Upwards of a hundred folks gathered for the New Dems potluck and food drive at Councilor Adrian and Amelia Mapp's home Saturday evening.
A mountain of bags and boxes containing canned goods and nonperishable food items took shape on the sunporch as guests arrived with their contributions, all of which will aid Plainfield's feeding programs, which are struggling to meet the unprecedented demand cause by the hard economic times.
In addition, guests were invited to contribute to the Haitian relief effort by texting the word 'Haiti' to 90999 -- which makes a $10 contribution to the Red Cross relief fund (the amount appears on the donor's next phone bill). While there is no way of knowing exactly how much was raised, I saw twenty or thirty fiddling with assorted cellphones, Crackberries and iPhones when the announcement was made.
Tables groaned under the load of homemade dishes and desserts. (The baked fish was excellent -- and gone when I went back for seconds; and Pat F's carrot cake was scrumptious.)
Music was provided by Joe Bonini, making a perfect backdrop for animated conversation taking place throughout the house.
Many thanks to Adrian and Amelia Mapp for opening their home and to all who came and made the party such a success.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
UPDATE: New Dems Potluck aids Haiti relief, food programs
-- Dan Damon [follow]
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6 comments:
Why does it have to be "New Dems"
Why not Adrian Mapp? Why not Plainfield residents? Why the political angle on this?
You are clearly doing this to further a political agenda.
It's cheezy and it is a shame.
Margaret
to Margaret -- Thanks for the comment, but I am a little puzzled.
The potluck was scheduled by the New Dems for December, to be hosted by Adrian and Amelia Mapp, which you would know if you had followed the CLIPS events calendar in December. When it was canceled because of a snowstorm, it was announced that it would be rescheduled.
It was rescheduled long before the disaster in Haiti -- again if you had been following the calendar in CLIPS.
So, what is it that bothers you? It was what it was, which is what it was always held out to be. Where was your objection in December, or earlier this month -- since I posted about it a few days ago, and it was on the MLK events calendar I put up on January 5th?
If you're upset that mention was made of raising money for aid to Haiti, anyone could have done the same -- and maybe they already have.
If someone had let me know they were doing so, I would gladly have spread the word.
No one did. Does that mean no one else is helping in the relief effort?
I don't think so, but I can only spread the news that I know about.
What's cheezy about that?
I'm so glad that this "gathering " took place and was just so sorry that I was not able to stay for the music and the "eats" but I was able to drop off my non-perishables. With the need so great in Plainfield and in Haiti, persons in need are just glad when any group steps forward and responds to that need. Personally, I'm glad to be associated with the "New Dems' and am overjoyed with the "social" activist role that they take. Margaret A. Lewis
The event was not a political event at all. We did it under the name of our political club, the New Democrats for Plainfield, but there was no political pitch, no voter registration, no politics. As a matter of fact, there were community people from all Plainfield walks of life in attendance, and folks donated a lot of food. The focus was on furthering Dr. King's vision of ending hunger in America, and the comments were solely about that. Reverend Phipps's blessing and benediction also focused on God's mercy and compassion. We held a moment of silence for the victims of the horrific earthquake in Haiti, and many of us know people who were directly affected. To attack us and other volunteers because we want to show that our organization cares is what is truly "cheezy" and shameful, in my opinion. It's no different from Frontiers Int'l doing their MLK breakfast, or the Stone Square Lodge doing their MLK events. The sororities and fraternities do charity events under their organization names as well. We came together as a political club to help raise canned food and money for Haiti. I really don't understand why our community service arm is coming under attack for holding a non-political charity event--seems kind of picayune to me. People are also certainly free NOT to attend charity events held by volunteers who work hard to put them together, but I would hope that they would at least go directly to the food pantries with donations and text the word "Haiti" to 90999.
Peace and prayers for Haiti,
Rebecca
P.S. Thank you to all the folks who came out in fellowship with us in furthering Dr. King's vision of ending hunger in America.
I find it amazing that a single council person can do this much and no effort or mention on the City website cocerning aid to Haiti.
Actually, I went to the Plainfield web site to see the schedule of eventsfor MLK day tomorrow and was surprised not to see any mention of them and noting listed under community events. Correct me if I am wrong but isn't Plainfield on the map and why nothing noted?
@ 5:55 -- I can't answer for why the City has no info on Haiti, but to be fair, they do have the minimal amount of info on MLK events, but it's on the little calendar you have to click on (at the top right of the homne page). Yes, you would think they would have something under 'community events', but the problem with the whole site is that it is inconsistent and so folks don't know where to look for things.
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