a word about
Food Not Bombs

by Kerri Provost

New Britain Food Not Bombs serves hot, vegetarian meals to hungry residents every Sunday by City Hall. We believe that giving away free food in public places forces passers-by to examine their own complicity and involvement in allowing the unaccountable global economic system that oppresses each of us. Although we have had generous donations in the past, we are having trouble meeting the needs of the hungry in these winter months. We are having this event to collect food and raise money, which will be used for cooking supplies and produce.

This is how we run our operation: Food Not Bombs takes mostly food that would have been discarded and uses it in meals. Every Sunday we get together to make a healthy meal (not just soup) to serve to the hungry and homeless in downtown New Britain. A good chunk of these people have jobs, but are still homeless. We've served men, women, and children. We started up with $90 which was spent on pots, pans, reusable plates, etc. and some food. Food Not Bombs uses recovered or donated *vegetarian* food. We will not accept donations of canned meats (see the websites for philosophy of violence & meat consumption).

So, what we are asking for is generous donation of vegetarian food or $5. Food items can include:

· bags of uncooked dry beans

· large cans of beans (pink, black, garbanzo, whatever)

· large bags of rice (most cost around $6.00)

· any produce you can grab from your fridge that is in good condition...we prefer if it's in season, but will accept anything

· vegetable oil, seasoning

· basically anything that is healthy, vegetarian, and edible.

For instance, slightly wilted celery would be okay because once it's cooked in soup or something, the texture is not as important...but if it's brown & decaying, not cool. Donations of tea bags, preferably decaf, are welcome. I know that "non-perishable items" are what soup kitchens generally ask for, but FOOD NOT BOMBS IS NOT A SOUP KITCHEN. We want to make sure that the meal we are providing is nutritious and will give those consuming it enough vitamins & minerals. If someone wants to donate dehydrated fruits, that'd be cool. I know that some people actually have personal gardens, greenhouses, food dehydrators, and bread machines. PLEASE, NO JUNKFOOD. Muffins that contain fruit, cinnamon, or nuts would be okay, but that's about as much junk food as we're willing to serve. We got a huge donation from Starbucks one time that included cakes and brownies. A nice gesture, but people who badly need nutrition and don't have health & dental care really should not be fed garbage. Packages of tofu, veggie “meats”, and other soy-based products would be especially awesome!

For more information visit:

http://newbritainfnb.blogspot.com/

http://www.foodnotbombs.net/index.html

http://www.foodfirst.org/pubs/backgrdrs/1998/s98v5n3.html

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