Mark Clawson

Obesity in America – Unchanged and Still a Big Worry

Jan 182012
 
 January 18, 2012  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

Just yesterday, we learned that obesity in the United States seems to have reached a plateau. The numbers show 35.7% of U.S. adults and almost 17% of U.S.children and teens are obese. Looking at the map for the state of Washington you can see where our community (the black dot) is in the lowest range of between 11.6% and 26.6% of the population.

After two decades of steady increases, obesity rates in adults and children in the United States have remained largely unchanged during the past 12 years, a finding that suggests national efforts at promoting healthful eating and exercise are having little effect on the overweight.

Children will be entering adulthood heavier than they’ve ever been at any time in human history. Even without further increases in prevalence, the impact of the epidemic will continue to mount for many years to come.

Nobody knows exactly why obesity rates appear to be leveling off. While it’s possible that public education efforts around healthful eating and exercise have had some effect, it may be that the population has reached a biological saturation point in terms of obesity, and that those most vulnerable have already become obese.

I was looking at a chart on life expectancy (this one is for females) and it appears to me that there is a correlation between obesity rates and life expectancy.

The International Diabetes Association predicts that one in 10 adults could have diabetes by 2030, according to their latest statistics.  In a report, the advocacy group estimated that 552 million people would have diabetes in the next two decades, based on things like aging and demographic changes. There are two types of diabetes one that is more genetic and the other, type 2, that we can prevent.

While not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the most common causes of this form of diabetes. It is also responsible for nearly 95% of diabetes cases in theUnited States, according to the CDC.

What can you do ?

(1) If you have a family member or other loved one who is obese don’t ignore it.  Sit down with them and let them know the risks of their obesity.

(2) Start with small changes in lifestyle.  Don’t try and make drastic changes.   Small changes that build upon one another work a lot better than a radical change in lifestyle.

(3) Understand that the battle against weight is not a one time battle.  It is a continuous war that needs to be waged throughout your life.  This means changes in lifestyle so you need to get support and positive reinforcement to help you stay on track.

(4) Sugar is the enemy.  Be wary of foods that have high sugar content hidden in ingredients and watch those complex carbs that can turn to sugar in our digestion process.

(5) If someone is obese in your family it might be better to take the gloves off and sit them down and tell them that they are high risk for diabetes which in turn could lead to a significant change in their lifestyle.  Don’t expect your doctor to do the job for you.

(6) People who start to exercise often stop because they either don’t see immediate results or because of pain.  Let them know that loosing weight takes time and that results are not going to be immediate.

The costs of diabetes and obesity affects us all via higher healthcare costs but each one of us has to take personal responsibility for our own lifestyle.  You can make a difference just take that first step.

Good Cheer and Good Health!

Click Here to support your local food bank!

Good Cheer Garden Work Party on Martin Luther King Day – Monday January 16th

Jan 132012
 
 January 13, 2012  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

Join us for our annual work party on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January, 16th, from 10 am – 3:30 pm.  There will be outside winter gardening work at the Good Cheer Garden and the Bayview School Garden. Picnic lunch at noon with hot soup, and salad greens from the garden!

Come for as long or short as you’d like!

We’re having such a mild winter so far that the overwintering crops are doing really well out in the field. The spinach, kale, collards, chard and arugula are all surviving and even growing a little! The cut-and-come-again salad mix in the hoophouse is ready for a harvest!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on Martin Luther King Day to serve their neighbors and communities.

Good Cheer!

Good Cheer’s New Video Story

Jan 092012
 
 January 9, 2012  Posted by Mark Clawson 7 Responses »

The food bank at Good Cheer is all about treating everyone who walks through our doors with dignity and respect.

The hardest part for our clients is asking for help. We give people the help that is needed and an opportunity to focus on other issues. If they can feel safe and less stressed they have a chance to move forward with their lives in a positive manner.

Good Cheer is like a grocery store, it was set up that way.

Since relocating the Food Bank to the more spacious facility in Bayview in October 2007, Good Cheer has not only been able to increase the volume of food available to neighbors in need, but has made a concerted effort in improving the quality of food with an emphasis on fresh, local and less processed foods….the Good Cheer Garden is a treasure, growing food for our clients.

The Good Cheer Food Bank is a grocery store with a points system.

The Points System at Good Cheer provides a one-person household with a base of 70 points to spend per month at the Food Bank, with an additional 10 points per person if the household is larger. The clients also receive an additional 3 points by providing their own bags.

The Food Bank encourages clients to select the most nutritious food by assigning fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, rice and other raw staples with lower points. Many times this summer and fall our clients could pick up fresh garden vegetables for no points, that really encourages healthful eating.

The food bank is there to help people survive the hard times that life sometimes throws our way. With a view towards respect and dignity we provide that sense of belonging that is so necessary in our lives.

Here is Good Cheer’s new video story. I think that it speaks for itself!

Good Cheer!

Good Cheer is Taking on the Great Recession – When Will it End?

Jan 032012
 
 January 3, 2012  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

The National Bureau of Economic Research has said that the “Great Recession” ended in June 2009. In fact the chart above proves this……well a recovery but not even close the robust recoveries of the past. Looking among our friends and community at large this purported upswing in the economy is hard to identify. Unemployment remains high and many are working just part time.

What is very apparent is that the last two recessions in 2001 and 2007 have taken a toll on employment in the U.S. and the State of Washington. Notice that the last two recessions in Washington state show insignificant employment growth after the recessions ended.

The unemployment rate that we read about monthly is based on a household survey and in November the survey reported an increase of 278,000 people with jobs, pushing the unemployment rate down….. some say sharply and I’m not sure that would be accurate.

There is a bit of a cache-22……..If people stop searching for work, they’re not counted in the labor force or as unemployed even if they’d like a job. In November, some 487,000 people dropped out of the labor force, too discouraged to look for work. Adding these people to the officially unemployed would have produced a jobless rate of 8.9 percent instead of 8.6 percent so are things really getting better?

Better employment prospects may spur more discouraged workers to look for a job. Perversely, this could raise the unemployment rate. If job creation remains weak, more discouraged workers might stop looking for work and this could lower the unemployment rate. Confused yet?

The U.S. Labor Department just reported that the current average duration of unemployment is at 40 weeks, the longest in more than 60 years. And while the state of Washington had a drop in the unemployment rate to 8.7 percent in November 2011, it is still almost double the 4.6 percent in January of 2007 when the recession began. This is almost three years from the end of the “Great Recession.”

This housing based recession will not recover until the housing market recovers. The housing industry put many people to work. We have the construction industry, raw materials manufacturers, title companies, escrow companies, real estate companies and loan officers to name a few. That is a lot of jobs.

You and your Good Cheer Food Bank have been dealing with these harsh realities for many months. The fact remains that people are having a tough time finding employment.  Unemployment and hunger sadly go hand and hand and we need your support more than ever.

The impact on our food bank has been dramatic! In November the Food Bank served 962 families and that is an all time high. Hunger doesn’t discriminate. We serve children, seniors, the working poor, and the unemployed on South Whidbey Island. Food bank clients cross every race, color, education level, and increasingly the middle class. None of these folks want to ask for help but they have little choice.

The food bank has made this a better experience than most food banks, with its grocery style shopping. Our clients let us know:

“Sometimes when we have no food, I come to the food bank and leave with bags of food and tears in my eyes. Thank you!”

- From a mother with two young children

Here is a challenge for you all:

This is your food bank blog and it is a part of our social network. We know that we are reaching many of you but we would like to reach more. The more supporters we have the easier it is to spread the load and to meet our challenges.

We are asking you to forward this link to your friends and families. Just bring up your email list and plug this link into a short note about taking a close look at the Good Cheer Food Bank.

You can make us better by just sending an email! If you need help with how this is done, just email me at markvclawson@gmail.com and I’ll help you.

You can make a donation by clicking Good Cheer!

Thoughts on Giving as We Enter a New Year

Dec 272011
 
 December 27, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

Giving is often all about, giving someone a chance, and it’s never too late or too early to start.

“If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart” – Arab Proverb

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” –  Mother Teresa

“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” –  Albert Einstein

“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.” – Albert Camus

“For it is in giving that we receive.” –  Saint Francis of Assisi

“They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing”  - Hindu Proverb

The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another’s, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.” - Leo F. Buscaglia American guru, tireless advocate of the power of love, 1924-1998.

“To give without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality of its own.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh American writer and aviation pioneer, 1906-2001.

“Give what you have to somebody, it may be better than you think.” Henry Wadsworth

“Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me cope, with this heavy load, trying to, touch and reach you with, heart and soul.” – George Harrison

“Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing that I can do. Because then they will act.” –  Jack Welsh former CEO GE

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” –  Winston Churchill

Sometimes a small thing you do can mean everything in another person’s life.

“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” Maya Angelou a voice of contemporary literature.

“Memories are perhaps the best gifts of all.” –  Gloria Gaither

“Never get tired of doing little things for others, sometimes those little things occupy the biggest parts of their hearts.” –  Unknown

I wish there was room to show a photo of everyone who has helped the food bank this year.

You are loved and appreciated. Together we are changing our little part of the world.

You are all making a difference!

Good Cheer and Happy New Year!

A Child’s Chance to Give

Dec 242011
 
 December 24, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

There is a wonderful program that we have at Good Cheer, it’s about a child’s chance to give. The program is for children of parents or caretakers who are clients of the food bank. Children between the ages of 4-15 are presented with a gift certificate for each parent or caretaker in their home. It is their chance to give!

The peace and feeling of comfort that comes from having family and friends is often taken for granted, however, it is where most happiness begins.

The Holiday Season is a time for happiness and sharing gifts has become a way of expressing our love of family and friends. We all know the importance of giving and the feeling that comes from the experience.

The kids shop in Langley or Clinton at the thrift stores and also the the Good Cheer Rack in Clinton. Their parents or caretakers drop the children off at the store where the kids are met by our volunteers.

The parents stay away while just the right present is found.

Decisions are made.

This is a program that doesn’t get much public attention since it is something that is done in-house for our clients. As you know, children are always in our hearts at Good Cheer. Anything that we can do to make their lives more normal in these difficult times is where we want to be.

It is always a festive time and a chance to share in the joy of giving as our volunteers not only help the kids find the right present they also make sure that it is wrapped just right for that special person.

This is just what Good Cheer is all about and  the many ways that, we together, are bringing light into the lives of others!

I guess you could call this “Spreading Good Cheer.”

Love and Merry Christmas to All!

Pennies From Heaven

Dec 202011
 
 December 20, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

Deck the Doors and its Plum Pudding Pennies was a great success story for the Holiday Season. The Langley Main Street Association with the help of the Langley Chamber of Commerce created an event that was fun for the community and a tremendous fund raising event for the Good Cheer Food Bank.

Sixty five of our local merchants were involved, decorating their doors hoping to win the people’s choice for best door. Visitors, shoppers and shop owners voted for the best door by stuffing money (Plum Pudding Pennies) into ballot boxes in each of the shops.  The shop that collected the most money would be declared the winner and the money would go to the Good Cheer Food Bank.

The winner of the 2011 Deck the Doors contest was Coldwell Banker Tara Properties on Second Street in Langley. Janet Ploof from the Main Street Association said that the $960 donation to the food bank  from this year’s winner was significant and that  “a sizable portion of the donation came from the individual real estate agents in their office, their door was cool, a wreath made of house keys, decorated miniature doors and blue prints! Some of the agents were born on Whidbey Island, and all of the agents are super supporters of Langley…..they rock!”

It was wonderful to see so many businesses involved in helping the food bank and we say our thanks for their spirit and good will. The Deck the Doors contest raised $2258 for the food bank and people in need on South Whidbey Island. The Chamber of Commerce’s buy local $1000 raffle promotion had an interesting twist for the Holidays.  The $1000 raffle prize went to the food bank as well; all because of the generosity of an anonymous shopper who donated their winning ticket to Good Cheer!

All together the events in Langley raised $3258 and with our creative shopping that is quite a bit of food that you all just helped to put on the table.

A special thank you goes out to Sherry Jennings at the Chamber and Janet Ploof with the Main Street Association who championed the cause.

Have a Very Happy Holiday Season!

Deck the Doors – Buying Local – Helping Good Cheer

Dec 132011
 
 December 13, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

In case you haven’t noticed the local merchants in Langley are decorating their doors for the holidays and supporting the Good Cheer Food Bank.

Plum Pudding Pennies (your donations) are the key to “Deck the Doors”. Each store has a Plum Pudding Pennies gift box for the collection of pennies. The pennies or dollars represent your vote. Yes, this is a competition and for all the right reasons; you’ll be making this holiday season a little bit brighter for those in need.

This is a great community and one that supports buying local. Buying local products from local businesses keeps the money in the community.

Buying local, as with any movement, begins with the actions of a few people and then expands to many. As spending grows, the businesses grow in number and size which provide even more local choices. This spending is critical to establishing viable local stores. When dollars are spent locally, they can be re-spent locally, raising the community’s overall level of economic activity.

Deck the Doors is all about our local merchants and buying local. The results are a festive and bright holiday look on the streets of Langley!   We are in the home stretch this week for filling the ballot boxes with Plum Pudding Pennies (your donations) for the food bank.

This Saturday, December 17th between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Main Street Door elves will be around to collect the money in the ballot boxes.

We’ve put together a slideshow of Deck the Doors in Langley with photos from our local merchants, just click on the ornament below. If you can’t identify the store just move you cursor to the upper right of the slideshow and and click show info.

Some of our local merchants on the Holiday Season:

“MYKEN’S Pet Boutique is proud to participate in Langley’s Deck the Doors event supporting Good Cheer.  MYKEN’S would also like to show our appreciation for all the hard work that is done on behalf of Whidbey’s homeless animals.  Therefore, we have decided that all monies collected from the MYKEN’S door design will be matched and donated to our local animal shelter; W.A.I.F. (Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation).  We wish everyone a happy holiday season!!!”

“Although Brackenwood Gallery is continuing its “Small Pleasures” show for the month of December there are many new pieces that have been have added. “Small Pleasures” is work that is interesting, high quality, imaginative, original art yet smaller and more affordable. By our artists offering smaller works we hope it presents an opportunity to give the gift of art that is enduring this holiday season. It is also a time of year where people are traveling and smaller work is a memento that can fit into both the suitcase and the budget. The show continues thru Dec. 31, 2011.”

“Find an Antique Clock or new clock to grace your home. Herb provides professional repairs for those old Family treasures you may have. Santa Herb is anxious to move some merchandise, so come in and discover some bargains at Langley Clock & Gallery.”

“The Star Store is happy to help with your shopping and entertaining needs…with a smile, in Star Store Style! We’ve got hot cider, goodies, Santa’s helpers, and complimentary gift wrapping!  And…learn how to receive a free Star Store $25 Gift Card!”

“Happy Holidays from all of us at Prima!  Thank you to Tobey Nelson of Vases Wild for creating our front door decoration for the Good Cheer fundraiser.  Hope you’ll come in this holiday season, vote for us with your pocket change, and have a cup of Good Cheer in honor of our awesome food bank!”

“Sassy Siren has been serving the Local Island Community and visitors to Downtown Langley for just over a year and a half now.  We have a great selection of ladies accessories from fashionable handbags, jewelry and gifts to fun ‘Tween & Teen’ goodies too.  Keeping prices affordable to cater to the Locals, Sassy Siren has quickly become one of the favorites of Downtown Langley.  Sassy Siren is a Team player too when it comes to supporting local charities and foundations.  If you haven’t already experienced Sassy Siren for yourself, what are you waiting for?  Come see what you’ve been missing!  Check out the website for extended Holiday Hours at sassysiren.com.”

“Let’s all be sure to participate in Deck the Doors. The money goes to a great cause. Be sure to vote for Good Cheer the people in the community are counting on you!”

“Chic Debris, a purveyor of cool stuff, is in Langley Village between Half Moon Yoga and Langley Liquor Store and is open everyday 10-5.  Visit us for cool stuff like antique furniture, local artists’ paintings and cards and more, wine glasses, jewels, old hand made Christmas decorations, a slot machine and a stitching horse.  And more.  Please drop in to vote for our Deck the Doors sock monkey entry! ”

“The Cottage is best known for its signature look as a French boutique.  We are eclectic, affordable, and friendly with great service.  We make women happy!!”

The Langley Chamber is hosting its Holiday Cheer Giveaway thanks to the generous donation by Whidbey Island Bank.

YOU CAN WIN $1000

Good Cheer and Thanks for You Support!

Another Look at the New Good Cheer Cookbook!

Dec 102011
 
 December 10, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

Just this past week Kathy Marshall presented a few of the entrees in the new Good Cheer Cookbook to our Board of Directors. The great thing about having a blog is that we can share this with you.

Just in time for holiday gift giving; Good Cheer’s beautifully illustrated 50th Anniversary Cookbook has arrived.

The $19.95 cookbook is available at all Good Cheer Stores and some local re­tailers.

Proceeds help the Food Bank, so when you purchase it as a gift, you are giving a gift that gives twice!

For an additional $3 we will even mail it for you in early December to an address within the U.S.

The Good Cheer Cookbook is a unique collection of recipes. You’ll find recipes  from the original 1960′s Good Cheer Cookbook, as well as, new ones from our garden volunteers. The cookbook has a soft cover and is 168 pages.  Local foods such as clams, crab and salmon are featured in the ‘old recipes’ section complete with the originators’ handwritten recipes. The original cookbook was entitled ‘Whidbey Island Recipe Specialties’ and was created as a fundraiser to support Good Cheer’s fledgling food bank.

Keep Good Cheer on Your Mind over the Holidays!

A Time for Concern and a Time to Say Thanks!

Dec 052011
 
 December 5, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson 1 Response »

In November the Food Bank served 962 families and that is an all time high. Our budget is really being put through the wringer. We had budgeted spending $220,000 on food in 2012 and the added pressure for food that we are experiencing is making that budget a difficult proposition.

While today we saw a nice drop in the unemployment rate, you still have to wonder about how many people have of just given up the search. Perhaps this is the glimmer of hope that we have all been waiting for. Let’s hope!

In the mean time, while our confidence has been rattled somewhat, we know our community will be here to help us during this incredibly challenging time. We will work to stretch our food dollars and we hope you can help us by shopping Good Cheer stores, buying gift certificates or the Good Cheer Cookbook.

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!

Hunger can happen to anyone. It’s the child that sits next to your child at school. It’s the family down the street, where both parents are working, but paying so much for health insurance and child care that it’s hard to make ends meet. It’s the senior citizen waiting with you at the bus stop that worked hard and saved for retirement and is now facing a depleted retirement account and outrageous prescription costs.

What Hunger Looks Like in Western Washington – A Survey from the Food Lifeline.

Hunger can affect anyone.

More than 45% of the individuals using a food bank, meal program or shelter in Western Washington have some form of post-secondary education. Only 9% are actually homeless.

35% of the people Food Lifeline serves are children.

14% of the people Food Lifeline serves are seniors.

Hunger causes many families to make difficult choices.

47% of the people Food Lifeline serves had to choose between food and paying for heat or utilities.

29% of the people Food Lifeline serves had to choose between food and paying for medicine or medical care.

42% of the people Food Lifeline serves had to choose between paying for food and paying for rent or mortgage.

Our community is what makes the food bank at Good Cheer so successful!

You may have read our most recent newsletter, but if you haven’t, here is what our clients are saying. The value of your donations and kind hearts is pretty evident:

“I come to the food bank and leave with bags of food and tears in my eyes. Thank you!”

“I am grateful for the dignity of the expe­rience of coming to Good Cheer. Applying for federal aid programs is humiliating and demoralizing, but not so here.”

“A lady could tell that I was uncomfortable the first time here. She was nice and caring and made me feel O.K.”

“Working in the garden has blessed our whole family. Good Cheer has made us feel like a real part of the South Whidbey community and has been a ray of hope for us during bleak months.”

“Good Cheer helped me out when I was sleeping in a tent out in the woods in winter.”

“When a staff member walked me through the food bank to show me the great abundance of produce available for no points, I think I actually heard the angels singing… I really try hard to provide quality food for my kids.”

“It’s just like a grocery store. Rather than feeling shame, I feel proud to live in a community with such an amazing resource. Thank you!

“You are the kindest people on the planet! Thank you.”

“Thank you for helping me through my pregnancy as a single Mom.”

You can read more  about the feedback that we are getting from our clients by clicking here. IT IS REALLY MEANT FOR YOU!

Kathy McLaughlin the executive director at the food bank made the following comments:

“When people read the headlines about un­employment and high poverty rates in the U.S., it doesn’t quite translate into how people are affected in our community. What the clients have shared with us in this survey puts a human voice to their needs, their worries, and the profound thankfulness cli­ents have for the Food Bank and the com­munity which supports it.”

Experiences of Poverty in Island County 2011 Report Online

Twenty-three Good Cheer clients were part of the 171 Island County house­holds surveyed in a recent report on poverty by the Opportunity Council.

Key findings were presented in the ar­eas of housing, employment, medical care, childcare, food security, educa­tion, finances, transportation, and com­munity services.

Some of the findings:

In Island County 34% of single mother-headed households with children under 18 live in poverty.

Almost half the households surveyed had one employed family member whose wages were below federal pov­erty guidelines.

Half said they have fallen behind in rent or mortgage and a quarter had had utilities shut off.

Nineteen percent reported having to share a household with another household (doubling up) in order to pre­vent homelessness.

The full report is available by clicking on the link.

YOUR DONATIONS AND KIND HEARTS TRULY MATTER

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM GOOD CHEER

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