This has been a crazy month. We are right in the middle of swim season and I write this as we are freshly frozen from our swim meet in a storm. I love Modesto High School and the things that we do, my history teacher Mr. Chiavetta really makes students take a bigger look at the world.
It is really important to see what is happening in the world around us. I had a chance to visit South Africa and was really amazed on how different our cultures are, how disposable things are in the USA. When you have a culture where so many have so little, it seems like everything gets used and reused. They even have to pay extra for bags at the grocery store, Every time you toss out a plastic bottle, think about how it can get used again. This is why I really want people to know about the Rich Man Poor Man Dinner. Mr Chiavetta has really made the youth of Modesto more aware about what we have and how we can help those that don’t have. I offered my column to him for this important event.
Rich Man / Poor Man Dinner
Saturday, April 16th
Modesto Church of the Brethren
$10 donation.
One of the gravest issues confronting this world is the misdistribution of resources and the huge discrepancy between the haves and have-nots. As certain developed countries get the lion’s share of food and resources the rest live in want. Even in highly advanced countries there exist large pockets of abject poverty, child malnutrition and preventable diseases. Thesefacts are the inspiration behind a joint effort by the Modesto Peace / LifeCenter and Project Hope at Modesto High School to address this issue.
A group of dedicated students and adults are planning a “Rich Man / Poor Man” Event. The event will be held on Saturday, April 16th at the Modesto Church of the Brethren. The doors will open at 5:30, with a program and dinner at 6:00 PM. The gist of the event is to bring to focus the fact that 10 % of the worlds population eats at a certain privileged level and the “other” 90% subsist at a much lower level. The central part of the event is a dinner in which 10% of the attendees will be served a gourmet five course dinner which would be reflective of the caloric intake of an individual in the developedworld. The rest of the attendees will receive much less. Included in this event is a video produced by Modesto High students on hunger, both regional and nationally. Student prepared biographical representations of fictitious individuals worldwide that will serve as the basis for the “lottery” that is central to the event.
This event is a benefit for several organizations. The Church of the Brethren and their weekly contribution to feeding the homeless, ModestoHigh Project Hope and it’s commitment of Haitian relief and the Modesto Peace Life Center youth activities. The price of this event is $10 and it will either be the cheapest gourmet meal that you have ever eaten or a very expensive bowl of beans and rice. What will be priceless is the awareness that participants will receive of the world that is dominated by the Rich Man / Poor Man dichotomy.
For tickets and/ or information contact chiavetta.mi@ monet.k12.ca.us
Tickets will also be available at the Modesto Church of the Brethren and other area “peace” churches.
By Mike Chiavetta
