Opening Support the Elderly week - a guest blog

To kick off our Support the Elderly week, we wanted to feature a blog written by the writer of the week. Karen T. Hartline wrote all five episodes this week, so we wanted to hear from her.

When I think of the word “elderly,” I think of my grandma. Frieda. She was definitely your old-school kind of grandma. She had gray hair as far back as I can remember, everything she cooked tasted delicious and the only workout she ever did was washing and scrubbing. She was an awesome, outspoken lady packed in a tiny body and you couldn’t help but love her.

This got me thinking about my son, and how he views his grandmother - my mom. My mother takes step class, attends seminars at the Historical Society, teaches night school, and walks faster than me when we’re at the supermarket. Text messaging, Skype, email – check, check, check. While she can tell a mean story about the old days, most of the time, she’s way too busy making plans for what she’s going to do next. In my son’s eyes – she can do no wrong.

It’s funny that my mother is about the same age that my grandmother was when I was my son’s age, yet the two images are so different. Together, these two images are indicative of the vast spectrum of needs of America’s aging population. There are those out there like my grandmother, but perhaps have no one to visit. Then there are those who are more like my mother, but don’t know where or how to apply their energy and talents.

I think the challenge for those who wish to reach out to this community, is to recognize the diverse needs of this population. The more important thing is to decide what your own strengths are, and then figure out who can benefit from them. If your “thing” is getting people together to volunteer for a community project, there are people like my mother – my son’s grandmother - who would love nothing more than to be put to work. But if you love nothing more than having a good conversation, I know from experience with my own grandmother, that you have the ability to make someone’s day.

Shout outs - A guest blog

To finish our Water Conservation week, we are featuring another guest blog written by Karen T. Hartline.

Enjoy - Shout outs

Yesterday, while in my son's bathroom, I noticed that there was a razor on the shelf (don't worry, it was high above my three year old's reach). Of course, at first, I rolled my eyes, thinking, (begin reading in a fast, high pitched, whiny ramble for the sake of authenticity) "What is this doing here? So ridiculous how I'm the one that has to put everything back in its rightful..." Then I realized something: my husband has been remembering to shave in the second bathroom. Why? Because it has a pluggable drain. This way he doesn't wast water letting it run and run while he shaves ten years off his face (no beard makes him look younger... heheheh). Ohhhh... Awesome honey!

I also want to do a shout out to my kid's teacher, who told me that they will start watering the class plant with the water left in their cups. I don't know that this will keep the kids from actually turning off or turning down the faucet, but I think that it's important just to have the expression "save water" in their heads. I mean, my kid knows that when he comes in the house, he has to take off his shoes and put them in the closet. He knows that if he wants something, he has to say please. Of course, we're still working on a few things - say, getting a tissue when you've got snot running down your face... why aren't kids bothered by a stream of mucus above their lip??? But the point is that these are all things that we started him doing early. So why not water conservation? Maybe, since it hasn't been on my generation's agenda our whole lives, that we don't necessarily think to make it a priority for our kids. But we have to get them ready for the world that they live in, where water shortages are becoming more and more common. So from now on, it's look both ways before you cross, don't talk to strangers and SAVE WATER!

To read more from Karen T. Hartline's blog - Every Last Drip, please visit - Karen's blog - www.everylastdrip.blogspot.com

Learn how Small Changes can make a Big Difference when conserving water.

mall Changes make a Big Difference

Starring: Damion Fitz
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information provied by: the EPA, www.epa.gov

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

It Ain't for the Polar Bears

It Aint for the Polar Bears
- a guest blog by John Ausiello

For those of you that do not know me (which of course is almost everyone reading this blog) I am a 36 year old physician in New York City who has become deeply passionate about global warming, energy and our environment. I was recently asked why I think such issues are important and what I may be doing about these problems. In future blogs (should I be lucky enough to write more) there will be ample time to address what I and others think can and should be done but today I would like to address the former question.

By now most of us have heard from the scientific community the litany of reasons why global warming is a threat. But the purpose of this blog is not to regurgitate such concerns point by point. Nor is it to sell anyone on the need to protect polar bears or other endangered species however invaluable such efforts may be. Instead, it is about a much more basic and personal reason why global warming is a concern of mine: his name is Alexander Ryan Ausiello, a little fellow who happens to call me daddy.

Alex is now 18 months old, happy, healthy and blissfully ignorant of all that may go wrong in the coming years. As a new parent I share the concerns that surely all young parents must. Is he ok when he coughs at night? Is he warm enough on a cold winter day? Is he growing and developing normally? Will he be vertically challenged his entire life like daddy?

My environmental concerns however have raised a whole new set of concerns perhaps unique to our generation. By the time Alex is 36, it is my fear that we may have squandered our opportunities to reverse global warming amidst our continued indifference. It is my fear that he may be stuck navigating life’s difficulties with the same outdated technology, wondering how billions will adapt to rising sea levels. Or his concern for endangered species may have become a reality as he lives slightly more alone in a world ripe with extinction. It is my fear that he may be entrenched in a world with far fewer options, with far greater threats and with far more uncertainties than the world inherited by his father. And it is my fear that he may have long ago abandoned the idea of parenting, thoughtfully refusing to bring another helpless child into an increasingly unstable world.

At the same time, as concerns for global warming are mounting and the citizens of the world are responding I have hope. By the time Alex is 36, I have hope that the world may have begun to cool thanks to the herculean efforts of his parent’s and grandparent’s generations. I have hope that Alex will be thriving in a world powered by renewable energy, wondering how we ever chose to burn oil to power our daily activities. That he will be in the early stages of a seemingly limitless adult life all made possible by the ingenuity and perseverance of the human spirit. And most importantly, I have hope that he too will have a son or daughter of his own, appreciating the raw emotion that can only come from staring into the eyes of your newborn child.

By the time Alex turns 36, it may be too late to make a difference, all the important decisions will have been made. I hope we have overcome our inertia and have chosen to act wisely. If so, I hope I am there with him to enjoy the dawn of a beautiful new day.

I hope.

Conserve Water in your kitchen in 1 minute.

Think there's nothing you can do to conserve water in your kitchen in 1 minute?

Starring: Jack Halaby
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information provied by: the EPA, www.epa.gov

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Calculate how much water you use every time you shower.

Think there's nothing you can do to conserve water in your bathroom in 1 minute?

Starring: Julie Tortorici
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information provied by: the EPA, www.epa.gov

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Conserve Water in your bathroom in just one minute

Think there's nothing you can do to conserve water in your bathroom in 1 minute?

Starring: Matt Wadja
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information provied by: the EPA, www.epa.gov

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Reel Women Love Milestone

We wanted to pass on the word that the Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival has accepted our short comedy, Milestone into their 2010 festival!

This will be a Los Angeles premiere! If you're in LA, be sure to check this fest out!

The Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival.

Think there's nothing you can do to Conserve Water in 1 minute?

Think there's nothing you can do to conserve water in 1 Minute?

Starring - Mary Kate Funaro, Karen Funaro and Danny Funaro
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Statistical Information provided by - The Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov

Special Thanks - Joan Halaby Funaro, Maureen Halaby and Dennis Arinella.

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Potty Mouth

To kick of Water Conservation Week, we are featuring a guest blog entry written by Karen T. Hartline.

Enjoy - Potty Mouth

This isn't the first time that I've felt like a big fat dummy, but I would say that this is one of the most memorable ones. While staying with my sister in NYC, we were invited to her very close friend's place for dinner. As we're getting ready, my sis turns to me and says, "Hey, you'll be interested to talk to this guy, because he knows how to make the water go down the toilet without flushing it." Okay... So after everyone scrapes the last of this delicious meal off the plate, I turn to the husband and say, "Hey... can you tell me about how you flush the toilet?" I should mention I had spent the evening up to this point making normal dinner-conversation to build everyone's confidence in me as a completely non-psychotic houseguest, which may be the only reason that that this guy graciously let me follow him into his bathroom to demonstrate how to flush the toilet without, uh... well, flushing the toilet.

Here's the answer - get a pad an paper and write this down: pour water in the bowl.

Am I the only one that didn't know that if you pour a gob of water in the toilet bowl that the toilet will flush itself in order to not overflow? Am I? Come on, I can't be. Anyway, I looked at this guy the way the Munchkins looked at Dorothy when she dropped her house on the Wicked Witch.

Now, for those of you just joining us, (and for those of you who forgot), I've been wondering how to feel better about the gallons of grey water that gets sucked down the drain every other night when my son takes a bath. Ta-dah! I finally know what to do with it. I was a bit ambitious at first and insisted that my husband not drain the water in the bath, but as we were going to bed, I freaked out about the slimmest possibility of my son falling in the tub in the middle of the night (the bathroom is attached to his room with no lock on the outside). I know it's a longshot, but I'm a worrier and pictured him doing a jackknife off the soap dish while I was asleep. So, my latest venture is to collect the water in gallon milk cartons one by one and use it to flush the toilets.

Well, I may be the only one to not have known this trick already, but I'm glad I learned this easy way to save gallons and gallons of water. Thank you to my toilet genius friends!

To read more from Karen T. Hartline's blog - Every Last Drip, please visit - Karen's blog - www.everylastdrip.blogspot.com

A conversation with Patrick Plonski from Books for Africa

One of the wonderful organizations we have been fortunate enough to work with is Books for Africa. Please read on to hear from Books for Africa's Executive Director Patrick Plonski, and to learn more about this amazing not for profit and the work that they do.


Please tell me a little bit about Books for Africa.

Books For Africa is the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the Africa continent, shipping over 22 million books to schools and libraries in 45 African countries since 1988.


How was Books for Africa founded?

BFA was established with our founder, Tom Warth, visited a library in Jinja, Uganda in 1988. The library had no books. Since he was involved in the publishing business, he came home to Minnesota and ran a book drive with some of his publishing friends and they sent a few bags of books. It was so well-received, that they set up a non-profit, Books For Africa, and kept going. That was 22 million books ago!

Since its creation, how has Books for Africa impacted the community it serves?

It is hard to describe a community without a library or books of any kind. It is even more odd to describe a community library or a school library that has the building and the shelves, but no books. It is like these people are deprived of what so many of us take for granted. But more than books, what we provide to the kids we serve in Africa is opportunity. Books provide literacy which provides education which provides opportunity to improve lives. You can’t believe the excitement of the kids when they open boxes of books that we shipped. They are excited because they know that they will be able to have fun reading books, but also be able to have some education and move their lives forward.


Please tell us how Books for Africa has personally affected your life?

It has been a great honor to serve as the director of Books for Africa. If a day does not go the way I would like it to go, I can still say to myself “Hey, at least I helped send that container of 22,000 books to Africa today, and that’s a good thing.”


Could you please share an anecdote about someone who's life has been positively affected by Books for Africa?

I remember visiting a school in Eshowe, South Africa a few years ago. We were visiting a book distribution site and bringing a few more books. There was singing and dancing and so much excitement. And I thought, wow, I wonder what would happen if there were this much excitement when books are delivered to a school in the United States?


Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?

Just that a book can change a person’s life. I have some of my favorite books, and I sometimes re-read the parts I love best. I also remember as a kid growing up on the farm reading books and going to the library because I knew there was a bigger world out there and books were the way to get to that world. Please help us to open these doors to the larger world to these kids in Africa.

Diary of an American Shopper day 74

Diary of an American Shopper day 74

Where have I been? To tell you the truth, one of my other resolutions was to waste less this year. So, I came back to the city after the holidays and I realized I had too much stuff! I went to put my new stuff (much of it made domestically) into my closet and the previous years stuff fell out. Hmmmm...I had a problem.

So I started to clean and organize. Two of my all time favorite things. Yes - I'm type A. Moving on...In the organizing, I realized I already had 3 things of shaving creme, 5 things of deodorant and 2 thinks of conditioner. And it didn't stop at toiletries. I have a lot of stuff. Needless to say, I haven't had to buy anything besides food for a while now. And my food is grown in these fine United States! I was very proud to pick up squash over Christmas that had a sticker on it saying it's place of birth was New York. Awesome. I digress...

So as I'm digging myself out of the mountains of things that fell out of my closet, I realized - I need to organize better. And organization means shelves. And then I started to sweat. Shelves are Made in China and Sweeden. This wasn't going to be easy. Or was it. I went to the containerstore.com and they're currently having a sale on their elfa shelves. 30% off. Not bad my friends. Probably not for me though....

What's this? These shelves also whispered some very familiar words in some very tiny print- Made in the U.S.A! WHAT? If I were them I would print that in HUGE FONT. It would help people like me. But how can this be? How can it be that the first place I looked, I strike pay dirt? Clearly the waste gods were looking kindly on me and granting me this concession so I will be able to see what I have and therefore stop buying stuff!

The question? What happens when I clear out all my stuff and need to buy something new? WIll my two resolutions live in harmony throughout the year? We'll have to wait and see. But being type A, patience is something I need to work on,

I mark day 74 a HUGE SUCCESS, but harbor trepidation for the future

Think there's nothing you can do to fight World Poverty in 1 Minute? Watch this.

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight World Poverty in 1 Minute?

Starring: Damion Fitz
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information provied by: Mercy Corps, www.mercycorps.org

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Caitlin CArlson, Heather Mangrum, Robert Sherman and everyone at Mercy Corps and the Mercy Corps Action Center, and Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Poverty in 1 Minute?

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Poverty in 1 Minute?

Starring: Melissa Jernigan & Greg Gallagher
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information provied by: Soles for Souls, www.soles4souls.org

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Elizabeth Kirk and everyone at Soles for Souls, and Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Donate sight to people living in poverty.

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Poverty in 1 Minute?

Starring: Dennis Arinella & Alicia Arinella
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information provied by: Lions Club International, www.lionsclubs.org

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Kristopher Kempski and everyone at Lions Clubs International, Premier Optical, and Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Poverty in 1 Minute?

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Poverty in 1 Minute?

Starring: Michael Chang & Jim Paugh
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Consulting Producer: Mary Micari
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Statistical information attained from the US Census Bureau
(http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p60-235.pdf)

Special Thanks: Erin Moran and everyone at Dress for Success, www.dressforsuccess.org,
John Sanful and everyone at Career Gear, www.careergear.org and
Dennis Arinella

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

IN HONOR OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.


Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. We, over here, toiling away on project, What You Can Do felt it would be nonsensical to ignore the fact that today, the nation stands together in celebration of a man who shaped our country’s history and did what he could to further our collective humanity.

This week, What You Can Do 365, addresses the issue of poverty. However, today we at On the Leesh, wanted to take a step back and acknowledge that some of the inspiration of the entire project comes from the enduring optimism of heroes like, Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am not an expert on the man. Nor am I an expert on the movement. While this project and this holiday have a very obvious connection, I didn’t want to pretend to sit here at my computer and write as if I am an authority. Instead, I thought a first step would be to think about some of the words that are bandied about today. One word that came to my mind was tolerance. Not having a next step, I looked the word up for the exact definition. Among other entries on dictionary.com I found this: “a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc, differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry.”

“Freedom from bigotry.” I love the way that sounds; the phrasing of it. The definition begins so clinically with words like “fair”, “objective”, “permissive” and then they offer this epic sounding phrase, “freedom from bigotry.” It makes it sound as if it is something someone can offer you. It makes it sound as if it is something that a place or country can offer you. It is so hopeful sounding; so optimistic.

Following my word path I decided to look up some of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches. For if anyone can offer words that, when strung together permeate hope, it is he. I opted to look at a speech I was less familiar with and read the speech he gave when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. Before me were beautiful, delicious, moving words like “audacious,” “audacity” and phrases like “the eternal oughtness”.

Then I read on and everything came full circle. My eyes scanned the following:
“Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in Who's Who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live -- men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization…”

This at its essence, my friends, is the spirit of What You Can Do 365. Nobody will know if you sponsored a woman in Africa. Nobody will know if you switched to “green” cleaners or if you’ve donated clothing to a shelter. Yet you’ve joined this anonymous body of people who together can move beyond indifference and apathy and change this world. Among you are others who, like you, have claimed responsibility for their world and are taking action. It’s all of us, standing together for the action and not the recognition of bettering our surroundings in every way possible.

All of us here at What You Can Do 365 wish you an everlasting Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

Here are some links we found over here on the man and the movement. Please check them out!

http://www.thekingcenter.org/
http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/
http://www.mlkonline.net

And to watch the entire "I Have a Dream" speech - watch this.

When you think of poverty, what comes to mind?

When you think of poverty, what comes to mind?

The experts of course, first have to come up with a way to define and measure it. How can we calculate whether or not an individual or family is impoverished? Apparently, there is some debate about how this is done. What measures should be used? What should be included in figuring this data out? It’s important for the experts to have a sense of the devastating numbers. For the nonexperts however, I think I can speak for all of us when I say that the exact numbers don’t really matter, because who would want to see anyone come even close to meeting those incredibly low income numbers? Many of us have seen those news stories or have had friends or family members who’s circumstances have changed drastically due to the devastating economic downturn. Maybe some of those people or families wouldn’t fit into the narrow definition of poverty and yet, I think we’d all want to pitch in and help them as well.

This brings me to our first week of videos surrounding the issue of poverty. Did you know that merely not having glasses can keep someone from getting out of poverty? What about simply not having the right interview attire to wear? Or not having access to resource books? Statistics aside, the face of poverty stretches far and wide and it’s been so encouraging over here to discover that there is a range of things that a person can do to help someone else suffering from poverty – however it’s defined.

An Interview with Susanna Masur from Action Against Hunger

An Interview with Susanna Masur from Action Against Hunger

Closing out hunger week, Jessica and I wanted to interview someone who could speak to this devastating issue on an international level. Our interview with City Harvest allowed us to address the impact of hunger locally, so we felt it was important to also look at it from an international standpoint.

I have known about the organization, Action Against Hunger for some time now. I am on their newsletter list and I’ve always been interested in the work they were doing. Once we began “What You Can Do” they were one of the organizations I was hoping would sign on and sure enough – they did! Below is my interview with Susannah Masur from Action Against Hunger. In getting her expert viewpoint, what I found most interesting was that, while most of us know how widespread an epidemic hunger and malnutrition are, I’m not sure how many people realize that there are specific solutions out there. Indeed, this problem seems to come with some hopeful answers.

The following is the interview with Susannah. Hopefully you find it as interesting as I did!

1. What, if any, misconceptions do you feel that people have about world hunger?

One major misconception is that world hunger is a problem too daunting to solve. In reality, the fight against hunger can be won. We have the tools and knowledge to do it. What we lack is the political will. In the 21^st century, we’ve made major strides in the battle against HIV/AIDS. And most countries on earth have banned the use of landmines. We can do the same for hunger, but people have to stand up and demand it.

Another common misconception is that hunger is mostly limited to Africa. On the contrary, malnutrition is rampant throughout much of the developing world. In fact, the country with the greatest number of malnourished children is actually India. Despite their growing middle class, millions of children there don’t get the nutrients they need to survive.

2. In your opinion, what is the greatest hope on the horizon regarding the fight against world hunger?

There is reason to be very optimistic about the fight against hunger. For the first time in history, we can end acute malnutrition, a condition that affects some 55 million children today and kills up to five million of them every year.

A range of nutritional products has been developed in the last few years that has literally revolutionized the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition. Ready-to-Use Foods, or RUFs for short, are specially formulated to jumpstart a malnourished child’s metabolism, revive organ and cell function, and initiate weight gain. Unlike previous products, they require no preparation, no mixing with water, no refrigeration, and most importantly, no hospitalization. Action Against Hunger has saved hundreds of thousands of lives using these RUFs by working with community members to identify, treat, and follow-up with acutely malnourished children. Still, less than 10% of children suffering from acute malnutrition around the world have access to life-saving treatment.

The good news is that community-based care using RUFs can be scaled up to reach the millions of children suffering from the condition. Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened yet because it hasn’t been made a priority. At Action Against Hunger, we’re trying to change that through a new campaign to end acute malnutrition. Visitwww.actionagainsthunger.org/end-malnutrition to learn more.

3. If someone is motivated beyond our 1 minute idea in the fight to end world hunger, what is your recommendation for them to do?

They can stay informed about the issues by signing up for newsletters and email alerts. They can visitwww.actionagainsthunger.org/get-involved/join-us to keep up-to-date on Action Against Hunger’s life-saving humanitarian programs and latest developments in the fight against hunger.

Or, they can donate to organizations like Action Against Hunger that have proven success in fighting hunger and are cost-effective. Given more time, they can host a party at home to raise awareness and funds for organizations of their choosing.

Or what about giving a gift that gives back? There are a number of establishments that donate a portion of their proceeds to hunger organizations. Visithttp://www.actionagainsthunger.org/get-involved/partnerships for a list of participating stores.

4. Has working with Action Against Hunger changed you in any way that you’d like to share with our audience?

Action Against Hunger is an extraordinary organization, and I’m privileged to be among a group of dedicated and passionate colleagues. I’ve been truly inspired by their work with populations in crisis and by the professionalism they show, even under the most difficult circumstances.

I’ll give you one example: Daisy Nyaga, our Public Health Program Manager in Kenya, was just honored for the extraordinary work she does in distressed communities. Daisy works with families to improve their health and prevent illnesses like malaria, dysentery, and cholera that are major contributing factors to malnutrition and kill millions of children in developing countries every year. She spends hours and hours talking to mothers and their children about basic care practices—like the importance of breast-feeding and nutrient-rich diets—and steps they can take to improve hygiene and sanitation. This is exhausting work, but it’s critically important in Kenya and other countries where unsanitary conditions lead to childhood deaths. It’s amazing what a difference she and the thousands of other Action Against Hunger staff working around the world have made. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from them.

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight World Hunger in 1 Minute?

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight World Hunger in 1 Minute?

Starring: Alex Marshall-Brown

Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella

Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella

Produced by: On the Leesh Productions

Music by: Banana Whale

What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Statistical Information provied by: Mercy Corps, www.mercycorps.org

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Caitlin Carlson and everyone at Mercy Corps, and Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Hunger In NYC in 1 Minute?

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Hunger in NYC in 1 Minute?

Starring: Melissa Jernigan & Greg Gallagher

Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella

Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella

Produced by: On the Leesh Productions

Music by: Banana Whale

What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Statistical Information provied by: City Harvest, www.cityharvest.org

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Heather Wallace and everyone at City Harvest, and Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Think there's nothing you can do to fight Global Hunger in 1 Minute?

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight GlobalHunger in 1 Minute?

Starring: Karen T. Hartline
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information provied by: Action Against Hunger, www.actionagainsthunger.org

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Susannah Masur and everyone at Action Against Hunger, and Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Click for Hunger

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Hunger in 1 Minute?

Starring: Julie Tortorici
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information provied by: The GreaterGood Network, www.hungersite.com

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Rosemary Jones and everyone at The GreaterGood Network, and Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Hunger in 1 Minute?

Think there's nothing you can do to fight Hunger in 1 Minute? Watch this.

Starring: Jack Halaby
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Consulting Producer: Mary Micari
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Statistical information provided by: City Harvest, www.cityharvest.org

Special Thanks:
Heather Wallace and everyone at City Harvest, www.cityharvest.org
Maureen Halaby, Dennis Arinella and everyone at WLIW

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

A Conversation with City Harvest

When making a list of the world’s most overwhelming problems hunger is pretty close to the top. And when I created the idea of What You Can Do, I honestly wasn’t sure there was anything you could do to fight hunger in one minute.

But as this project has been about separating the possible from the impossible, I was set to find out. In the course of my research I came across the world’s first food rescue organization: City Harvest. And its origins are inspiring.
In the early 1980’s a group of average people were troubled by the fact that many New Yorkers didn’t have enough to eat. When they saw restaurants throwing away perfectly good food they began recruiting friends and borrowing cars to transport this food to where it was needed most. And from those small first steps City Harvest has gone on to deliver 200 million pounds of food to a network of over 600 community food programs throughout New York City in the past 25 years.

So yes, it’s possible.

We have been lucky enough to work with City Harvest for our week on Hunger. I reached out to Heather Wallace to ask her some pressing questions about hunger in New York City and the fight to end it. Please find the interview below.

How has City Harvest helped to fight hunger in NYC?

This year, City Harvest will collect over 25 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, and farms. This food is then delivered free of charge to nearly 600 community food programs throughout New York City using a fleet of trucks and bikes as well as volunteers on foot. Each week,
City Harvest helps over 260,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal.

City Harvest also addresses hunger’s underlying causes by supporting affordable access to nutritious food in low-income communities, educating individuals, families, and communities in the prevention of diet-related diseases, channeling a greater amount of local farm food into high-need areas, and enhancing the ability of our agency partners to feed hungry men, women, and children.

Has the need or the profile of person who requires City Harvest's services changed over the years?

Yes! The agencies we serve have reported increases in the people they serve, especially since the economy collapsed in September 2008. Counter to what most people might think about hunger, most people who access emergency food in NYC have jobs and homes. Many simply make too much to qualify for public benefits like food stamps but too little to pay all their living expenses and feed themselves and their families. For example, if a family of three makes more than $24,000 they no longer qualify for food stamps. As anyone who lives in NYC knows, it’s nearly impossible for a single person to live on $24,000/year. When you have a family you are most likely being forced to look for assistance to put food on the table.

Do you think that the current economy has added to this?

Yes! Our agency network has reported seeing an increase of 15% or more in the number of people accessing emergency food during the past year. Many of these are people who never needed help before but who have been pushed to food lines due to extended unemployment and reliance on seasonal or low-paying jobs. The largest increases have been in the number of children and seniors seeking help.

How has working at City Harvest changed your perspective in your own life?

I’m much more aware of how much people in NYC struggle to make it. Most of the people we serve have jobs and homes and just can’t make ends meet. These are hardworking, regular people and you can’t tell just by looking at someone if they’ve just come from lunch at a soup kitchen or if the groceries they are carrying came from a food pantry. For many of them the food we deliver is their only option.


What are the goals and hopes for City Harvest in the future?

Of course we hope for a city where there is no hunger. Where anyone in need is able to find food and where there are services in place that not only provide emergency food to those that need it today, but also provide the support they need to eventually become self-sufficient so they no longer need to stand on line for food.


Is there anything you would like the average person to know about either City Harvest or the fight against hunger?

I want people to know that hunger in NYC isn’t just the homeless person they see on the street; that they would be surprised to see who the people on line for emergency food at city agencies really are. It could be you or I or the receptionist at their office or the guy in the mailroom or the person behind the counter who sells them coffee every morning. It’s easy to get involved and help and it doesn’t take that much to make a real difference. At City Harvest we can provide 4 pounds of food for just a dollar – good food that would be thrown in the garbage will go to feed those in need. We also have lot of volunteer opportunities for those people who have special skills or extra time to give.

How it all got started

OK, so here's the story:
One night a few years ago my husband, my sister and I were all watching a brilliant documentary called Why We Fight. The documentary was intelligent, illuminating, shocking, moving and basically made me want to curl up into a big ball and cry. In fact, about an hour into this documentary I felt so overwhelmed that I wanted to turn my attention to something of no substance. And that is how I found myself sequestered in my bedroom reading US magazine.

Somewhere into an article about Brangelina I realized that this is a problem. If you want help starting, stopping or ameliorating a global issue, I am basically your target audience. I genuinely want to help, to get involved, to be of use. But instead, I am hiding under my bed reading made up news about hyphenated celebrities.

I realized then that I had been taken over by an illness I like to refer to as Impending Sense of Doom. Perhaps you recognize this feeling? I also felt ISD while reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road and watching the polar bears in An Inconvenient Truth (On the iceberg?! The horror!). ISD comes on when you are presented with an insurmountable issue and you feel like there is nothing you, the average person, can do about it. And when that happens, I just don't want to know anymore. If I heard about a genocide and there was nothing I could do about it, I’d get ISD. If you told me that thousands of elephants were being slaughtered in front of their families and developed post-traumatic stress disorder, and there was nothing I could do about it, I’d get ISD.

What else could I do?

And then I had an idea. I have access to a production company! I have (albeit limited) producing skills! Maybe there was something else I could do.


I conceived What You Can Do as a web series that would take a pressing social issue (global warming, AIDS in Africa, hunger, etc.) and show what an individual could DO about them if they had a minute, an hour a week or a year. We planned to begin pre-production on our inaugural episode that June. We pitched it to the Discovery Channel.

We were summarily rejected.

And then as happens every once in a very blue moon. Fate steps in.

Alicia (the one with the actual producing skills) and I were up at the Berkshire International Film Festival screening a short film that On the Leesh had produced. The festival had invited Alicia to participate in a panel to speak about emerging distribution models and she accepted.

The panel was at 9 AM on a Sunday morning. I assumed that most people would be doing my favorite Sunday activity- sleeping - but actually, it was a wonderful turnout. In the course of the discussion, our plans for What You Can Do came up, and as luck would have it, a producer from a NYC PBS affiliate was in attendance. After the panel ended, he invited us to come in and formally pitch the idea to WLIW.

We did, and they loved it.

Following the meeting was a creation process involving much trial, error, tears and leaps of faith. The result is the one-minute version that is running now. And running still.

This project thus far has been both terrifying and inspiring. Inspiring that something I had envisioned as more of a wish than an actual possibility is now -due to the efforts and faith of some immensely talented and courageous people -a reality. And terrifying in the sense that - as there are really only a few people working on this in a very small office - I am still not actually sure that this is possible.

I am not naive enough to believe that a single project can cool down the planet or end global strife, and yet, I don’t believe it’s at all too wide-eyed to surmise that the first step is to offer people tangible solutions. And who knows? Maybe these videos will reach someone or inspire someone who really can make a difference. Someone with a larger skill set, and a more talented brain than I possess.

I thank you for reading this. And I thank you for being brave/ naïve/ crazy/ hopeful/inspired/wide-eyed enough to take this leap with me.

I thank you for joining us as we kick off What You Can Do 365.

Let’s take this year – and let’s show them what we can do.

Conscious Buying

Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green this Winter in 1 Minute?

Starring: Damion Fitz
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group


Statistical Information from: The EPA - www.epa.gov

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Eco-Tourism

Think there's nothing you can do to travel Green this winter?

Starring: Jennifer Dziura
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Statistical Information Provided by: The International Ecotourism Society - www.ecotourism.org

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Ferdinand Weps and everyone at the International Ecotourism Society, and Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Check out this Drawing from the Daily Post it!

Check out this drawing from the Daily Post it!

Thanks Aaron!

Go Green Winter: Heat

Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green this winter in 1 Minute?

Starring: Noah Diamond
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Statistical Information from: The EPA - www.epa.gov

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Milestone to visit Durango, CO!

OTL's latest short comedy, "Milestone" is making its way across the country. Its next stop? Durango, CO. Alicia and I had the pleasure of attending this festival a few years ago and we had an amazing time! If you've ever wanted to visit Colorado, I highly recommend this festival. It takes place from March 3-7 but for more information, check out their site at: The Durango Independent Film Festival

Alternate Fire Logs

Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green this winter in 1 Minute?

Starring: Dave Wall
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Statistical Information from: The EPA - www.epa.gov

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Go Green Winter: New Years Resolutions

Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green this winter in 1 Minute?

Starring: Julie Tortorici
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Statistical Information from: The EPA - www.epa.gov

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Do You Have a New Years Resolution?

Do You have a New Years Resolution?

The What You Can Do team shares some of our New Years Resolutions.

What will yours be?

Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks - Dennis Arinella and all of everyone who gave up their time to shoot these videos. Thank you.

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

What is What You Can Do 365

Wondering what 365 is all about?

Watch this video and hear from the Creator, Head Writer and Executive Producer.

Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks - Dennis Arinella and all of everyone who gave up their time to shoot these videos. Thank you.

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

What is What You Can Do 365

Wondering what 365 is all about?

Watch this video and hear from the Creator, Head Writer and Executive Producer.

Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks - Dennis Arinella and all of everyone who gave up their time to shoot these videos. Thank you.

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Welcome to What You Can Do 365

As we embark on a new year, we take time to reflect on the world around us. But this year, we're also starting a new decade. In honor of that, we are launching What You Can Do 365 - a toolbox of simple one minute steps to show you what you can do about social issues if you only have a minute of time to give. We're doing a different video each day for one year. 


Because even if you have only one minute, you can help change the world.

Happy New Year - Come on Let's show them What You Can Do!

Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks - Dennis Arinella and all of everyone who gave up their time to shoot these videos. Thank you.

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com