THERE’S COMPASSION HERE!

Yum - hot dogs! 35+ people took part in the Poverty Diet October 3-8, feasting on mac and cheese, hot dogs and peanut butter sandwiches. The poverty diet's main objective was to raise awareness and that is certainly what it has done among the participants. I am not sure what was harder, yearning for something fresh, an apple or salad - or - realizing, some people in our community are just yearning for anything to eat - and my tummy is always full.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in this challenge. If you were unable to participate in the Poverty Diet but wish to make a difference consider a donation to the Churches on the Hill Food Bank. Make your cheque payable to Churches on the Hill Food Bank and put it in the collection plate. More on COTH here» - Thank you - Samantha

CHRIST CHURCH DEER PARK JOINS TORONTO BISHOPS ON A POVERTY DIET

It’s a dreaded time of the month: the last few days of the month when people on social assistance and low-wage workers often run out of money and must rely on foodbank donations to ward off hunger. That’s why our Diocese has joined others in supporting the call for an increase of $100 per month in social assistance rates.

All of our diocesan Bishops are joining in a powerful act of solidarity with the poor by going on a food bank diet for three days in October, through the “Do the Math Challenge”, between October 4 and 8.

The goal of this effort is to show there is public support for an immediate increase in social assistance as a first step towards better health and dignity for people living in poverty. A range of community leaders are joining our Bishops in supporting this campaign, along with other concerned citizens across Ontario. Premier McGuinty and Ontario MPPs have been invited to go on this poverty diet as well.

Participants will be given a set of food choices that a person typically has in the last week of a month, then asked to buy those food items, so that no food will be diverted from foodbanks. To learn more, visit www.dothemath.thestop.org »

If you want to participate with Christ Church Deer Park in this important initiative we have three ways for you to sign up;

1. Go to our website www.thereslifehere.org and click on the Poverty Diet ison on the front page
2. Fill out one of the orange cards at the entrances of the church during the month of September
3. Call Samantha to add your support.

Christ Church Deer Park is asking participants to consider donating to the Churches-on-the-Hill Food Bank the regular amount of money you would have spent on groceries for three days. Include extras such as the coffee you buy on your way to work, any meal out you may have had, these are luxuries that our neighbours on social assistance simply do not have. See more about COTH here »

For more information about this initiative see"Do the Math" webpage here »

TRY THE POVERTY DIET here's all you get to eat over 3 days:

POVERTY DIET: Family

• 900 g dried pasta (or extra rice)
• 2 small cans tomato sauce or tomato paste
• 3 juice boxes per person
• 2 small cans soup per person
• 1 small can prepared pasta (mac & cheese, spaghettios, etc)
• 3 scoops dry rice per person
• 1 box dry cereal per person or 3 packages instant oatmeal per person
• TWO per person of standard protein sources:
  • (175 g tin of tuna, chicken or turkey; small jar peanut butter;
  • 3 eggs) or one package chicken hot dogs,
  • plus ONE additional protein source per person
• 2 small cans of vegetables per person, or substitute up to 2 cans tinned fruit
• 1 can beans or pork & beans per person
• 2 potatoes
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 3 granola bars or fruit chews per person
• 1 quart milk per person
• 1 loaf bread per person (or extra rice)

POVERTY DIET: Two people

• 500 g dried pasta (or substitute extra rice)
• 1 small can tomato sauce or tomato paste
• 6 juice boxes
• 6 scoops dry rice
• 4 small cans soup
• 2 boxes of dry cereal or 6 packages instant oatmeal
• any FOUR of: 175 g tin of tuna, chicken or turkey; small jar peanut butter; 3 eggs (e.g. you could have 2 tins of chicken and 6 eggs, or two tins of tuna, one jar of peanut butter and 3 eggs, etc.)
• 4 small cans of tinned vegetables, or 3 vegetables and 1 fruit
• 2 potatoes
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 2 cans beans or pork and beans
• 6 granola bars or fruit chews
• 2 quarts milk
• 1 loaf of bread (or substitute extra rice)

POVERTY DIET: Single person

• 2 boxes Kraft Dinner (or substitute extra rice if gluten-intolerant)
• 3 juice boxes
• 3 single-serving-size scoops dry rice
• 2 small cans soup
• box of dry cereal or 3 packages instant oatmeal
• any TWO of: 175 g tin of tuna, chicken or turkey; small jar peanut butter; 3 eggs
• 2 small cans of tinned vegetables, or 1 tin vegetables and 1 fruit
• 1 potato
• 1 onion
• 1 can plain beans or chickpeas, or 1 can pork and beans
• 3 granola bars or 3 fruit chews
• 1 quart milk
• 1 loaf bread (or substitute extra rice)

Download the poverty diet as a pdf here » [58k]