Project Thanksgiving

Low and behold time marches onward and it’s November.  Let that sink in a moment – NOVEMBER.  Christmas junk has been in the stores now for over a month (all hail the spirit of commercialism!), we’ve just turned the corner on Halloween, NaNoWriMo is underway (all the best to those participating!), Election Day is nigh (yes you should vote in the hopes that something will eventually change somewhere), Veterans Day too, and then Thanksgiving – one of my favorite holidays. 

“Why is that – Thanksgiving being one of your favorite holidays?”

Because it’s still genuine.  It’s untouched by the greed of other holidays.  Thanksgiving hasn’t sold out and, frankly, we need to pause and take account of all the blessings (yeah, that’s the right word) that we have and be thankful.  I don’t say this to make you feel guilty, Gentle Reader.  I say it because it is true.  I live in the South Jersey area and up the road in Atlantic City, five major casinos are closing.  That translates to a LOT of people out of work; a lot of families who are going to be scrambling to make the rent, buy food, or pay bills.  Forget, Black Friday; to paraphrase Billy Joel, surviving will be the noblest fight and, yes, even in surviving we can be thankful – it’s much better than the alternative.

If you would like to help ease the burden for some families in the South Jersey area this year I humbly suggest supporting the Project Thanksgiving Turkey Drive (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Thanksgiving-NJ/302695739793341).  The nuts and bolts are as follows:

On November, 22^nd from 9:00 – 5:00 PM, there will be collection points set up at both Shoprites in Vineland and the Shoprites in Millville and Bridgeton; as well as, the Mullica Hill and Sewell Shoprites and the Venice Italian Eatery in Pitman.  They will be accepting frozen turkeys, store certificates for free turkeys, cash, and checks payable to the Food Bank of South Jersey or the Salvation Army.

So there it is.  If you have a spare turkey consider giving it over to Project Thanksgiving on November 22^nd.   They have a way of uniting turkeys with people who need them.  It’s a win – win; you get extra space in your freezer and the knowledge that your turkey has done some good in the South Jersey area.  It’s a win – win because, even in these incredibly uncertain times, we have much to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

  

Nigel & Alex

 

Project Thanksgiving 2013

Do YOU have a spare frozen turkey!?  Would you consider helping people who live in Cumberland, Atlantic, or Gloucester Counties in New Jersey?  Yes?  Well, you may want to consider giving that frozen bird a good home for the holiday.  Yes, Project Thanksgiving 2013 is about to commence anew.  The Annual Turkey Drive is happening THIS WEEKEND, November 23d, from 9:00 – 5:00 PM.  Drop Off Points will be collecting frozen turkeys, cash, and checks payable to the Salvation Army of the Food Bank of South Jersey at these locations:

All four ShopRite locations in Cumberland County

The Mullica Hill & Sewell ShopRite locations in Gloucester

The Venice Italian Eatery in Gloucester County

The Buena Municipal Building in Atlantic County

That's this weekend, November 23d, from 9:00 - 5:00!

“Project Thanksgiving – what is that?”

Once more, Gentle Reader, I commend you on your attentiveness.  Project Thanksgiving hosts an annual Turkey Drive to aid with the Salvation Army, the Food Bank of South Jersey, Love Through Laces (who get shoes to homeless children), and with Family Promise (providing temporary shelter, food, & training for homeless families in the South Jersey area) to make sure that the turkeys and donations go to where they are needed most.  YOU can find Project Thanksgiving NJ on Facebook right here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Thanksgiving-NJ/302695739793341   

Stop by, you can drop off a turkey and, if you’re lucky, meet one...

This is Nigel

I know these are hard times.  But for some the times are a little harder than we could possibly be aware.  If you can, show Project Thanksgiving some love.  The humble power of putting ourselves aside and putting others first, I’ve seen it work firsthand.  It does not take much to touch someone’s life, to make a true and lasting difference.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Gentle Reader.  In the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us, every one.”

Thank you

Project Thanksgiving NJ & The Salvation Army

“May you live in interesting times.”

Gentle Reader, I humbly submit, with the economy as it is and mother nature as she’s been behaving (thank you, ‘Sandy’), these are interesting times.  It’s almost Thanksgiving and while there is much to be thankful for there are those who find these times not only interesting but also flat out hard.  Such times have ensured that some have it harder than others and that is where Project Thanksgiving & The Salvation Army step in.

Project Thanksgiving NJ is the brainchild of Alex Kaganzev and Steve Plevins.  It started about four years ago when the two wanted to help feed families working in conjunction with the Vineland chapter of the Salvation Army.  Project Thanksgiving has grown over the years to the point that it has extended beyond the Cumberland County area and into Gloucester County too.  The goal this year is to feed 1000 families with special attention paid to veterans and those returning from wars overseas.  Not a handout but a thank you.

“1000 families.  That’s a lot of people.”

Why yes, yes it is.  Especially when The Salvation Army’s shelves are stretched thin due to the immediate response to “Sandy”.  Food pantries across the state have felt the pinch so this particular blog entry is two-fold.  I am going to ask you to consider giving to TWO entities in one blog.  However, this is not as hard as it may sound. 

First, let’s talk turkey.  Project Thanksgiving’s Turkey Drive is going to be held on Saturday, November 17th at ShopRite supermarkets located in Millville, Upper Deerfield, Mullica Hill, Sewell, the TWO ShopRites in Vineland, and at the Cosmopolitan Restaurant (also in Vineland) from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  They will be collecting frozen turkeys, certificates for turkeys/hams, petty cash, or checks made payable to the Salvation Army.  The Daily Journal, the local newspaper here in the Vineland area published this article written by Stephanie Loder that does a fine job explaining the need further: http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20121110/NEWS01/311100058/Local-Project-Thanksgiving-puts-call-out-donations?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE.  Come on out ~ you just may have a chance to meet Nigel, Project Thanksgiving’s official mascot who was created and designed by Mrs. Gloucester County NJ herself, the lovely and talented Mrs. Kathy Ramos.  I can’t guarantee that Nigel will be there but, as with a great many things, you simply never know.

Secondly, there are a lot of empty shelves at the Salvation Army office in Vineland.  Hurricane Sandy blew their contents up north to go where they were needed.  They need to be restocked.  The people from the Salvation Army are often the first line of defense when the unexpected happens. There have been a lot of unexpected things happening recently. Keep them in mind the next time you head to the supermarket and drop them off something to restock.  It’s relatively painless.  Perhaps a bag of non-perishables or two during your next shopping trip.  We are a community.  We are part of something much more than ourselves.

All donations for the Vineland Salvation Army can be dropped off at their offices at 733 E Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360.  If you have any questions here’s their number: 856-696-5050 ext 201.

Project Thanksgiving NJ can be found on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Thanksgiving-NJ/302695739793341?ref=ts&fref=ts.  Like them on Facebook and show ‘em some love.  Their goal is to feed a thousand families this Thanksgiving.  Together, we can help them meet that goal.  Let’s share the harvest.  The blessings we have are not ours to keep.  Give ‘em away & spread ‘em around.

Thank you & God bless, Gentle Reader.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For Vick

If you have ever clicked onto this blog then you know that I am pretty good at the trivial.  Useless information is usually what I pedal here on the electronic pages of Chicken Scratch.  It’s what I do. 

However, this blog, My 828: http://www.my828.org/fifty-year-travel-plans/#comment-150, is not trivial in the least.  It is written by a man I met a few times (once at their wedding), his family, and his wife Victoria whom I graduated with in 1987.  Vick and I were friends in high school and for those of you playing at home that was 24 years ago.  (...Ouch.) 

A year ago Vick suffered a traumatic brain injury and the world changed.  It has been a hard road that she, her husband, Stephen and their children have walked and the entire situation evokes that gossamer thin line that separates the world, as it should be verses how it is.  Vick is a woman of faith, she always has been; Stephen is a man of faith too and now, more than ever, their family has been leaning on it.

“Why does suffering like this occur?”  The simple answer is I don’t know.  I can show you what I wrote after reading Stephen’s blog. 

I can only imagine the path that Vick, you, and your family have been on.  I know that I am preaching to the choir, so to speak, but Romans 8:28 covers a lot of ground.  “All things for good” means all things for good.  I cannot begin to understand the ‘whys’; I am only a limited, broken, and mortal man who cannot grasp what the infinite sees.  His ways are not our ways.  The only thing I can say is that in good times and in bad times He is still on the throne.  Going right along with 828, I’m a fan of P16 (Philippians 1:6), “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” That’s not just a verse; that’s a promise and one you can stand on.  I know you have, that you are, and that you will continue to do so.

Ya know, St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel at all times.  If you have to open your mouth.”  It is impossible to hide the lit city on the hill…  Thank you for your testimony.   

Please give Vick, my/our love,

George Scully, class of ‘87

This Thanksgiving make plans to tell those you love that you love them; we are, after all, only on loan to each other.  In that spirit, for the Moons – their children, for Stephen and for, of course, for Vick – I love you guys.  God bless you and may you keep moving forward on whatever path you may find yourselves.

Project Thanksgiving

I am a blessed man, Gentle Reader.  I’m no Warren Buffet or Donald Trump but in the battle between “wants” and “needs”, the Lord has provided.  I am not rolling in money and I have no gold ingots stashed away yet the lights are still on and my children are fed.  With the molehills in my life that I can turn into mountains I can still recognize – just by keeping my eyes open and looking around me that my “problems”, when seen in comparison to others are not as mountainous as they appear to be.

“May you live in interesting times…” is often quoted as being a curse more often than being a blessing.  It’s a double-edged statement; it cuts both ways.  These are most certainly, “interesting times.”  There is a lot of need out there and Thanksgiving, Christmas and the rest of the Holidays are on deck and waiting to pounce. 

Enter Project Thanksgiving.  This is the brainchild of a friend of mine, Mr. Alex Kaganzev and it is sponsored by the Salvation Army.  Project Thanksgiving is a local turkey drive that provides turkeys to families in the Cumberland County area.  This is a grassroots sort of movement and it is currently for people in the Cumberland County area (Millville, Bridgeton, & Vineland).  Just like an avalanche begins with one too many snowflakes Project Thanksgiving has been gaining momentum and growing too.  As you may have guessed, yes, they could use your help.

“What can I do?”

On Saturday, November 19^th, bring a frozen turkey or a donation to ANY of the four local ShopRite supermarkets in Vineland, Millville, or Bridgeton between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  That’s it.  That’s pretty painless and it has the direct effect of helping someone out.  Not too shabby, I’d say. 

But wait – there’s more!  The Cosmopolitan Restaurant in Vineland has thrown their hat into the ring too.  If you bring a turkey or a $20.00 (or greater) donation between November 10^th and the 19^th you will be given a coupon for 15% off of your next meal at the Cosmo; again, not too shabby.

Chances are you’ve earned a frozen bird or two with your ‘super-saver’ card.  If you happen to have a spare turkey, please consider making room in your freezer and donating it to Project Thanksgiving this year.  These are interesting times – perhaps we can help making these times a little less complicated.

Sincerely,

Evil Chicken

Happy Thanksgiving

I thank the Lord. I thank my wife, I thank my kids, I thank friends and family old & new, I thank that guy who let me out of the Wawa parking lot to get out into the right lane of traffic, I thank the ever-present challenges and shear cliff walls that are placed in my path on a daily basis – that make me a better man than I would be without, I thank the makers of Ben & Jerry’s, I thank the heater for not breaking down yet this year, I thank the roof for not leaking, I thank the wireless keyboard that I use to type assorted stuff with, I thank NaNoWriMo – although I will not be crossing the finish line on time this year, I thank the dog; Kenji, for going to the bathroom outside, I thank you Dreamfields Low Carb Pasta – mac & cheese really rocked with you this year, I thank what was, what is, and what will be, and I thank YOU Gentle Reader.

I hope you’ve had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Gentle Reader

It’s on NOW, baby; NaNoWriMo that is! I’ve slipped from being a casual observer into a participant. Since I’ll be primarily writing a novel in November I wanted to just jot down a few things here at Chicken Scratch before I hang my “Do Not Disturb” sign on the computer room door.

Thing 1. Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday. I don’t care who you vote for but I like to pretend that voting still matters and I believe that the more people who share this delusion there are the better. Democracy – or at least something akin to it, wins.

Thing 2. Guy Fawkes Day. “Remember, remember the fifth of November…” from Gunpowder, Treason and Plot. For any readers in London, try not to blow off any fingers or Parliament Buildings during the celebration.

Thing 3. Veteran’s Day. Thank a vet. They put everything on the line to serve our country so that people like us can actually practice stuff like free speech, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Thing 4. Thanksgiving. I love this holiday. It’s not too commercial, it’s not gaudy, it’s just a time to pause and reflect on just how good we have it. Even now, with all of the troubles and woes that face us, there is so much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving.

Thing 5. Black Friday. In my mind’s eye I can see the people lined up waiting to grab up that sale price. This will be interesting this year concerning consumer spending. We shall see what we shall see.

Thing 6. Gas Prices. I put $20.00 in the gas tank today and it gave me almost 3/4ers of a tank of gas! I’d still love to be off the stuff – oil, that is. Dependency is a dangerous thing.

Thing 7. Playstation 3 vs. the X-box 360. Which is the system to get? We’ve got a Nintendo Wii and love it but there are a few games coming out (namely Resident Evil 5) that we just can’t play on the Wii. What to do…? The PS3 has a Blue Ray player built in while the X-box has titles like, “Halo” and “Fable 2” in it’s stable. Time to hit the lottery.

Thing 8. National Novel Writing Month. November has just started and there is still time for YOU to start writing YOUR novel. As I’ve said before, misery loves company.

So there you have it, a whole month of blogging condensed for your reading pleasure. Oh I’ll be dropping in from time to time, I’m sure, but this month a noveling I will go.

Yours truly & see you soon,

Evil Chicken