Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Three DC Coordinators Visit Nicaragua
DC Coordinators Mike, Devon, and Lucy are currently in Nicaragua visiting and observing field operations. We look forward to posting pictures and stories from their trip (and scheduling a meeting to hear more about it) once they return. Coordinators are invited to attend this kind of trip once each year--a life-changing educational experience to say the least. We're so excited that three of our coordinators were able to participate and congratulate them on making the fight against global hunger such a priority in their lives.
Results of the Happy Hour Benefit at Tattoo Bar
Thank you to all of the volunteers who made an appearance at our Happy Hour Benefit on Thursday, July 10, at Tattoo Bar in DC, for passing along this information to your friends, and for helping to make our gathering a success. We had approximately 60 people attend between 5:30 to 9, and we collected $334.25 in donations at the door and another $129 in bar sales (we received 10% of the sales). Thank you to the staff at Tattoo Bar for assisting us with this event and providing us with this opportunity free of charge.
We're working on planning a variety of events in the upcoming months. Be sure to check back for more information!
We're working on planning a variety of events in the upcoming months. Be sure to check back for more information!
Wedding Gifts and WFP
It's wedding season in North America and many people we know have been filling their weekends celebrating with their friends and families at weddings. Mike (one our DC coordinators) recently mentioned the trend of couples asking for donations for charities in lieu of gifts. We all think this is a thoughtful, beautiful idea and a great way to help in the fight against global hunger.
If you know someone who is looking for a worthy charity, please be sure to mention WFP and send them our contact information (if they need or want additional details). In the wake of celebrating such a joyous occasion, we appreciate those who are willing to help those who are less fortunate.
If you know someone who is looking for a worthy charity, please be sure to mention WFP and send them our contact information (if they need or want additional details). In the wake of celebrating such a joyous occasion, we appreciate those who are willing to help those who are less fortunate.
Monday, July 7, 2008
WFP DC Needs Volunteers to Appear at Local Events
Heidi Van Fleet (one of our great volunteers) compiled this list of local events/activities in the upcoming months. Thank you to Heidi for taking the time to compose this list. We really appreciate it!
It would be great to have a presence at as many events as possible. If you're interested and available to attend on behalf of WFP DC for an hour (or longer! you determine how long) to pass out literature and answer questions about programs, please let us know. We would like to organize small groups of volunteers to attend different events.
We'll be working on a master calendar of events (and will update this list over time), so if you plan or want to attend something that isn't on this list, let us know. This list isn't meant to be exhaustive--just a place for us to start!
List of Events and Activities
July
As far as I can tell there is a free concert on the west capitol steps Monday through Thursday at 8 pm through August. Each night a different branch of the military performs (Navy, Army, Marine and Air Force). The Navy and Marines also do concerts at their respective memorials.
National Symphony Orchestra is doing a free concert at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Rock Creek Park on July 18 and 19.
The National Zoo has a free concert every Thursday through August 7th. It's at 6:30.
Monday nights, July 14th through August 11th is the Screen on the Green at the National Mall
July 18th and 19th is the Comcast Outdoor Film Festival in Alexandria
July 27th is the Occuquan River Festival that runs from 10am – 10pm
July 28th – August 2 is the Loudon County Fair
August
Carter Barron Amphitheater in Rock Creek Park is doing a free dance performance on August 2nd and has the annual Blues Festival on August 30th.
August 7th through 9th is the DC Comedy Fest held at 8 different locations throughout DC.
Maryland Renaissance Festival runs August 23rd through October 19th.
September
Kennedy Center Open House (I don't have a definite date yet).
October
October 4th and 5th the National Zoo hosts their Autumn Conservation Festival.
Regular Events
Farmers' Markets: There are dozens of them at different places and times throughout DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland.
Union Station: There are always people there catching trains, shopping, eating, sightseeing, and parking for the first couple hours is free.
Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center hosts a free concert every night of the week year round.
It would be great to have a presence at as many events as possible. If you're interested and available to attend on behalf of WFP DC for an hour (or longer! you determine how long) to pass out literature and answer questions about programs, please let us know. We would like to organize small groups of volunteers to attend different events.
We'll be working on a master calendar of events (and will update this list over time), so if you plan or want to attend something that isn't on this list, let us know. This list isn't meant to be exhaustive--just a place for us to start!
List of Events and Activities
July
As far as I can tell there is a free concert on the west capitol steps Monday through Thursday at 8 pm through August. Each night a different branch of the military performs (Navy, Army, Marine and Air Force). The Navy and Marines also do concerts at their respective memorials.
National Symphony Orchestra is doing a free concert at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Rock Creek Park on July 18 and 19.
The National Zoo has a free concert every Thursday through August 7th. It's at 6:30.
Monday nights, July 14th through August 11th is the Screen on the Green at the National Mall
July 18th and 19th is the Comcast Outdoor Film Festival in Alexandria
July 27th is the Occuquan River Festival that runs from 10am – 10pm
July 28th – August 2 is the Loudon County Fair
August
Carter Barron Amphitheater in Rock Creek Park is doing a free dance performance on August 2nd and has the annual Blues Festival on August 30th.
August 7th through 9th is the DC Comedy Fest held at 8 different locations throughout DC.
Maryland Renaissance Festival runs August 23rd through October 19th.
September
Kennedy Center Open House (I don't have a definite date yet).
October
October 4th and 5th the National Zoo hosts their Autumn Conservation Festival.
Regular Events
Farmers' Markets: There are dozens of them at different places and times throughout DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland.
Union Station: There are always people there catching trains, shopping, eating, sightseeing, and parking for the first couple hours is free.
Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center hosts a free concert every night of the week year round.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Aid Accepted by North Korea
There is a major food crisis in North Korea but aid to that country has been heavily restricted by the government. WFP has asked to help but has not been allowed to until now. Only approximately 1.2 million people are receiving food assistance through WFP, but it is believed that as many as 5 million people are in extreme need.
A report in the New York Times yesterday said that North Korea had agreed to allow 50 additional aid workers (10 UN workers were there already) and shipments of food into the country. An article today (also in the NYT) said that a freighter with 37,000 tons of wheat had arrived in Nampo (the north port), and that it was the first shipment of 500,000 tons that has been promised to this country by the WFP and other organizations.
International workers were first invited to North Korea in the food crisis of 1996 after which approximately 2 million people died. Bad harvests, rising grain and food prices, and less assistance from other countries (such as China and South Korea) are factors in the increasing serious food crisis in North Korea. WFP says that North Korea is facing a shortfall of approximately 1.5 million tons of grain--the worst shortfall since 2001.
North Korea has approximately 200 counties. Before the recent agreement had been reached, aid workers could only access 50 counties. Under the new agreement, 128 counties will receive assistance.
Want to know more? Check out this article on the WFP web site
http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2877
or this article on the NYT site
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/asia/01korea.html?ref=world
A report in the New York Times yesterday said that North Korea had agreed to allow 50 additional aid workers (10 UN workers were there already) and shipments of food into the country. An article today (also in the NYT) said that a freighter with 37,000 tons of wheat had arrived in Nampo (the north port), and that it was the first shipment of 500,000 tons that has been promised to this country by the WFP and other organizations.
International workers were first invited to North Korea in the food crisis of 1996 after which approximately 2 million people died. Bad harvests, rising grain and food prices, and less assistance from other countries (such as China and South Korea) are factors in the increasing serious food crisis in North Korea. WFP says that North Korea is facing a shortfall of approximately 1.5 million tons of grain--the worst shortfall since 2001.
North Korea has approximately 200 counties. Before the recent agreement had been reached, aid workers could only access 50 counties. Under the new agreement, 128 counties will receive assistance.
Want to know more? Check out this article on the WFP web site
http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2877
or this article on the NYT site
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/asia/01korea.html?ref=world
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