Takoma Park Celebrates Christmas

A reader of Marash Girl from Takoma Park, Maryland, a Representative in the Maryland House of Representatives, writes of the Generosity Of The Takoma Park Community. "This past weekend, Takoma Park, Maryland, celebrated the Christmas Season with a massive food distribution event, a free toy store set up by a mutual aid organization, and a toy drive. What I observed, beyond the tangible items was our community looking out for neighbors in need, I felt the generosity of spirit that surrounded us and saw countless acts of kindness. We must all bring this same transforming energy to policymaking to build a more just economy and nation devoted to equity and equality in all areas of our lives. I look forward to working with all of you in the next Legislative Session to bring those ideas and that compassionate spirit to fruition."

The Folks In Beirut, Lebanon, (Your Yeghpayrner) Need Your Help!!!!

                                                 "Աստուած օրհնէ մեր տունը"   "God Bless this home."  

                   Photo credit Levon Kalaydjian (He found it, while helping to clean the streets of Beirut after the explosion.)

Marash Girl's friend in Beirut writes in an email following the explosion which caused the disaster in Beirut, Lebanon, "For contributions, I don't know to whom you can address. Now lots of organizations are fundraising but I don't know the donations will reach the right places. They are evacuating people from their houses,  listing the damages.  Even before the satanic explosion we were facing very bad economic crises. I know lots of families in Bourj Hamoud the Armenian Quarter who were already in difficulties. Those are needy also."

Պէյրութի հզօր պայթումը, որ բազմաթիւ անմեղ Լիբանանցիներու կեանքը խլեց՝ իր ետին թողելով հազարաւոր վիրաւորներ, աւելի քան աւերիչ էր։ Անկախ այն իրականութենէն թէ արկած էր կամ կանխամտածուած ոճիռ, վնասը չափազանց ահռելի էր եւ անկրելի։ Աւերն ու կործանումը այնքան հսկայական էին եւ ծաւալուն, ոմանք զայն բնութագրեցին նմանը չունեցող Լիբանանի 15-ամեայ քաղաքացիական պատերազմի ընթացքին։

Please help by donating to the Beirut disaster relief fund at the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA.org) in order to help those in need in Beirut, Lebanon.

Contact. 

AMAA Worldwide Headquarters 31 W. Century Rd. Paramus, NJ 07652

Tel: 201-265-2607             Fax: 201-265-6015                 info@amaa.org

https://www.newsweek.com/how-beirut-explosion-compares-hiroshima-bomb-1523236

MEN CAN COOK: Greater Springfield's fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity

MEN CAN COOK: Greater Springfield's fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity chaired by Karoun Charkoudian

Folks from the "West Coast" of Massachusetts as well as from the West Coast of the United States enjoyed "tipping" the waiter at the hilarious Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser on the evening of May 2 in the Elks Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Above: Supporting Greater Springfield's Habitat for Humanity

YOU CAN STILL HELP BUILD A COMMUNITY KITCHEN!

Last month, Marash Girl wrote a post in support of an effort to build a community kitchen; as many of you were unaware of what a community kitchen is, she posted the following link:

http://marashgirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/you-can-help-build-community-kitchen.html

To help raise money for the community kitchen, Lorig ran a 31 mil race up mountains and over treacherous landscape.  At her request, I am posting her description of this race, and her effort at raising funds for this worthy cause . . . Please continue to read, and if you so wish, please lend your support!

Lorig writes:

In the days approaching the 50K trail run, the self-doubt demons began to rear their ugly heads and voices.  What was I thinking?  31 miles?  4500 feet of climbing?  Would I make it before the 9 hour cut off?  Did I remember to pack my running shoes?

In those same days, the messages and support from the community poured in - in words and in money.  We raised several thousand for the community kitchen, bringing us up to $19,000.  I received public and private messages about the run.  On Tuesday, we had covered the entire front of my running shirt with supporters’ names.  By Friday, we had so many more we had to cover the back with names. 

By the time I arrived at the starting line, the community supporters were starting to win out over the demons. 

And then I got to start running.  First the 2,000 foot climb over the course of the first 6 miles.  Then a section of glorious trail that just begged you to run it.  It felt so good I kept telling myself I should probably slow down and save myself for later – but I couldn’t resist the trail’s invitation.  Then 2000 feet downhill.  Then another (rather rough) 2,000 foot climb and back on the glorious section.  Several miles passed in the proverbial “runner’s high”.  Other’s passed in the body’s amazing ability to keep functioning even when the brain does not.  I did not realize I was in this state until I reached the aid station and could not form a coherent sentence.  At one point I was moving a little too fast downhill, hit a root, and actually took flight.  The landing was not so glorious.   The last few miles were a bit rough.  I suddenly felt like I had nothing left to give.  I looked down at my shirt - ink was starting to run, I was covered in dirt – but there you all were, running along with me.  And it was enough to suck it up, dig deep, and get over the finish line in 5:36:10.  Community -1; Demons -0.

Thank you for your generous donations and your encouraging words. 

Now we have one more finish line to get across together.  On Aug 14, our Indiegogo campaign ends.  We have another $11,000 to raise between now and then to build the community kitchen.

As you know, the kitchen will support micro-enterprise development, cooking and nutrition classes, and food preparation for people at risk of hunger.  Please share this site and your excitement about this project with your circles.

Your support got me through.  Together we can build this kitchen.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/build-a-community-kitchen/x/3602753

Lorig

You can help build a community kitchen!

Always taking on the seemingly impossible, always   seeking ways in which  to help build community, Marash Girl's daughter Lorig has been working towards creating a shared use community kitchen in Takoma Park, Maryland, a kitchen that would make it possible for local groups to produce food and food products in an effort to support worthy causes. [A community commercial kitchen is a shared resource for safe preparation of food for sale at farmers markets and retail outlets and for distribution to shelters and to needful neighbors. Community commercial kitchens (CCKs) provide economic opportunity and play a vital service role.] She and her fellow community members have found a church willing to donate its kitchen, and together they have raised $343,000 in funds for the kitchen's renovation. Their need?  Another $31,000. In order to raise that $31,000, and call attention to the funds needed to complete this worthy project, Lorig has decided to race in an ultra-marathon trail run – 31 miles on hilly trails with roots and rocks. Impossible to run such an uphill race, you say? Impossible to raise such an uphill amount of money, you say? Not if Marash Girl's good readers and friends will help to support Lorig's and the community's efforts. Here’s the video in which Lorig talks about the project.  Watch it and learn about community kitchens and how you can support this effort. I support this initiative, and I hope you will also.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/build-a-community-kitchen/x/3602753?c=home