 I have a friend who's married to a naval officer. A few weeks ago she came into our office; she was crying. She had just been to a meeting where local aid agencies were providing information to both active duty and retired military personnel and their families. The meeting was prompted by chatter coming from Washington, DC that suggested that a full government shutdown was "on the table." If the government shuts down, she said, paychecks for the military stop. She explained further that although they would not be paid, everyone would still be required to perform their duties of their uniforms.
Our friend explained that she was not upset for herself, she had a good job, but she was fearful for those families that had no safety net. Families with children, she explained, would be the hardest hit. This, as it should any reasonable person, really upset me. I began investigating how I could help. First, I called our local Food Bank. Thankfully, they have a program that supports military families specifically. During that call I signed up for a recurring monthly financial donation. But, my small donation is not, and would not be, enough. With 32,000 hungry military personnel and family members here in San Diego, the food bank can not reach them all. And, when they do, there is a clear lack of freshly picked, unprocessed vegetables, eggs and fruit; all of which are extremely nutritious but delicate and perishable. There must be a way t do this, I thought. Rob Meadows, Fonder and CEO
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As I sit here in my home office writing computer code in my pajamas, I am comfortable and content. Outside my front door is a paper shopping bag full of just harvested tomatoes, kale, strawberries, eggs, carrots, apples and other delicious stuff. Satisfying, healthy meals are just waiting for me; literally, a few steps away.
In the background, the news in on. Some blah blah blah about slashing federal budgets, killing healthcare to fuel a tax cut for billionaires, lefty-stuff, righty-stuff....I don't hear a single word about us - we the people... Then I remember Erika and her hard working patriotic parents, family and friends. Patriotic Americans of every color worried about their next meal because of cronyism and politicians that have never skipped a meal or a handout from a lobbyist or PAC.. "Ok," I mutter,"That's all the we the people I need." They are scientists, grade school teachers, military personnel past AND present, workers, entrepreneurs, students. And some of them, no matter how they pinch pennies, clip coupons and work within the rules, are often hungry or face impossible decisions . That's bullshit - truly 3'rd world kind of crap. It's time to do something. Rob |
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Rob Meadows, CEO Archives
March 2018
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