Monday, December 15, 2008

Blogging Out Hunger on Music Monday: Let Them Know It's Christmas Time. Please Don't Let This Bank Fail!

It was Christmas 1984, almost 25 years ago, when Bob Geldof led Band Aid in "Do They Know Its Christmas Time?" to raise awareness of hunger in Africa. Today, I'm posting this Music Monday video to raise awareness, not of hunger in Africa, but of hunger right here at home in New Jersey. Over 100 New Jersey bloggers have united to fight local NJ hunger in a coordinated "This Bank Can't Fail" blogging campaign for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey on Monday, December 15th. Our goal is to spread the word about the increased demand being put on the food pantries in New Jersey and how everyone can help.




No matter how you feel about the government bailout of the nation's largest banks, I think you'll agree that there's one bank that we can't allow to fail: the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. As you are probably well aware, the Food Bank is in desperate need of donations this holiday season. With bare shelves and demand for food among state residents far outpacing supply, the FoodBank is in danger of being unable to meet the needs of New Jersey’s hungry.


Our team of NJ bloggers will be in good company. Legendary music icon Bruce Springsteen will be lending his voice to the fight against hunger in New Jersey by headlining "We Can't Let This Bank Fail" -- a major advertising campaign and call to action for people to contribute in any way they can to help the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Although Bruce Springsteen has been a supporter of the FoodBank for 23 years, often donating proceeds from his concerts to the organization, this ad marks the first time Springsteen has publicly lent his image to the campaign, due to the urgency of the situation.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is facing a dire shortage of food. Without the public’s support, it may, for the first time in its history, begin to ration food. This is a state-wide crisis, with the unstable economy resulting in a 30 percent increase in those needing food. In years past, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey has provided assistance to more than 500,000 New Jerseyans, but expects to see a major uptick in need this year, especially during the winter months when people often struggle between paying heating and food bills.

We're hoping our efforts will compel everyone to do something, anything, to help. Visit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey at www.njfoodbank.org or call 908-355-FOOD (3663) to learn more. What can you do?

  • Make a monetary contribution: Visit http://www.njfoodbank.org/.
  • Donate food: Drop off a bag of food at your local food pantry.
  • Organize a food drive: We can help explain the logistics of starting a food drive. Just call 908-355-FOOD.
  • Help "Check Out Hunger:" Look for the "Check Out Hunger" coupons at your local supermarket and donate. No donation is too small!

It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time

But say a prayer

Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring
there are the clanging
chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
(Oooh) Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again



Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.



15 comments:

Pok Dell said...

Wow...never heard this song before..
They composed it well...

Rozella said...

Roxy, this is not only a great meaningful song, but this is a great post for a wonderful cause. :)

Anonymous said...

Hello..I am not a music monday participant but I started my Monday Jam. I would like to ask if it is ok for me to embed this video also to my Monday Jam? I have an blog entry in mind for this song and it really inspires me. Hope to hear from you.

Marly

Mister Scott said...

uh... I must confess that i wrote my Music Monday post on Saturday and waited to post it today (Monday) and ITS THE SAME SAME FRIGGIN SONG! ugh! I wonder what the ettiquette about double dipping is?

cheers!
scotty

LadyJava said...

What a great cause and song Roxy!!! Thank you for making this week MM extra special and meaningful!!

Mariuca said...

Roxy!!! I'm here!! :)

Mariuca said...

Oh I love this song Roxy!!! I think I prefer this one to We are the world!! :)

I was studying in Canada that year, and we sixth graders performed it for Christmas! Ohhh such wonderful memories!!

Mariuca said...

Lots of my fave singers are in this video, lemme watch it now, be right back! :)

Mariuca said...

YAY! I see Phil Collins, Duran Duran, Wham, Boy George, Sting (he looks so hot in this video OMG!!) Bono and so many more!! Told ya I love this song!! Oh this is def my fave MM pick from the list this week, awesome Roxy! :):):)

Jose said...

Amen to that roxy, we need to start at home. Great post, we are trying to keep our Phoenix food banks well stocked too. Seems they are getting emptier too fast.

Speedcat Hollydale said...

Double good pick!

Driving through here on my blogging bike :-)

BEEP BEEP

Anonymous said...

Boy does that bring back memories.

Laura said...

Roxy, thank you so much for posting about the need. The food banks all over our Country are in great need. Anything anyone can do is greatly appreciated.

Of course, you have done a wonderful job posting a great song to uplift and remind us all of the meaning behind Christmas.
Thank you :)

Mister Scott said...

congrats on winning yesterday's "battle of the band-aid posts"... let me know in advance what song you'll be using and i'll do my best to cop...er... post the same ;)

Anonymous said...

Roxy:
I am a cashier at Kings and I live in town. All of the registers at Kings in Mendham have coupons on the registers for customers to donate $1, $2, $3, and $5 to their order. Some customers have been donating in excess of $5 on an order as well. The NJ Blogging Community has some aid in donating to the Community Foodbank of NJ. I understand that Acme and Shoprite are participating in the Checkout Hunger as well.
Thanks for helping do your part.