Environmentalism - Adam Gant

Nutritionists recommend that people eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, dairy products and healthy oils or fats on a daily basis. For over 42 million Americans, putting food on the table is a struggle. They do not have the means to provide for the nutritional needs of their families.

Over 13 million children go hungry on a daily basis. As summer vacation begins, the hunger crisis becomes a more prevalent problem. Students who have been getting meals at school will now be home all day without appropriate food to eat.

Approximately 10 million elderly adults in America also experience daily hunger. The senior citizen population often hide their struggle with food. They have a tendency to use what they have to benefit other people.

Government programs only marginally help those who need food assistance. Some struggling Americans do not qualify for the assistance that is offered. As a result, more people are turning to food banks for help.

Most food banks rely on volunteers and donations to provide for people in need. As summer starts, donations begin to dwindle. With fewer contributions, food banks become limited on how much help they can provide. Bulk donations of non-perishable food items can help sustain a program’s food supply and keep them in business.

Here are some suggestions for items that can be donated in bulk.

Proteins:

Canned Meats
Canned Fish
Peanut Butter/Other Nut Butters
Dried or Canned Beans/Legumes

Grains:

Rice
Pasta
Quinoa
Oatmeal
Whole Grain Cereal

Dairy:

Dry Milk
Canned Milk
Shelf-stable Cheese Products
Boxed Milk

Vegetables/Fruits:

Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruits
Raisins/Dried Fruits

Miscellaneous Items:

Spices
Vegetable, Beef, or Chicken Stock
Pasta Sauces
Gravy or Seasoning Mixes
Tea, Coffee or Drink Mixes

Hunger doesn’t stop for summer. Bulk donations to food banks can help provide nutritious meals for families in need all summer long.

Some people march to make a change. Some people create colorful signs to promote equality. And some people, even in the midst of a staggering and seemingly impossible drama, create the solution and thus embody the change they desire so desperately to see.

These individuals stare Goliath in the face and don’t run.

Boyan Slat is one of these people.

Who They Are

Slat, who started the non-profit organization the Ocean Cleanup at just 18 years of age, is making waves in the environment by employing his unique and effective method of ocean cleanup. The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit that seeks to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. And by utilizing the ocean currents to their advantage, the Ocean Cleanup’s passive drifting system is estimated to clean up half the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 5 years.

The Ocean Cleanup is developing the first practical method to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Every year, millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. Once there, much of the trash drifts into large systems of circulating currents called gyres. Here, the plastic begins to break down and can easily be mistaken for food by marine life. The thing is, going after the plastic with vessels and nets would extremely costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. In fact, according to the United Nations, plastic pollution is estimated to have financial damage of 13 billion USD. Here’s where the genius of Slat comes in.

How They Do It

The Ocean Cleanup is developing a passive system that moves with the ocean currents to catch the plastic. According to the Ocean Cleanup, their passive system is comprised of a floater with a solid screen underneath, concentrating the debris and leading it to a collection system. The system is slowed down by a drift anchor suspended at an approximate depth of 600 meters, making the system move slower than the plastic and therefore catching it.

Boyan Slat, along with everyone at the Ocean Cleanup, is the prime example of someone developing the changes they want to see. The Ocean Cleanup is not only excellent and vital for environmental health, but it speaks of a new mindset. A mindset that includes the individual taking responsibility upon themselves and determining to transcend limitations and create a better self, and in turn a better world.

Adam Gant is a committed philanthropist

Tag: Environmentalism

Foods to Donate in Bulk This Summer

Philanthropy Spotlight: The Ocean Cleanup