neighbors. Each morning as I commute to work, I see the homeless in their tent cities. Walking through downtown, there are men asking for change or holding signs asking for assistance. On our city blocks, there are children playing in the streets without proper shoes or coats. Poverty is all around us in Baltimore, and because it is so widespread, many of us forget or ignore that there are thousands of people in this city that could use a big helping hand.
I'm not asking for a lot. But as a small blogging community, we have a chance to make a difference by collecting food for Bea Gaddy's Thanksgiving dinner and helping to spread the word to our fellow bloggers and readers to do the same. I challenge each of you to collect canned goods, boxed goods, paper goods (plates, etc.) and food storage goods (aluminum foil, etc.) and drop them off at a collection center. Take photos of your donations (food and monies) and the donations of your friends and post them on your blog to recognize people for their generosity.
Please remember that Thanksgiving is two weeks away. Don't wait until your 'shopping day.' Don't wait until you run out of milk and need to go to the store anyway. Go today. Go today and load up on one bag, two bags, or more bags of supplies, and drop them off on the way home. We may not be a big group, but even in our own small way, let's do something for our city and make a difference.
Donations to Bea Gaddy's charities can be sent to:
The Bea Gaddy Fund
P.O. Box 38501
Baltimore, Maryland 21241.
CORRECTED: Non-perishable food items may be dropped off seven days a week at 425 North Chester Street in Baltimore ONLY. (Or if you'd rather... I'll drop them off for you. Just ask.)
posted by Charissa at 10:21 AM
4 Comments:
I think it's wonderful what you are doing, and i want to let you know that Southern Maryland is here to help. I will begin today going around to local businesses to ask for either monetary or food donations. It's great to see that people are keeping Bea Gaddy's spirit alive. Thanks.
Do you know how I would go about volunteering to help on Thanksgiving? Thanks! Leslie
** great post, by the way **
Hi Leslie - try calling 410-563-2749. That's the charity's main number. If you help out, let me know and I'll post about it. Good for you for volunteering.
I've been volunteering at the Thanksgiving Day feast for the past five years and it's changed the way I view the holidays. I highly recommend it. For the past few years I've also brought my oldest son and he wouldn't miss it for the world.
One thing to note about food items- plenty of people donate corn, green beans, and other vegetables. They actually need more DRY GOODS- like rice, stuffing, pasta, mac and cheese, etc. Most especially they need canned meats (tuna, chicken) and protein sources such as PEANUT BUTTER. Fruits are always in short supply, too.
While all donations are accepted- we *always* run out of meats/protein goods and DRY items. By the end of the day we're drowing in yams and green beans, though.
Happy Thanksgiving to all... hope to see you at the event.
-Brian from Baltimore
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