WSEM 21 Challenge

Open Letter of Thanks to WSEM Junior Advisory Board Members

2008-11-21T14:55:00.003-05:00

Dear WSEM Junior Advisory Board Members:

On behalf of everyone associated with West Side Ecumenical Ministry I would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to the WSEM Junior Advisory Board for your innovation, perseverance and leadership in the inaugural WSEM 21 Challenge. You took a powerful idea and translated it into practical, effective action with positive long-term consequences for Clevelanders in need.

Because of you, more people understand the challenges that thousands of our fellow citizens with low incomes face everyday. Living on the average food stamp equivalent for one week created awareness, sent a message of advocacy on behalf of our struggling friends and neighbors, and compelled Clevelanders to help by sponsoring your efforts. All funds generated will benefit those seeking food and referral services through WSEM's three food centers at Brookside, Community Corner and Near West.

Again, thank you for your efforts and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

In gratitude,

Holly Brinda
WSEM VP of Advancement

P.S. Many thanks are also extended to Charter One Bank for piloting this project as an organization and all of the employers, sponsors and friends of the 21 Challenge participants who helped make this project possible.

360 Perspective

2008-11-21T13:04:00.002-05:00

Anderson Cooper weighs in on Hunger in America.

Congratulations and Thank You!

2008-11-21T10:09:00.006-05:00

Congratulations to my fellow Challengers. We did it!!! I echo Nicole's sentiments below. This was certainly a CHALLENGE, but unfortunately it is a daily reality for over 1,000,000 Ohioans. Please consider continuing this effort in one of the ways I described below.

A huge, heartfelt thanks to my sponsors - your support of me and WSEM is sincerely appreciated. Please know that your donations will go directly to helping those in need in Northeast Ohio this winter and make an enormous difference right here in your community. A special thanks to you superstars that donated more than $21.

My awesome sponsors:
Paul Neundorfer
Greg Gale
Anne Marie Witmer*
Adam Fuller*
Amie LaBahn*
Mike Leonakis
Stephanie Seeley
Dave Bujdos*
Jake Derenthal*
Amanda Miller
Doug Tayek
Jen Fewell
Amy Asseff (who also sponsored Sunny!)
Cathy Sussman
Chris Lange (thanks, sis!)
Terri Fogel-Postel
Ari Katanick
Caroline Williams*
Sarah Shatila (who also sponsored Sunny!)
Laura Mimura*
Marie Donofrio
John Paul Lucci
Christine Ballard
Kathy Szawiejko (thanks, Mom!)
Ann & Mike Komar (thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!)
Brandon Davis (who also sponsored Sunny!)

*superstar sponsors that donated over $21.

THANKS!

-Ann

Our challenge, their reality

2008-11-21T09:32:00.003-05:00

We made it. One whole week on $21 or less. Good for us. But, as my co-challengers have mentioned, this is not our reality. It is, however, the reality for more of our neighbors than we probably realized. While we had the luxury to approach this week as a logistic puzzle, an accounting problem, a -- dare I say -- Challenge, the individuals and families who actually use food stamps had to wake up today and do it all over again. So, while I am happy that it is over, proud (and a little surprised) that I succeeded, I have to be careful not to be too self-congratulatory. I chose to survive on $21 for a week. If my willpower had failed me, and I just had to have a latte, I could have done it. Guilt aside, I still had the option to stop at Starbucks if I really wanted to. The cash was just sitting there in my purse, after all.

Nicole

6 hours to go!

2008-11-20T17:31:00.008-05:00

What a week it has been, and only 6 hours to go!

What you see on the right is all I have left, 22 bags of tea (out of 100) and 1/3 of a bag of good old Bob's Red Mill TVP! Link here to see what I started with. All said, I ended up with around $1.54 of food left. I still can't believe I consumed an entire jar of peanut butter in seven days. It will be a while before I shop the Jif aisle again!

Many of the participants have discussed the hardest parts of this challenge with one another during the week. For me, the toughest thing was definitely not being able to choose from all the wonderful food in our community. No Johnny Mango quesadilla big plates, no spicy tomato soup from Moko Coffee Shop, no fresh fruit salad from the CSU snack bars. I budgeted my dollars in such a way that I couldn't afford any fresh produce for that matter, something I will reconsider when taking the 21 Challenge again next year. And yes, there will be another campaign in 2009! Next year, we hope to take our initiative to the a whole new level, working with area companies to find participants within the business community, and hopefully, a state representative or two will join in our challenge!

We have had interesting conversations with people curious about the challenge. It has been thought provoking, and very touching. Frequently, you would hear someone talk about how they realized their morning coffee shop run was "two days of food for you!". We need to remember that people in our community do this every day. Many of these neighbors turn to WSEM for assistance through these tough times, and we are so proud of the many sponsors who helped support our mission through their pledges.

I applaud my fellow participants, particularly our wonderful Junior Advisory Board Chair Ann Netzel, who shows such tireless dedication to WSEM day in and day out.

Finally, I dedicate my efforts this week to my fabulous sponsors: Paulette Adams-Flash, Amy Asseff, Sue Atkinson, Tom Barberic, Nancy DaPra, Brandon Davis, Bill Dunlap, Carl Dyczek, Luke Elsass, Dave Gunning, Matt Hildebrand, Lawry Hubert, Brent Keller, Jason Lansdale, Dan & Carrie Malatesta, Danny McGreal, Carlos & Jane Molina, Louise Mooney, Anna Mae Nixon, Kathleen Pelletier, Mark Sarlson, Sarah Shatila and Doug Spiker. For your support, I am so very thankful.

Yours,

Sunny

The final day...

2008-11-20T12:40:00.004-05:00

I have never been more excited for a Thursday in my entire life. Today is the final day of our Challenge and I for one am hoping to not have to eat another peanut butter sandwich for a very, very long time.

After my lunch today, I will have the following food left:
1 egg
9 slices american "cheese product"
1 heel of bread
2 pkgs ramen
small amount of peanut butter

For dinner tonight I plan on using the ramen and PB to make delicious "thai" peanut pasta - I will cook both packages of ramen, drain them and add the remaining peanut butter and some soy sauce (courtesy of the sushi counter at Giant Eagle). Delicious!

So tomorrow when I wake up will I continue to eat on $3 a day? No. Why not? Because it is not realistic. It is not realistic to assume that I could continue this, nor that anyone else should have to. $3 a day is simply not enough money to buy nutritious food. But I will wake up tomorrow, as I have every day for the last 7 days, with a renewed appreciation for what families in Northeast Ohio and across America face every day. This is not a 7-day Challenge for them. It is a 365-day Challenge.

As the Challenge ends, we must continue this project in other ways:
-For those that are financially able, make a donation to programs like WSEM that provide families with hot meals, pantry food and outreach services.
-Educate yourself about hunger issues. The Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland's website is a great resource to start with.
-Volunteer at a local food pantry, hot meal program or the Cleveland Foodbank.
-Take action! Write a letter to your congressperson to voice your concerns over the food stamp program. The recently passed Farm Bill of 2008 was a small step forward in getting the qualification levels for food stamps lowered while increasing food stamp benefits, but there is much more to be done. The cost of food continues to rise at a pace far greater than the increase in benefits. Additionally, recipients need to be provided with more information on how to make healthy, nutritious choices with the benefits they receive. You can write to any of the three U.S. Representatives on the House Committee on Agriculture: Zach Space, Jean Schmidt or Robert Latta. You can also write to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry and a member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Food Assistance.

Thank you to everyone for their support of this Challenge!

-Ann

Hunger and Stress

2008-11-20T07:18:00.003-05:00

Hunger and the struggle to find healthy foods is hard and it effects everything.
My first few days of this challenge did not see a problem in finding the food or managing my dollars, I relied on pasta, canned veggies and fruit although I didn't eat as much as I did previously. I also wasn't thinking about a food stamp stipend for my wife and 2 kids or my son's food allergies. I did find a grocery store out of town and managed my food in another city. However, it has caused issues with other facets of my life. Worrying about food and money in a more extreme fashion and not eating as well has effected my energy and attitude in a negative way. Say now you are leading a family, working part time and have the real issue of how to choose between grocery money, going to a food pantry or evening meal and paying for your monthly bills (more people than ever are going to food pantries and pantries are getting less food...read here). Here is the where the hunger and poverty become complicated. It really comes down to this, where are other community resources, how good am I at budgeting, what I am responsible for, etc.

I also wanted to attach part of an article from the Akron Beacon Journal from June of this year. I think it puts the regional rise in food assistance in perspective.

The Beacon Journal wrote in Jun 08, 2008 the following: Nearly one in 10 state residents — or 1.08 million people — received food stamps last year, according to statistics from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.That overall number has climbed by more than 208,000 in the past five years — a 24 percent increase.And counties are reporting an even heavier influx of applications since the beginning of the year.Stark County experienced a record-high in April with more than 37,000 people getting food stamps. That same month, 27,511 families in Summit County received help — about 2,000 more than the average last year.Food stamp recipients rise 40% in Portage ''The people who were wondering 'Should I or shouldn't I?' are coming through our doors now because there is no other option,'' said Victoria Berbelis-Borden, who oversees the program for Summit County.The federal food stamp program, which expanded across the U.S. in 1974, provides money for low-income families and individuals to buy food. Nationwide, there are an average of 27.5 million people receiving benefits each month.A family of four earning less than $2,238 a month might be eligible for up to $542, depending on if they meet certain criteria.Reasons why more people are using food stamps today because of the increasing cost of gas and groceries, and job losses, experts said. With more money going to gas, for example, the working poor have fewer dollars to spend on food, they said.''As factories and businesses continue to close around the state, that's going to continue to affect the number of people who are on food stamps,'' said Brian Harter, a spokesman with the state Department of Job and Family Services.Last year in Ohio, $1.3 billion worth of food stamps were handed out, up 45 percent from five years earlier. The average monthly benefit was $102. (That average already has risen $5 this year.)''When people think about the hungry, they think of a homeless person walking down the street without food,'' said Debby Missimi, director of food services for Family and Community Services, which offers hot meals and has food pantries in Kent and Ravenna.''With this economy, that's not the case. It could be your neighbor. It could be someone in your family. It could be someone who sits next to you in church. In this economy, the face of hunger has changed.''Life can change quickly Teresa Croasmun, 51, never thought she would need food stamps.But the one-time nursing assistant ended up on disability for a mental condition years ago. And her husband, Timothy, 47, lost his decent paying job at a tool and die shop in Cleveland.They lost their house in Bedford. Then, their mobile home in Streetsboro.Now they live in a cramped second-floor apartment in a subdivided house in Ravenna. Their 6-year-old daughter lives with relatives.They started getting $60 a month in food stamps last December and still seek help from local food pantries to get by. The Center of Hope Christian Cupboard in Ravenna and Streetsboro Church of Christ's food pantry have been godsends.''It's not the way I was raised,'' Teresa Croasmun said while sitting barefoot in her living room. ''We were raised to be independent and provide for ourselves.''She always envisioned she would be the one handing out the food — not one of the people who needs the help. She chuckled at the thought.Timothy recently landed a minimum-wage job doing packaging at a company in Kent. The only downfall is getting there. They also might lose their food stamps because of his job.''It's looking like I can't even afford to get him to work,'' she said, alluding to the gas prices.Food stamps are helpful, she said, but there is a drawback. They can be used only for food. She wishes toilet paper was allowed under the program.Still, she considers herself lucky to receive food stamps.''We're grateful it's there,'' she said.Another reason In addition to the growing need for help, the increase in the number of people using food stamps could be related to the lessening stigma of being on public assistance, some experts said. Several years ago, actual food stamps were done away with and recipients now receive an Ohio Direction Card that operates similar to a debit card.''Some people may have been hesitant to stand in line at the food store and peel off food stamps,'' said Donn Aukerman, assistant director of the Wayne County Department of Job and Family Services. ''But now, a guy swipes his VISA and the next guy swipes American Express and the next guy swipes an Ohio assistance card and nobody is the wiser.''However, Teresa Croasmun and her neighbor Judy Deffenbaugh, 57, who has been on food stamps since the mid-1990s, disagreed.Some people still stare at them at the store with that ''get a job'' look in their eye, Teresa Croasmun said.''We're liked and we're not liked,'' Deffenbaugh said.One problem for many people on food stamps is that they don't stretch as far as they have in the past because of price increases at the grocery store.That's put a strain on food banks and pantries, where people are turning when the money runs out.''What we're seeing at the hunger centers is that they help but they don't last all month,'' said Josie McElroy, director of development for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is distributing 10,000 pounds more per day now than last year. A portion of that can be explained by the food bank moving into a larger facility, McElroy said.Need spreading The need also is spreading out of urban cities into suburbs and rural areas. In the Akron region, the number of people receiving food stamps in Medina, Portage and Wayne counties is increasing at a faster rate than the urban counties of Cuyahoga, Stark and Summit.Medina — one of the fastest growing counties in the state in terms of population — has experienced a jump of 42 percent in the past five years. The amount of money being handed out there climbed from $3.8 million to $6.3 million.Meanwhile, Portage and Wayne have seen the number of food stamp recipients rise 40 percent and 31 percent, respectively, over the same time period.Wyandot County, the home of Upper Sandusky in Northcentral Ohio, had the largest percentage jump in the state at 59 percent — although that represented an increase of only 349 people.Fairfield County, just southeast of Columbus, was second at 57.2 percent. The others in the top five were: Van Wert (54.8 percent), Williams (50.1 percent) and Ottawa (50 percent). ''[The economy is] even catching up in the rural areas,'' Aukerman said. ''There are fewer jobs and a need for more assistance.''Only one county in Ohio had a decrease in the number of people receiving food stamps. Nine fewer people received benefits last year in Holmes, a rural area filled with Amish who generally don't use public assistance programs.As expected, the biggest increases by number were in the urban counties. Franklin County, the home of Columbus, had the amount of food stamp recipients grow by 28,294 or 31.7 percent over the five-year period. Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Montgomery and Lucas followed. Summit, the fourth-most populated county, was sixth with an increase of 8,421 or 19 percent.''I don't see any end to it,'' Summit's Berbelis-Borden said. ''It really is scary.''Beacon Journal Nearly one in 10 state residents — or 1.08 million people — received food stamps last year, according to statistics from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Peanut Butter Sandwiches: Coming Soon to a TV Near You!

2008-11-19T14:09:00.004-05:00

Ann and I would like to thank Dave Summers of WKYC for interviewing us over lunch today. Our segment is expected to air on Thanksgiving Day. Channel 3 has long been a supporter of WSEM initiatives, and for that we are very thankful!

-Sunny

The best 16 cents I've ever had!

2008-11-18T09:38:00.004-05:00

I made it through my first real work day on the Challenge yesterday. I was a little unsure of how it would go, considering that as a middle school teacher, I am often surrounded by free food -- my colleagues bring in innumerable goodies, my students bring in junk food for advisor time, and I get a delicious free lunch every day. (I'm not kidding about the lunch being delicious, either! Anyone who has ever eaten in Hathaway Brown's dining hall knows that I speak the truth!)

Yesterday I ate my PB&J in my classroom, in solitude. Sad, because lunch is often the only time during the day that I get to talk to adults. During advisor time, my girls baked cookies and then actually figured out the cost per cookie (16 cents) so that I could eat one and "charge myself" for it! After nearly four days with no sweets, those were the best 16 cents I've ever had!

I also heard from an HB alum living in Florida who read about the Challenge in the school e-bulletin and pledged her support. Thank you, Ms. Deprez (class of '47)!

Tonight will mark the end of my pot roast. Farewell, my faithfully filling friend! You were worth every $1.60-per-serving I spent on you! Sure, you forced me into 40-cent breakfasts, but I forgive you.

Nicole

TGIM!!!

2008-11-17T17:13:00.003-05:00

"In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. The young they keep out of mischief; to the old they are a comfort and aid in their weakness, and those in the prime of life they incite to noble deeds."

I never thought I'd wish for a Monday; I can't believe I just typed that! I'm also glad to be working during tonight's Browns game because yesterday was no picnic. A picnic would have had better food.

I love Sundays. If the Browns are in town I'm in the Muny lot by 8:30 and then at the game or watching somewhere. I usually consume a month's worth of food stamps in one afternoon. This Sunday though was depressing (luckily the Browns didn't play I might have been in a coma.) Before I start your mouth watering with my tailgate menu, lets recap Saturday.

Lunch (4 pm)

A pizza! (Yes, it was pizza, but it was just missing something)
PB and crackers (I eat these with almost every meal and as snacks)

Dinner (1 am)

2 hot dogs
Yes PB crackers
Left over pizza crust from lunch and some egg salad

SUNDAY FOOTBALL PARTY!!!

Lunch (2 pm)

I used one of my pizza doughs to make flatbread
Hummus
Egg sandwich on toast

Dinner (11 pm)

Hummus on flatbread and crackers
Hot dog
PB on toast

It's strange I now consider bread and toast basically two different foods! The redundancy of these meals is starting to get mundane. This factor was one of my biggest hurdles going into the challenge. I love to cook and it's difficult making meals exciting when you don't have much to work with. I miss meat! No, hot dogs don't qualify. I knew I wouldn't be starving, but this is becoming depressing.

Mother Nature is not helping out in any way either. I would love some warm comfort food to brave the cold or a cup of hot chocolate as I watch some tv. I have a can of soup, but I'm saving it for a special occasion. I might mix it with some pasta and make a casserole. My unhealthy feeling might mean the demise of a frozen bag of veggies.

I know many people who seemingly fight off the winter blahs with eating binges. I feel like that for the first time ever, but a peanut butter binge doesn't seem very soothing. These days have made me realize how we rely on food not just for energy and nutrition; but for socializing, entertainment, comfort, healing and just wasting time.

I am also withholding a large can of pineapple until I can't take it anymore. The juice will also be my only flavored beverage of the week. I am staring at it right now across the desk. I just had to turn the label around so it wasn't looking at me. Maybe I'll name it "Wilson."

Well, on to today's lunch menu:

2 hot dogs (actually cooked on charcoal, I can't wait!)
hummus
banana
and might as well throw in some of those PB crackers (an old family recipe)

I bid you good eating, stay warm,

Chris

ps - day four, it's all downhill from here right?

We are thankful.

2008-11-17T16:56:00.002-05:00

The response to our Challenge has been overwhelming, but one response in particular is definitely worth noting -

Saint Luke's Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio has just made a very generous $2,100 donation to WSEM in support of the WSEM 21 Challenge. Each year, Saint Luke's Foundation makes a $1,000 grant to an area program that provides basic needs in lieu of sending holiday cards. They have chosen WSEM as this year's recipient and in the spirit of the Challenge, have increased the donation to $2,100.

The generosity of all our sponsors, especially Saint Luke's Foundation, is truly inspiring.

THANK YOU!

Have food, will travel.

2008-11-16T20:55:00.003-05:00

I traveled out of town this weekend, which made things a bit more difficult, but I packed up my food and took it on the road with me. I can't remember the last time I took a road trip without Starbucks, but my water bottle full of refreshing tap water would have to do! I ended up staying in on Friday night because I was too exhausted (I think the lack of caffeine is starting to catch up with me!) and I have to admit I was glad to not have to go out to a bar and order water all night long.

I went to the movies on Saturday night and I was oh so excited to go to the store first to buy a $0.69 bag of Reese Pieces to smuggle in with me. And on Sunday came the real treat - my trip to McDonalds! I normally don't eat fast food, but I was looking forward to this meal more than any that I could remember. I think I must have stood in front of the dollar menu for what seemed like an eternity to the cashier and finally ordered a small fry, diet coke and a double cheeseburger. I even re-filled my soda before I left - I was going to get my $3.20 worth out of this meal!

I've found in the first 3 days that I am thinking more about food than I ever have. Wondering what I am going to eat and when....and worrying that I am going to run out of food and not have enough money to buy more. I have to imagine that is a worry that many families have. We are only doing this experiment with the one aspect of our lives - food - but for families depending on food stamps, they also have to go through this struggle to determine if they can fill up at the gas pump, buy a new winter coat or even go to see a movie - all things that I did this weekend without a second thought.

Throughout this experience many of my generous friends have offered to buy me lunch, make me dinner or sell me food...and to each of them I respond the same way - if you are able, make a donation to help the families and children in Northeast Ohio who truly need our help.

-Ann

Why are we doing this?

2008-11-16T19:58:00.003-05:00

One major reason:

Cleveland-area food pantires struggle to keep their shelves full, posted just yesterday on Cleveland.com.

While the 21 Challenge certainly is about our belief that a $21 food stamp award is not enough, it is also a call to action for each and every one of us to contribute what we can to organizations like WSEM who provide supplementary aid to members of our community.

We hope that your are inspired enough by our effort to make a 100% tax deductible contribution to WSEM, and as always we thank you for your consideration.

2008-11-16T16:29:00.003-05:00

At the close of Day 3, I wanted to briefly share my grocery shopping experiences. The first stop was an intense hour-long in-aisle price comparison of store-branded products at Giant Eagle, where $8.81 later, I had more than 1/2 of the food I thought would get me through the week. My next stop was the West Side Market where I spent another $9.25 in a series of barter exchanges akin to what you might see in a Turkish marketplace. The booth owners were okay sports and I think secretly enjoyed the back-and-forth haggling. In the end, I did pretty well. For instance, I bought a single lime for $0.25 and had a butcher sell me 1/2-pound of fresh ground turkey breast for $0.80.

The complexity comes tomorrow when I leave for Chicago for a day of meetings. I plan to wake up at about 5 am so that I can take the time to make a large breakfast and still get to my flight on time, rather than my norm of leaving myself 15 minutes to make my flight and buying something at the airport. I am allotting $2.50 for lunch (which will bring my total spend to $20.56), hoping to run into a decent Chicago street vendor, and have also scheduled my flight home to get me back in time to make dinner. Normally, food is the last thing on my mind when I travel, but I find it now becoming one of the primary mechanisms influencing the actions of my day.

3 days down. 4 to go.

Joe

IT'S NOT DELIVERY, IT'S . . . $1.20. (sigh)

2008-11-15T16:26:00.000-05:00

“Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit."

First off, I would like to put the suffering that I will endure until Friday morning into perspective. As a manager at Great Lakes Brewing Company, I am constantly surrounded by temptation. No snagging a piece of bacon as I walk through the kitchen; no refreshing beer after work. I am now an observer. I'm imprisoned in these very walls by taunts of, "hey, I'll sell you a french fry for two cents!" No, we're not going out like that. I am on the straight and narrow. Will power and the spirit of resilience will overcome

Alas . . . resilience! One two pound bag of flour: $1.59. Yeast: $0.25. One large can of tomato sauce: $1.00. Two bags of shredded cheese: $4.38. The finished product: Six, 10 inch pizzas. BOOOYAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

Actual food, that tastes like food! It's not going to score many points in a throwdown with Booby Flay, but it can certainly trick my taste buds for a few meals. Then, back to . . . well . . . leave me alone and let me enjoy a small victory.

On Friday I consumed:

LUNCH (4 pm)
One egg salad sandwich (which I was very happy with)
One piece of toast with peanut butter (If you took the Pepsi Challenge with Value Time vs Peter Pan or Skippy or whatever, you'd be pleasantly surprised)
One banana

DINNER (1 am)
One peanut butter sandwich
Half a sleeve of saltine crackers with more egg salad

Last night I also shook off the notion of becoming a hermit for an evening and ventured out with some friends. These friends enjoy the same fondness for socializing over food and drinks that I do. So how did it go?

[insert cricket chirp sound effect here]

Until later, I bid you good eating,

Chris

What the heck is TVP?

2008-11-15T11:25:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

Many people have asked about what I would refer to as the "mystery meat" of my shopping list, Bob's Red Mill TVP. I'm telling you from experience; TVP is a miracle worker when it comes to satiety! Just add it to your regular recipes for instant nutrition.

According to Bob's website, TVP is made from reduced-fat soybeans and is used to replace or extend ground meats. It packs a punch with 12 g of protein in just 1/4 cup, about 24% of what you need in a day. Each serving also contains 4 g of fiber, and barely any sodium. I have to laugh at the strange looks people give me when hearing about TVP. It really isn't that weird or frightening! It looks a little bit like cous cous, and takes on a variety of flavors. Don't fear the TVP!

Many grocery chains carry TVP. Just look for it around the bakery or organic food aisles where other Bob's Red Mill products are stocked. It's a great supplement to any recipe, and wonderful for vegetarians, athletes or anyone who strives for a heart-healthy diet.

--Sunny

MYTHBUSTERS

2008-11-15T11:21:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder about the relationship between food stamps and welfare? What about the cost to taxpayers?

Check out what the New York City Coalition Against Hunger has to say.

1 down, 6 to go

2008-11-15T09:29:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we had the option of working from home -- a rare option for teachers, as you can imagine. Yesterday was also the luncheon that our new principal planned for the faculty. Hmmm...do I stay at home, safely away from temptation, or do I attend the luncheon and demonstrate my amazing willpower abilities? So, I worked from home yesterday.

Turned out to be a good call on two fronts: first, based on the emails I received, the workday began with hot, fresh Panera bagels in the faculty lounge and ended with ice cream cake; second, while I was out running a few errands, my crock pot runneth over, flooding the countertop with at least seven cents of pot roast juices. If I had been gone all day, who knows what could have happened? Can a dry pot roast spontaneously combust?

Nicole

14.85 and counting

2008-11-14T21:19:00.000-05:00

Of all the paths taken to 21 dollars spent on food and drink, mine is probably the least healthy. Before going to Giant Eagle last night, I decided what my general eating regiment over the next week would be: cheap cereal for breakfast, no lunch, cheap food for dinner, two 2 liters of Sprite for drinks and a box of Cheez-its for snacks. I wasn't quite sure what I would get for dinner, except I wanted to spend 15 dollars or less total at the grocery store so I could have enough left for a couple cheap fast food meals at Taco Bell. I would up getting a gallon of milk, a giant sized box of Honeycomb ceral (3.19), the Cheez-its, and two Sierra Mists (1.34 each, Sprite was 1.89). Finally, I discovered a meal for quasi-dinners: a "Tina" bean burrito for only 56 cents! (I got 5). 14.85 all told.

I think I got through the hardest part today: my office had a celebration for a coworker going on maternity leave and they brought in chocolate chip muffins, which are one of my all-time favorites and which I normally domineeringly consume without allowing others their rightful share. I showed remarkable restraint for me by eating only one of the six. I calculated the percent cost of one at 75 cents, and decided to forgo one of my fast food meals. That actually brings down my total expected expenditure to only roughly 20.00, so I decided the balance will permit me to finish the 1/5th of a gallon of milk I have remaining from earlier (no need to waste a perishable) . I'll keep my options open on how to spend the remaining 25 cents or so I should have left...

It does make you think about those who actually have to do something like this as a constant necessity, instead of a singular experiment.

Andy

WHERE YOU AT RACHEL RAY? $40? WEAK!

2008-11-14T12:12:00.000-05:00

“The right time to eat is: for a rich man when he is hungry, for a poor man when he has something to eat."

I believe I somewhat had my head in the clouds, as this challenge now seems more difficult as first thought. Not that the adrenaline rush created by the excitement of starting something new has wore off; but my "grocery" shopping definitely knocked me down a peg.

I obviously wasn't destined for Whole Foods or Trader Joe's; and wanted to skip over Giant Eagle, so I envisioned Sav A Lot as my one-stop-shop for all that is inexpensive. Yeah, if I was in the market for junk food on the cheap, tortured produce or A 10 LB. BAG OF RICE!!!

Good evening Giant Eagle shoppers . . . Luckily I didn't arrive on an empty stomach and fought off cravings for what I call "luxury items." Past the artisanal cheese island . . . left at the organic vegetable crisps . . . blew right by the Formula 50 Vitamin Water (my favorite!) . . . not even a glance at the fresh seafood oasis; I don't want to see it, not even in my peripheral! Oh, here we are . . . petrified pasta and boring pureed tomato!

I too spent more than an hour bargaining with my stomach in those aisles. At least it was after 1:00 am so my tears went pretty much unseen. Brand names became a foreign language. The bottom shelf became my best friend. Quality? I wanted quantity. I kept a running total of my spending in my head. (bad idea) My cart became increasingly full of items that increasingly seemed necessary. "It's only a dollar," I would reassure myself.

I was constantly trading out items for new discoveries around every turn. I often walked back several aisles to restock a can because I found two more ounces for five less cents. At one time my cart was presumably considered abandoned as I returned to find an employee piling its "massive" contents into his arms. Frustrated and overwhelmed I headed to the check-out.

I was surprised not to be greeted by Bob Barker; as my scavenger hunt would now conclude with a pricing game in lane three. With each "beep" of a bar code I became closer and closer to ultimate failure and then probably getting booed off stage while spinning the Big Wheel. I don't remember rice costing so much! Fruit isn't THAT good for you, right? Is this even my cart?

The ice finally broke when I had to flag down the clerk to come over and void my purchase of turkey. Seriously? I have never had to return something at the grocery store. Or choose two final items when the sum of the ten potential choices totaled $7.00. How demoralizing.

I ended up buying more than allowed because I simply couldn't decide and had already invested too much time in this usually cerebral activity. If I like it . . . I get it. I now have to re-shop my shopping and select the items I will consume over the next week. As I needed to pack my lunch this morning, I am already locked in with these:

Value Time White Bread: $.69
GE Large Eggs: $1.70
3 bananas: $.65
Value Time Peanut Butter: $1.39

TOTAL: $4.43

After hearing closing arguments from Tuna and Hot Dogs this evening, I will reach my verdict.

Good Luck y'all, I bid you good eating,

Chris

Sunny thanks her sponsors!

2008-11-14T11:58:00.005-05:00

Friends,

The WSEM Junior Advisor Board isn't yet high tech enough to have one of those fancy scrolling bars to recognize our sponsors, so I've decided to create my own version here. You'll have to imaging the scrolling action.

Thanks so much to my contributors. If you have already made your donation online and I haven't recognized you, please feel free to shoot me an email.

MY SPONSORS:

Paulette Adams-Flash
Amy Asseff (who also sponsored Ann)
Brandon Davis (who also sponsored Ann)
Bill Dunlap
Carl Dyczek
Luke Elsass
Dave Gunning
Matt Hildebrand
Lawry Hubert
Brent Keller
Jason Lansdale
Dan & Carrie Malatesta
Danny McGreal
Carlos Molina
Jane Molina
Louise Mooney
Anna Mae Nixon (Thanks, Mom!)
Kathleen Pelletier
Mark Sarlson
Sarah Shatila (who also sponsored Ann)
Doug Spiker (a $42 double-pledge)

I reached my goal to find 21 total $21 sponsors for the week! Please feel free to continue donating. Sponsors will receive a very nifty 21 Challenge logo pin as well.

--Sunny

Oatmeal, Take One

2008-11-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

Good morning, fellow challengers and visitors!

Before I prepare my first (of many) oatmeal breakfasts, I thought I'd finish my ramblings from last night...

After hearing from Ann and Sunny about how they approached their shopping (with $21 in hand, getting the best they could), I began to think about how much work went into my method. Excel spreadsheet aside, I also scoured the grocery store ads for the best deals and used some coupons, which means I used the Sunday paper that landed on my step. Do I count the cost of the paper? I went to four stores (Walgreen's, Marc's, Dave's, Giant Eagle), which means I had the luxuries of my own car, enough free time, and the option to take my time shopping. While I could have walked to Dave's, the other three are not in my neighborhood. Finally, the process took a lot of time and patience. If I had to do this for real, all the time, I think I would be eating Ramen.
Nicole

Torture for an Italian girl

2008-11-13T17:41:00.000-05:00

I just returned from doing the bulk of my shopping, at Walgreen's of all places! I already did some shopping at Dave's, but after scouring the Sunday ads, found that WG's had some good deals. My current tactic for this challenge is going to be to make good food a la Grandma -- and eat the same thing every day. This replaces my original plan which involved a lot of mac and cheese and Ramen noodles. This change was made possible by my rock-star find: Buy One, Get One Free Pot Roast at Giant Eagle! Hello, crock pot!

So, this is what I got for my money:

Jif CREAMY Peanut Butter (eat your heart out, Ann!) $1.67
Smuckers Jelly (which I may not use) $1.67
Brownberry Bread $1.98
Whole Wheat Pasta (1-lb) $1.00 (it was 2/$3 and I had a 50 cent 0ff coupon that they doubled at Dave's)
Red Potatoes (5-lb bag) $2.99
Carrots (1-lb bag) $0.89
Oatmeal $1.40
eggs $1.50/dozen
milk $2.99/gallon
chicken stock $1.99/carton
egg noodles $1.00
pot roast $5.53 ($11.06, BOGO...I froze the other one)

OK, so technically, I spent $24.61, but I'm not going to eat the entire jar of PB or the bottle of jelly. I'll only eat half the pasta and egg noodles at most. I won't use all of the potatoes, milk or eggs, either. So, according to the cost-per-serving calculations I did on Excel (yes, I'm a geek), I will only consume $16.70 worth of the food this week. I don't think that's cheating. My thought was that (1) if I was cooking for a family, there would be more people eating, so it would make sense to cook/buy in larger quantities, and (2) nothing here is immediately perishable, so it is likely that the individual or family would have some items left over from the previous week , or that could be used the following week (like PBJ, pasta, eggs, even milk).

More to add later, but it's time for our meeting!

Nicole

HOW TO SPONSOR A 21 CHALLENGE PARTICIPANT

2008-11-12T22:51:00.000-05:00

Looking for information on how to sponsor a participant? Just visit the WSEM Online Donation Area, and make a secure donation. Team members encourage you to make a donation of $21, in the spirit of the challenge. Thank you for your consideration!

My 2 cents.

2008-11-12T18:47:00.001-05:00

Here goes nothing! I arrived at the store with a game-plan and a general budget. $20.98 later, I have my 21 Challenge food for the week. I texted Ann throughout my shopping, and we swapped stories about our disbelief at certain food prices. I am a bit of a health nut, and you can only imagine my disappointment as I realized I couldn't afford the regular high-fiber, low-sodium bread I am accustomed to purchasing. I tried to buy as many whole grain products as I could, but I did have to sacrifice ($0.89 for one whole grain mac & cheese meal, and $0.54 for the other).

On the theme of mac & cheese, I am luckily the rare consumer who makes hers sans milk and butter. Ann told me she had to forego this college-student staple, rather than shell out her limited funds to buy the milk & butter.

Adding to the difficulty of this challenge, I am a vegetarian. I opted to buy a rather pricey product, Bob's Red Mill TVP (Textured vegetable protein; I know, you're all so jealous.), so that I could add a dietary supplement to my otherwise lacking soups and pastas. It doesn't taste like much, but I already add TVP to many of my recipes, and I thought it may help me feel full and energetic longer.

When the time came to plan my pasta dinners, I must admit that I spent a few extra cents to purchase Newman's Own Sockarooni Sauce. I have always admired Paul Newman's dedication to philanthropy and development of healthy products. Mr. Newman and his company have already donated over $250 million in profits to worthy causes. What a legacy! This was a little reminder to myself that even in the times of great need, we can all make choices that give back to others.

I know you're all chomping at the bit (I can't help but thrown in another food reference.) to know what I'll be eating this week. Here's the breakdown:

Peanut butter: $1.64

Mac & Cheese (non-whole grain): $0.54

Mac & Cheese (whole grain): $0.89

Cambell's Select Southwest Vegetable Soup: 3 x $1.44 = $4.32

Healthy Harvest Whole Grain Rotini: $1.52

Newman's Own Sockarooni Sauce: $1.74

Low Sugar Apple Oatmeal: $1.82

Orange Pekoe Tea: $1.87

Dutch Country Whole Wheat Bread: $2.00 (ON SALE! YAY!)

Bob's Red Mill TVP: $3.39

Chocolate Pudding Snacks: $1.25

Now about those pudding snacks. That was my very last purchase. I can't tell you how sad it made me to walk around the aisles of the local supermarket and try to pick something out with my last $1.27 for the week. Just a few of the things I had to pass buy: a can of pineapple, a jar of applesauce, Popsicles, a frozen burrito, a bag of pretzels, A TWENTY OUNCE SODA. These are the things we take for granted. We're not even talking about cake on our birthday or fresh fruit for a summer picnic or our favorite latte on a Sunday morning. Heck, I couldn't even afford to buy a Sunday paper by the time I had $1.27 left. I settled on the pudding snacks, as I thought it might be nice to have a sweet treat at least once in the week. I still can't believe I couldn't even afford mandarin oranges.

I left the checkout with exactly two cents. The challenge has not even started yet, but I feel like I have learned such an important lesson already. To my fellow participants, you are earning the right to give your two cents on this very important issue. So few of us truly understand what people who need to accept assistance in the way of food stamps go through every day. In my hour at the store, I felt demoralized, sad, as though I couldn't make healthy choices, and profoundly touched by the outreach services that WSEM and other social service organizations provide. I am reminded of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and my own hope that through our efforts, we can at least help in a small way to relieve the hungry people in our community of this dire need.

If you are not able to make a $21 Challenge pledge, I encourage you to give what you can. If your own funds are low, find a food center in your community and donate a couple hours of time.

I guess this is what they mean by food for thought. But that's just my two cents. . . .

--Sunny Nixon

$16.47 later...

2008-11-12T10:37:00.000-05:00

Last night I did my grocery shopping for the upcoming Challenge. I set off for the grocery store armed with $21 in cash and a calculator. I didn't realize that buying a handful of groceries was going to be so hard and take so long. Over an hour later, I emerged...

This is what $16.47* will buy:

Spaghetti Sauce - $1.50
Spaghetti - $1.09

3 bananas - $0.61
Coffee - $1.50

Peanut butter - $1.39

Cheese slices - $0.99

White bread - $0.69

5 pkgs. ramen - $1.00

Single serve pizza - $1.00

Cream cheese - $1.25

6 pk bagels - $1.99

Potato chips - $0.99

Baby carrots - $1.50

6 eggs - $0.97

*I actually spent $17.47 but realized when I got home that I didn't buy milk or butter to make the potatoes that I bought (on sale!) for $1.00, so those will have to wait.

I have to say, this was really hard. Much harder than I imagined it would be. When I walked in, I grabbed my bananas, but knew that I really couldn't afford much else in the way of fresh fruit. I quickly passed by the organic section where I would normally buy the bulk of my groceries. I was shocked to see that the box of cereal that I normally buy was $4.69! There was no way that was fitting into my budget this week.

I found myself immediately drawn to the sale signs and scanning the shelves for the cheapest of everything. Time after time as I chose food I normally wouldn't choose I felt ashamed and embarrassed. I wanted to be able to enjoy the fiber enriched, whole grain bread that I usually buy. But at almost $4 a loaf there was just no way - so I picked up a loaf of Valu Time white bread for 69 cents instead.

I knew I had to have peanut butter so I was excited to see a jar of Valu Time was only $1.39 -- but, they were out of creamy peanut butter! That meant I either had to eat crunchy, which I really don't like, or spend an entire dollar more to get the Giant Eagle brand of creamy. An entire dollar? No way! Crunchy it is.

Maybe I was overly sensitive, but I felt like people were watching me and judging me by what I had in my cart, which as evidenced by the photo above, is pretty unimpressive. I wanted to tell everyone - I know I shouldn't eat ramen noodles - but they're 20 cents a package! How quickly I threw my desire for nutritious and organic products out the window when I started to realize how little $21 was going to get me.

I had to make choices at the end - do I get waffles and syrup or eggs and coffee? Can I afford granola bars? These might seem like silly questions, but when you are trying to plan for an entire week you realize how hard this can be. And I am by myself - I can't imagine having to go through this planning for an entire family.

I ended up keeping some money out of my budget ($4.53) so that I could treat myself later in the week to a nice meal out - at McDonald's.

I left the grocery store feeling stressed out. I had three small bags with me - how was this going to last for an entire week???? Stay tuned...

-ann