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One to Ten and Back Again
Posted by Kevin Salwen on 02.08.2010Share

After our family was on CBS Sunday Morning yesterday, we received some emails about our project. This one, from Jennifer Antonia Lewis Amoah of Canada, started me thinking. I really like the spirit and the connectedness of it (know your neighbors!!), so I asked Jennifer if I could share it on the blog. I'd love to hear your thoughts on her idea:

A pleasant surprise came on CBS Sunday Morning today! It brightened and warmed the heart on a cold Canadian winter day. Your efforts, Hannah, Joseph, Kevin and Joan, are truly inspirational. Together we can end poverty and alleviate much suffering.

I have thought for some time that if the first ten homes on every street collected their extras and the first ten homes on the opposite side of the street took on the responsibility of shipping those items to a family somewhere, anywhere, ten miles away, or ten thousand miles away, then the burden would be lightened, folks will get to know their neighbours, and eventually poverty will be eliminated. "One to Ten and Back Again" could be possible on every continent, even Africa. Think of the business that will be generated for the post offices and shipping companies around the globe. Each group of homes will decide which family to help, how often to meet and how often to ship the books, clothes, school fees, etc collected. This would be far more efficient than huge, impersonal charities.

Not every one of ten houses might be in a position to contribute. Perhaps one family will be unemployed. Perhaps another might be burdened with the cost of an illness. But eventually they will do their part. This will also bring home the fact that the family one adopts might not necessarily be far away. If something like this "One to Ten and Back Again" takes off in Germany, Italy, France, Argentina, Japan, Kuwait, Chile, can you imagine the impact on the world?

I'm sorry, but I'm just apalled at your self-serving, self-absorbed commercialization of community service. I know exactly what it's like to work for Accenture and the Wallstreet Journal. Both are not very fulfilling for the spirit. Why'd it take you so long? Downsizing? Scarey Economy? Your "downsized home" is tripple the size of most middle Americans. The last paragraph of your "One in Ten and Back Again" page confirms that you don't even know there are many more unemployed people that DO MUCH MORE than you could hope to do. Don't give half - Give ALL.
Posted by Mark at 12:56pm on 02.09.2010

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