value of nothing, generosity and urban farming

Well, I don’t intend to not write on this blog, I just find less and less energy to turn on the computer and write especially when I coherently have something to write about. Any which way…

A week or so ago, out of the library I found came across a book that at least had an interesting title “The Value of Nothing” and upon further examination, was worth at least borrowing to see if it might be decent. Turned out to be heavy on economics, democracy, rights, and the free market. Not exactly my usual taste for books, but a lot of the concepts resonated with me and a bunch of new ideas were quite thought-provoking… the book is The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel.

I’m tempted to want to make this a long post about my thoughts on the book, but I’m just going to focus on this topic: the opposite of consumption isn’t thrift but GENEROSITY!

visit the Park – June 6th

As usual, it has certainly been awhile since our last trip down to Monroe Park (Feb 21st!), and the weather is getting a little bit nicer so it’s getting time to pull out some lighter clothing for sharing so…

a house of love and hope?

In catching up reading some of my blogs in my reader, I read across a lot from Flower Dust and her visit to India with Compassion International. It got me thinking though of places past that I’ve known where situations are similar. Can’t really say a lot of places exist like that in the US and then I remembered the single year I lived in Venezuela. And that one food drive my class did at the American international school I attended.
I remember loading up some trucks and our class (which was only 10-15 teens … that was when I was in 11th grade for the first time) and actually going out to a village. We handed out the food.

an external focus…

So that’s going to be the (attempted) focus. The community (as opposed to the internal being those that are part of the ‘church’. kinda divisive and separating but I’m sure there’s a better way to say it… anyway).

Last post covers a list of organizations relating to homelessness; but as Jesus outright told his disciples, “you will always have the poor among you” (Matthew 26:11). Clearly not meant to just ignore the issue… you know what I mean.

But, go back a chapter to Matthew 25 and read this:

“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, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”

There’s more that we can focus on. Much more!

Richmond homelessness organizations

It’s been a real while since posting, and I almost decided to stop. But… I think I may continue but focus a bit more, but then again, we’ll see how that goes.

I more or less just wanted to put out a list of area organizations dedicated to the homelessness:

1. Homeward – planning & coordinating organization for homeless services
2. Freedom House – community shelter, transitional housing and “intake”
3. Daily Planet -job training and health care center
4. Embrace Richmond – working to prevent homelessness by mobilizing people of faith through various programs such as UnityWorks
5. The Healing Place – homeless shelter and long-term recovery program
   
6. Home Again – nightly shelter and support services
7. CARITAS - area churches providing winter emergency shelter
8. Flagler Services – support specifically for homeless women and their families
9. Daughters of Zelophehad - transitional housing for women and their children
10. Hilliard House - assisting homeless women and their children
11. Safe Harbor – shelter and counseling for those experiencing domestic violence
12. CARITAS Community Sharehouse – transitional housing support (including furniture, employment and encouragement)
13. Virginia Supportive Housing – permanent housing and support services
14. Gateway Homes – transitional, residential treatment program for adults with mental illness
15. OAR - offender aid and restoration
16. CCHASM ^new! – Chesterfield & Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry
17. Chesterfield County Social Services ^new!
18. Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness ^new!