20 Miles for Hunger

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."  -Matthew 25:35, 40

MAKE A GIFT TODAY

On Sunday, May 1st, I will be participating in Project Bread's 2011 Walk for Hunger. I hope that you will support me in my efforts to raise money to help end hunger in Massachusetts!

Why am I walking? I'm walking because many Massachusetts families are seeing their monthly income stretched beyond capacity. They are forced to go without food in order to pay their rent, utility, and medical bills. The demand for emergency food has never been greater with pantries and meal programs supported by Project Bread serving 57.3 million meals last year alone. Hunger is not just an urban problem — it exists in nearly every community throughout the state.

The money that I raise by walking as much as I can of the 20-mile route will directly help hungry people. Funds raised through the Walk support more than 400 emergency food programs in 135 communities statewide.

Who is hungry? Hunger affects more than 660,000 people in Massachusetts, including the state’s most vulnerable citizens — children, the elderly, the disabled, and the unemployed.

Hunger also affects the working poor, who use more and more of their income to pay rent, heating oil, medical care, and childcare. Both children and the elderly are disproportionately represented at emergency food programs funded by Project Bread. In low-income communities throughout the state, one child in three lives in a family that struggles to put food on the table.

Please donate to my Walk to help me make a difference and reach my personal fundraising goal. Thank you for your support of me and of hungry people. 

Together we CAN make a difference!

MAKE A GIFT TODAY

About The Walk for Hunger

Since 1969, Project Bread's Walk for Hunger has provided critical resources for hungry children and families in Massachusetts. Today, The Walk for Hunger is the oldest continual pledge walk in the country, and the largest annual one-day fundraiser to alleviate local hunger.

Money raised through The Walk for Hunger funds more than 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks, and food salvage programs in 135 communities across Massachusetts.

The Walk for Hunger is held on the first Sunday in May every year. The 20-mile Walk route weaves through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown, and Cambridge.

About Project Bread

As the state’s leading antihunger organization, Project Bread is dedicated to alleviating, preventing, and ultimately ending hunger in Massachusetts. In addition to organizing the annual Walk for Hunger and supporting emergency food programs statewide, Project Bread also advocates systematic solutions that prevent hunger in children and that provide food to families in everyday settings.

MAKE A GIFT TODAY

Mixed Feelings at BU about Possible MBTA Cuts

The sound of a train rolling in just before class may become less frequent on BU's campus. According to a report released by the Boston Globe (April 10, 2009), the MBTA is considering cutting service at several BU stations and reducing service by half on nights and weekends. Feelings were mixed on campus, and BU officials say they will adapt to any changes as they develop.

Green Jobs Growing in Massachusetts

When almost every industry seems to be pulling back, energy and
environmental companies are showing new life. Massachusetts is setting
the stage to be one of the premier hubs of "Green Jobs" with over 20
new companies setting up headquarters in the state, and also with the emergence of new legislation passed into law including the state's first "Green Jobs Act." Matt Porter reports on companies and training programs now operating in the state.

A sports debut

This week I had the chance to produce a complete sportscast for BUTV-10's Midday News. It was a great experience, although I think I should probably stick to the news.




Today's Sports:

The Boston Celtics pull out a 111-109 double overtime squeaker against the Charlotte Bobcats. Former Patriot Dante Stallworth turns himself in to Florida police on DUI manslaughter charges. The Red Sox prepare to leave Florida for Fenway, and say their pitching staff is armed and ready. 150 Boston College students prepare to run the Boston Marathon for a school dedicated to teaching students with multiple disabilities. And the Boston Bruins seek to extend their winning streak to 4 games tonight against the Ottawa Senators.

IGF Screens at ISBCC

I'm pleased to say that "In Good Faith" had a very good reception at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center(ISBCC) last Sunday. About 100 people from all different communities filled the room to see the film. There was a little technical trouble early on, but eventually the film went off without any more glitches.

Below are a few pictures from the event.

Boston bans sale of tobacco in pharmacies and on college campuses

If you're looking to buy your next pair of cigarettes, you better check where you're going. The Boston Public Health Commission has banned the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and convenience stores located in college campuses. The ban began on Monday February 9, effecting about 100 stores within the city of Boston.

Pharmacist Gregory Laham has mixed feelings about the ban. "Its difficult to lose one customer, let alone lose 20 or 30 a day," said Laham, "but my feelings are as a pharmacist, how can you reconcile selling cigarettes? If you've got somebody that's on numerous heart medications, its tough filling prescriptions for them and then having them go buy two packs of cigarettes in your store."

Thawing out the blog

Okay...it has been almost a month since my last post. The last few weeks have been some of the busiest so far this year. With that said, I have a lot of great news.

First, I have an update in my Fulbright status. I have made it past the second round of deliberations and my application is now under final review. Also, many of my friends on campus also got good news on their applications as well. Congratulations BC!

Last week, I also had the chance to join my friend Orhan, a Cambridge College grad student I met at the TCC, for some delicious soup, tea, and Turkish desserts. Orhan introduced me to a really, great Turkish musician, Bariş Manço (pronounced Barish Mancho). I can only describe him as an eclectic musician because some of his songs are really folky, others are more new age, some sound like disco, etc etc. Here is a photo from one of his very early music videos.


Also, it looks like there will be a screening of "In Good Faith" at the Roxbury Mosque on March 22. The screening is tentatively scheduled for 6PM, and will include a panel of those involved including someone from the Muslim American Society and Father Raymond Helmick, S.J.

That's it for now. I've also been very busy finishing a video for Citizen Schools, a non-profit interested in providing better after school options for inner city students, and also a report for my TV Newsroom class on Boston's new cigarette ban. I will be posting those soon.

New year, new changes for the MBTA

Commuters are turning to the MBTA in record numbers since the
beginning of the nation's oil crisis in 2008. Meanwhile, the MBTA is
trying to avoid severe cuts and fare increases while enacting new
programs to manage the increased ridership. At the same time, an 8
billion dollar debt weighs down the MBTA budget, the largest of all the
nation's transit authorities.