Safeway Lacking Main Ingrediant

Ever since I moved to Springfield three years ago, I have been volunteering at the Youth Farm located a few blocks from my abode. Last year I stopped by the farm to talk to Ted about when he could use me, and saw about six people sitting around the table. They were just finishing up a six hour day as volunteers. I was curious, because they didn’t look like they belonged here. They were too clean-cut, too, well groomed. I asked them who we are. “We’re corporate managers for Safeway.” they told me. Amazed, I was directed to a gentleman who was the head of Safeway stores in Oregon, and perhaps the entire West Coast. I can not find my notes for our meeting. I was told by the top dog that they enjoyed their day of farming and were going to come back. A month ago I was shocked and saddened to learn my friend Hollis had been evicted and banned from Safeway by the manager, Chuck. Hollis and I were neighbors in Eugene and have been friends for fourteen years. He worked for years at Agra-Pac processing food. Hollis is a Vet, and I have taken him and his friend Steve to several dinners for poor, hungry, and homeless folks. The Youth Farm grows food for these kitchens, with the backing of Food For Lane County. Hollis is one of the friendliest people I have ever met. I call him Mr. Mayor, because he knows what everyone is up to, and how they are faring. He was spending allot of time at Safeway. Chuck took away the outdoor seating, where other poor and homeless people came to rest due to hard times. Having been homeless fifteen years ago I knew what falling between the cracks was all about. Being a theologian, I knew this banishment of the least amongst us goes against the core tenants of Judaism and Christianity. I sought Chuck out and told him my family have been Safeway customers for two generations and I am considering never shopping there again. I told him the Bible sanctions beggars in the market place, because if they can not go there to beg, they will die. With all this talk by Republicans to return to Biblical rule and the values of our pioneers, then one must respect, and even honor the plight of our poor “so he (they) can continued to live among you.” Leviticus23:22 ” ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’ “Leviticus 25:35 ” ‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you.” Hollis does not live among us anymore. Yesterday I sought him out and took he and Steve to the Youth Farm to help prepare onions for market. These onions were planted by teenagers between the ages of fourteen and seventeen. They are hired through Food For Lane County. Chuck also banned vagrant teenagers from Safeway, many of them hungry. I helped feed two of them. Teenagers are trained to make sales on Saturday, a skill that could one day get them a job at Safeway. While I and my neighbors worked away with joy and laughter, I asked Ted about those big wigs from Safeway. He told me they made allot of promises about coming back. They told Ted they sent out a letter encouraging all Safeway employees to come volunteer. Not one showed up! How about Chuck? What was his excuse? A month ago Chuck challenged me to come up with a solution believing there is no solution. Chuck believed he had been clever, and had gotten rid of another trouble maker who threatened to blog on his actions, and even got to the press. “Oh! Don’t do that! Come up with a solution and I will talk to you!” Well, Chuck, I have a solution, and I will talk to you now – and the big shots upstairs. I believe Safeway and other food stores should support Youth Farms all over America. I believe corporate America should not GIVE AWAY millions of dollars to fund the campaigns of poticians, but instead, give millions to Farms and Kitchens that feed the poor and hungry – who can not wait around for secular, religious, or political solutions to OUR PROBLEM! What I suggest is Safeway anoint Hollis as their designated Volunteer, their man in the field – in proxy! And for volunteering at least once a week, Hollis can come back to Safeway. Hollis told me he is hungrier then before, because he has to shop at a Quickie Mart that charges way more for food. What I suggest, is that the Youth Farm tent and market be allowed to set up at Safeway where the tables used to be, so they will own the missing ingredient – MERCY! Hollis and other could be cashiers for the Youth Market. Oh sure this might cut into the profits Safeway makes on its produce, but, think about the message Safeway is giving. WE SUPPORT AND SERVE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. I will send this blog to Safeway executives, and the President of Starbucks who got 140 top CEOS to take an oath not to contribute to campaigns. When I asked Ted if he would like me to talk to Safeway, he said; “No! They were all talk, and no action. I want to stick to my small people! I can count on them!” Jon Presco SPRINGFIELD YOUTH FARM Pictures and Map to Springfield Youth Farm Bottom of Page   The Springfield Youth Farm is a program that takes youth who may be from a low-income family or troubled backgrounds and gives them the chance to help themselves while helping others. The farm is located at 705 Flamingo Ave. by Game Farm Road. The Youth Farm got started by Food for Lane County.   With the help of local teenagers and volunteers, Food for Lane County turned an empty lot into a productive three-acre organic farm where they are growing organic vegetables for the community. Most of the fresh produce they grow there goes to the Food for Lane County’s 60-plus emergency food programs. In 1998 they produced 20,000 pounds; and this year they hope to meet that number or exceed it.   The Springfield Youth Farm hires about 15 local teenagers each season. The teens are around the age of 14-18. The farm helps the teens with high school programs by giving them some job experience. They have to show up on time, be prepared to work, have their lunches with them, all the things you need to get through the day.   The people who run the farm are Jen Anonia and Keith Perchemlides. Keith is the farm manager. He makes most all the decisions about everything on the farm. There is a small area in the front, which is divided into sections for the kids who are on the crew. Each kid gets a small area and they are able to plant and do what they want on that area. The Springfield Youth Farm is all organic. They do not use any pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals. They use diverse planting, moving the vegetables around every year, never planting the same vegetables in the same spot. The crew also plants many flowers and herbs to bring around beneficial insects that eat bugs and insects, such as marigolds and ladybugs. The crew also does bug picking in the morning when it is cold and the bugs do not move. During their hands-on experience the kids also have weekly educational classes, which teach them about agriculture, nutrition, and how to run a small business with the help from the volunteers. The kids are expected to work in small groups as well as independently, and they have to complete the projects they started. The farm really stresses the importance of different skills like job, social, and education skills. During the growing season they always have a large variety of crops for the community. A farm stand sits in the front of the farm where the public can buy organic vegetables at an affordable price. The farm stand offers a variety of things to the public including a weekly membership produce program, garden plots, and workshops to learn about growing. The Springfield Youth Farm is a fun and educational way for kids to get into the community and help themselves as well as helping others. This program has many educational opportunities out there for school groups as well as the community to learn about gardening. More people need to have projects like these so people can help themselves. Maybe it would alleviate most of our hunger problems around the world today. Leviticus23:22 ” ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’ “Leviticus 25:35 ” ‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who recently made a call to action for his “fellow concerned Americans” to boycott campaign contributions, said it is up to U.S. business leadersto help get the country out of its “crisis of confidence.” “We can’t wait for Washington,” he said. “Business leaders are going to have to galvanize their own constituencies and do everything they can to demonstrate confidence in the economy, and I think that can be contagious.”