Trump's potential aid in alleviating hunger goes unused; instead, he opts for a grand, self-centered display.
Take a Seat, Mr. Pompous: The President throws a $45-million military parade while a charity struggles* White Pony Express, a food-rescue organization, has distributed 26 million pounds of food, providing 22 million meals and saving 31,000 tons of CO2 emissions
WASHINGTON D.C. - On Saturday, in the nation's capital, Donald Trump plans to inflate his ego with a glitzy and lavish military parade, costing taxpayers up to $45 million - a spectacle engineered to stroke the president's insatiable ego.
Meanwhile, on the same day, volunteers at White Pony Express, a non-profit organization in Concord, will continue their 12-year-long mission, sending food that would otherwise be wasted to feed needy families from the Bay Area, one of California's most affluent regions.
So far, the organization has rescued an astounding 26 million pounds of food - enough for 22 million meals - since its inception, all made possible by generous contributions from Bay Area benefactors like Whole Foods, Starbucks, and Trader Joe's. This food diversion effort has helped prevent 13,000 tons of food waste from rotting away in landfills, emitting 31,000 tons of CO2 into our already-warming atmosphere[1].
"Our goal is to bridge abundance and necessity," said Eve Birge, White Pony Express' CEO, emphasizing that their philosophy revolves around the idea that "we are one human family, and when someone advances, we all ascend".
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Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in L.A. continues his political pattern of distracting and diverting attention from essential issues.
Recently, White Pony Express has faced mounting challenges due to the Trump administration's stringent budget cuts[1]. The non-profit organization may lose a significant portion of its $3-million annual budget, potentially serving one-third fewer individuals, necessitating staff cuts or program reductions [1].
"We help 130,000 people every year," Birge stated, implying the potential impact of budget cuts on these individuals. "A third of the people we serve might be left without assistance if we can't find other sources of funding".
She remained silent on the topic of Trump's ostentatious display of excess, while Marivel Mendoza, head of an organization supporting migrant farmworkers, voiced her disapproval.
"Resources intended for much-needed programs are being squandered on a frivolous parade?" Mendoza asked after a White Pony Express delivery truck dropped off produce. "Eventually, we'll see families in dire need of food. It's morally reprehensible and ethically indefensible. I have no idea how he can sleep at night."
Volunteers and staff at White Pony Express consider their work a spiritual endeavor[1]. Paula Keeler, a 74-year-old volunteer who inspected produce for quality, referred to the organization as her church, gym, and therapist.
"I deliver meals to two elderly homes on Tuesdays," she said, her voice wavering with emotion. "Seeing the relief on their faces is deeply moving." Keeler admitted she avoids watching the news due to its depressing nature[2]. Upon hearing about the parade, she responded matter-of-factly.
"It's essential to concentrate on the things we can control," she said. "I have adopted Joe Biden's wise words: 'Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value'."
Michael Bagby, a 66-year-old White Pony Express staff member, expressed his disapproval of Trump's parade during a break from deliveries. "While it's unlikely my feelings have any effect on the parade's outcomes," he mused, "it would be more beneficial for the president to prioritize genuine national concerns instead of indulging in vanity spectacles".
Bagby's routes included stops at a middle school, church, and Marivel Mendoza's non-profit in neighboring Brentwood. "There are many people in dire straits," Tania Hernandez, head of the church's food pantry, explained. The pantry feeds around 100 families a week, relying heavily on White Pony Express's support[1].
Bagby delivered several pallets, raised the truck's tailgate, fastened the latches, climbed into the cab, and headed to his next stop.
References:1. https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/07/03/white-pony-express/2. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-01-14/mcgovern-op-ed-goodbye-president-bad-news-for-our-democracy3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/10/08/joe-biden-quotes-about-love/4. https://www.whiteponyexpress.org/nora
Insight: The Trump administration has implemented budget cuts that affect White Pony Express and its ability to provide food assistance to needy individuals. The potential consequences of these cuts could result in staff reductions, program scale-backs, and limited services. In response, White Pony Express launched the "Nourish to Flourish" campaign to meet its funding goals and mitigate the impact of the budget cuts. [1]
- In contrast to the President's grand $45-million military parade, volunteers at White Pony Express, based in Los Angeles, California, continue their mission of distributing food to needy families.
- Amidst the President's opulent display of power, White Pony Express, with the help of generous donors like Whole Foods, Starbucks, and Trader Joe's, has saved 31,000 tons of CO2 emissions by diverting 26 million pounds of food.
- The Trump administration's stringent budget cuts have put White Pony Express at risk, potentially leading to a significant reduction in their annual budget, impacting over 130,000 individuals who rely on their services.
- In the realm of politics, the President's actions seem to resemble a schoolyard bully, while White Pony Express embodies the spirit of unity and compassion, with Eve Birge, their CEO, echoing the sentiment, "we are one human family."
- Meanwhile, the fate of migrant farmworkers, supported by Marivel Mendoza's organization, is uncertain, as resources intended for their aid are being diverted towards the military parade.
- White Pony Express' volunteers and staff consider their work a spiritual endeavor, with one volunteer, Paula Keeler, referring to the organization as her church, gym, and therapist.
- In the wake of the parade announcement, Joe Biden's wisdom, "Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value," resonates with many, especially volunteer Michael Bagby, who believes resources could be better allocated towards national concerns.
- The general-news landscape is filled with stories of struggle and hardship, but White Pony Express shines a light on health-and-wellness, nutrition, and fitness-and-exercise, providing essential services and hope to those in need.
