Quote of the Day -- Humanist Edition

From The Word Lady @TheRealRynnstar Dec 12, 2020 "Forever wondering if I’m truly far left or if I’m just an empathetic person living in a late capitalist hellscape where I get called a commie for saying "hey maybe poor people don’t deserve to starve.'"

Star Gives Us Ways We Can Help Locally

Okay, so we're all in an international pandemic no one would have ever imagined, we're in a stay at home order and we have time on our hands.

With that, are there ways we can help, help one another, locally, and hopefully use all this time we have on our hands?

The answer is yes, of course, and our own Kansas City Star gave us ways to do just that in Sunday's paper.

Your money, your blood, your time: 

How to help Kansas City during COVID-19 crisis

Herewith:

Perhaps you’re looking for ways to make a difference during this COVID-19 crisis that has affected us all. The possibilities are endless.

You can simply donate to worthwhile causes. That would be one way to get the most good out of the government’s stimulus checks set to arrive in the coming weeks.

Your funds can assist charities that are on the front lines of the ongoing pandemic battle (disaster-relief organizations, hospitals and other health-related groups) as well as those that help people struggling to survive. Food pantries and other charities such as the Salvation Army are requesting donations of food, clothing and other basic-need items.

But don’t forget the many organizations that have been devastated by the virtual shutdown of the economy and are struggling to stay afloat until a return to normalcy. Think the arts, restaurants and entertainers.

Your time is also valuable. Many organizations are looking for volunteers during this time of need.

But perhaps the most basic way to make a difference is simply to be a good neighbor or citizen.

The Star has compiled a list of ideas and resources, which we’ll add to as more become available. Please give us your ideas by emailing calendar@kcstar.com.

HELP THE HUNGRY

Harvesters, harvesters.org/givetime

Don Bosco Senior Center, donbosco.org

Food Equality Initiative, foodequalityinitiative.org

MCC Food Pantry locations, mcckc.edu/counseling/food-pantries

St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at St. Therese Church, sttheresenorth.org/svdpfoodpantry

Thelma’s Kitchen at Reconciliation Services, thelmaskitchen.org

Meals on Wheels, mealsonwheelsamerica.org (search by ZIP code)

Feeding America, feedingamerica.org

No Kid Hungry, nokidhungry.org

Operation BBQ Relief, operationbbqrelief.org

GIVE BLOOD

Community Blood Center has canceled blood drives but has expanded hours at its seven donor centers around the area (no walk-ins). Donors can schedule appointments at 877-468-6844 or savealifenow.org.

The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City is taking appointments at 800­-733-2767 or redcrossblood.org.

HELP THE HOMELESS

Agencies need funding, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and food. Veterans Community Project, at 8900 Troost Ave., is accepting donations, which will be distributed to agencies throughout the community. veteranscommunityproject.org

City Union Mission, cityunionmission.org

Community LINC, communitylinc.org

Cross-Lines Community Outreach, cross-lines.org

Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness, gkcceh.org/community-closures-and-openings

Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus, hopefaithministries.org

Restart, restartinc.org

ASSIST RESTAURANT WORKERS

Curbside KC (order food for pickup), curbsidekc.com

BaristaKC Virtual Tip Jar, linktr.ee/baristakc

Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation, restaurantworkerscf.org

James Beard Food & Beverage Industry Relief Fund, jamesbeard.org/blog/relief-fund

Rally for Restaurants, rallyforrestaurants.com

Unite Here, unitehere.org/covid-19

HELP THE HELPERS

I Got You KC (donations and sponsorships for restaurants to provide meals for health-care workers and first responders), igotyoukc.com

SUPPORT ARTISTS AND ARTISANS

KC Spaces Fund, kcspacesfund.com

KCYA teaching artists, kcya.org/?page=artist-emergency-fund

Strawberry Swing makers’ products, thestrawberryswing.org

CERF+ visual artists, cerfplus.org/donate

Americans for the Arts Action Fund, artsactionfund.org

Support for local filmmakers, kcfilmoffice.com

MAKE/DONATE FACE MASKS

Some health-care providers, such as the University of Kansas Health System, say they can’t use homemade masks. But other groups, including Heart to Heart International and Johnson County’s emergency management team, welcome the donations.

Martin City Brewing Company tutorial, facebook.com/watch/?v=2606071786387858

The Whole Person, thewholeperson.org

Sandlot, sandlotgoods.com

JoAnn Craft Stores resources, joann.com/make-to-give-response

Johnson County is accepting donated cloth masks, jocogov.org

Million Mask Challenge, facebook.com/groups/millionmaskchallengekc

Rightfully Sewn, rightfullysewn.org

Buy one and one is donated to someone in our community, sewkc.com

GENERAL RESPONSE

Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, growyourgiving.org/covid

Heart to Heart International, hearttoheart.org

Volunteer Johnson County, joco.samaritan.com

Salvation Army, centralusa.salvationarmy.org/mokan

American Red Cross, redcross.org/volunteer

Center for Disaster Philanthropy COVID-19 Response Fund, disasterphilanthropy.org

United Nations Foundation, unfoundation.org

World Health Organization COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, covid19responsefund.org

Doctors Without Borders, doctorswithoutborders.org

Partners in Health, pih.org/article/pihs-emergency-coronavirus-response

National Council on Aging, ncoa.org

Facebook will double your donation to the CDC Foundation’s coronavirus response support, facebook.com/cdcfoundation and give.cdcfoundation.org

OTHER RESOURCES

Direct Relief humanitarian aid organization, directrelief.org

Elder Helpers, elderhelpers.org

Find your local mutual-aid network, mutualaidhub.org

Charity rating sites, Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) and CharityWatch (charitywatch.org)

Catchafire online volunteer opportunities, catchafire.org

DO SOMETHING NICE

The following list was compiled from suggested activities by Doing Good Together (doinggoodtogether.org), a Minneapolis group that provides tools to help raise compassionate, engaged children, as well as The Washington Post and other online sources:

• Arrange for meals to be delivered to those working on the front lines, such as police, EMTs and hospital workers (first make sure they are allowed to accept food).
• Send a note of thanks to front line health-care workers.
• Call or text neighbors (especially older ones) to make sure they’re doing OK.
• Leave packaged, sealed treats or beverages by your front door as a way to thank delivery people.
• Start a neighborhood hunt (bear, tiger or whatever) in which residents put teddy bears (or whatever) in their windows for families on walks to watch for.
• Write encouraging messages in chalk on your sidewalk.
• Set up FaceTime and Skype sessions with relatives or acquaintances in assisted living facilities.
• Advocate on social media for individuals and organizations that need help.
• Support local businesses by buying gift cards.

So there you are.  A great, long and I think pretty comprehensive list of all the things we can maybe do to help one another during this very trying, difficult, even surprising time. 

Again, we have time on our hands.  Let's see if we can help one another out there. 

Go get 'em, Kansas City!

And kudos and thank you, Kansas City Star!

Y'all be well, be safe and STAY AT HOME!!

Support NPR! Support Your Local Station!

For all those in the Kansas City area, if you listen to the local NPR station, KCUR 89.3 FM and aren't yet a member, PLEASE, PLEASE go here this week and give what you can. As low as $7 per month would be a huge help and very much appreciated. If you can afford more, it would be greatly, greatly appreciated. It's also tax deductible so there's that help, also.

There are so many great programs and such great local, statewide, regional, national and international coverage of news, arts, fantastic music and entertainment! (But you know that).

You can do it by check or credit card. You can also become a sustaining member and have your contribution made monthly by your credit or ATM card.

So, go, please, if you can and would and make your contribution. And thank you, in advance!

Mayor James on a Saturday Morning, for a Good Cause

Our own Mayor James was out and busy early this morning and for a good cause.

While the rest of us were relaxing or having coffee or sleeping late or just enjoying our Saturday morning, our Mayor was out, full suit and tie and all, in this warmth and humidity for a good cause. No Kid Hungry Kansas City held a fund-raising bake sale this morning in Brookside. To both support them as well as be available to we citizens of the city, there he was, Mayor James, talking with whomever came up and on whatever issue.

And for what it's worth, this same charity has another fund raiser tomorrow in case you'd like to support it and them and missed this morning.

Have a great weekend, y'all.

A question for America's Christians

When did you stop believing in ALL your Bible?

When and why did you choose to ignore and totally deny this little gem?

Matthew 19:24

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

And this one, nearby:

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."
Seriously, because I'm really curious.

And please don't make excuses:  Eye of a needle - Wikipedia

JJ's Restaurant fundraiser this Sunday

click on picture for easier reading

On Sunday, April 7, The American Restaurant will host Saber! A Celebration for JJ's, bringing together the city's finest chefs and beverage vendors in support of the JJ's family.

Tickets available here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/352903

The event includes tasting stations, silent auction and a "Hall of Fame" wine silent auction. The bottles will be signed by JJ's owner Jimmy Frantze. They include:

1.5 of Verite Le Desir
1.5 l of Cardinale
3 liter of Murphy Goode Cabernet
1.5 of Murphy Goode Liar's Dice Zin
1.5 of Edmeades Zin
3 liter of Freemark Abbey Cabernet
6 Liter of 1999 'Luce' Super Tuscan
750 ml 1999 Gaja Barbaresco 'Sori San Lorenzo", Piedmont, IT
3L 1989 Sean Thackrey "Orion" Old Vines Rossi VIneyard, Napa, CA
1.5 ml Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley vintage TBA
750 ml bottles from the 2011 vintage:
Siduri and Novy Wineries, donated by Adam Lee and Dianna Novy Lee
3L Cambria Chardonnay "Katherines Vineyard", Santa Maria Valley, CA
3L Cambria Pinot Noir, Santa Maria ,CA
3L Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
and many more

Saber! will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. with a special program at 7 p.m.

Participating restaurants and chefs include:
Craig Adcock (Jude's Rum Cake)
The American Restaurant
Bluestem/rye
The Broadway Cafe
Café Sebastienne
The Capital Grill
Coaches
Happy Gillis
Carter Holton
Jasper's
The Jacobson
Le Fou Frog
Local Pig
Lon Lane's Inspired Occasions
The Rieger Hotel, Grill & Exchange
Room 39
Starker's Restaurant

All money raised will be donated to the JJ's Staff Assistance Fund managed by Country Club Bank.

One of the few times they're all on the same side

The mascots of the Big 12 Basketball Conference all got together and visited the children patients at Children's Mercy Hospital today.  Pretty fun. Very cool.  Good for the kids and them and all involved.

More here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151544515710915&set=a.10151544301070915.1073741830.51136075914&type=1&theater

Link:

Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

What will no doubt be a great, funny fundraiser tonight

Jon Stewart is having his "Night of Too Many Stars" fundraiser to benefit New York Collaborates for Autism and to help contribute to the development of autism schools, services and programs across the country. Tune in to "Night of Too Many Stars" live on Comedy Central and CC.com, tonight at 7 pm Central Time.

Night of Too Many Stars
Get More: Comedy Central,Funny Videos,Funny TV Shows

One out of every 110 children was diagnosed as autistic in 2010. This year, as Mr. Stewart says, "...just two years later, it's one in every 88."

Please watch, laugh and support, if you can.

Links: http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/night-of-too-many-stars/celebrity-auction?xrs=eml_stars

Locally-made short film

Check out those credits at the end. Very cool for message and its origin, I thought. Happy holidays, y'all.

The Don Harman Memorial Fund

Don’s family has set up a fund in lieu of flowers. If you’d like to donate: The Don Harman Memorial Fund Benefiting local Kansas City Charities, c/o Tightwad Bank, 1160 SE Highway 7, Tightwad, Missouri 64735. ""I never ran into anyone around town who didn't smile when they heard his name..." --Mike Thompson, Chief Meteorologist at Fox 4 TV Station. Links: http://fox4kc.com/2011/11/30/fox-4-statement-on-the-passing-of-don-harman/; http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/wdaf-fox-4-news-meteorologist-don-harman-passes-away#ixzz1fEnkgbls

Ex-President George W. Bush--now officially "on the lam"

Yeehaw!

Good on you, Switzerland.

Check it out, according to The New York Times:

February 5, 2011

Bush's Swiss Visit Off After Complaints on Torture

By REUTERS

GENEVA (Reuters) - Former U.S. President George W. Bush, under fire from human rights group over allegations of ordering torture, has canceled a visit to Switzerland where he was to address a Jewish charity gala.

Bush was to be the keynote speaker at Keren Hayesod's annual dinner on February 12 in Geneva. But pressure has been building on the Swiss government to arrest him and open a criminal investigation if he enters the Alpine country.

Criminal complaints against Bush alleging torture have been lodged in Geneva, court officials say, and several human rights groups signaled that they were poised to take further legal action this week.


Because, after all, as the article rightly and correctly points out:  Torture is a crime under international law and human rights experts say the absolute prohibition is very clear.

Unfortunately, technically he has diplomatic immunity and, likely, these human rights groups won't keep their pressure on forever but hey, at least for now, at least in this instance, it messed with his plans and he's at least remotely aware of how people around the world feel about the national and international laws he broke.

But at least, for right now, let's enjoy this moment.

Have a great weekend, y'all.


(and thanks to friend John McA. for bringing this article to my attention).

Don't forget--Restaurant Week starts tomorrow!

That's right, tomorrow begins Kansas City's second year of "Restaurant Week", benefiting Harvesters, the Community Food Network.

From their website:

10% of the cost of each meal purchased from KC Restaurant Week menus will be donated to Harvesters in an effort to fight hunger in the Kansas City area. In 2010, this event raised more than $55,000, providing some 275,000 meals to our neighbors in need.

Diners can enjoy delcious and budget-friendly meals at 100 participating restaurants during the 10-day event. Select from multiple course prix-fixe menus, with lunch for $15 and dinner for $30.

So if you're going to eat out anyway, please do what you can over the next week to patronize one of the 100 restaurants in town that are participating in this very worthy project.

You can check on your favorite participating restaurant here:  http://www.kansascityrestaurantweek.com/restaurants/

Links:  http://www.kansascityrestaurantweek.com/;  http://www.visitkc.com/;  http://www.inkkc.com/;  http://www.morestaurants.org/;  http://www.harvesters.org/;  http://www.kj.com/;  http://www.discover.com/;  http://www.boulevard.com/;  http://www.kansascity.com/;  http://www.spaceskc.com/;  http://www.pepsirefreshproject.com/; 
http://kansascity.usfoodservice.com/SitePages/Home.aspx;  http://www.theroasterie.com/; 
http://www.kcoriginals.com/;  http://nightlifekc.com/dining;  http://www.opentable.com/home.aspx; 
http://airealmobile.com/

Quote of the day--on what's important

"...what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame – but rather, how well we have loved, and what small part we have played in bettering the lives of others."  --President Barack Obama, in his speech in Arizona after the shooting that left 6 people dead and 14 wounded.


Link to complete text and original post:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/us/politics/13obama-text.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2

Here's a thought

www.redefinechristmas.org