Many years ago now, I went to see Tony Robbins and he asked the question "What have you always said you wanted to do and are still NOT doing?" For me the answer was easy, I had always said that I would give back to those in need, so I returned home and grabbed a single chicken and made my first pot of soup in my kitchen and brought it downtown to the lower east side of Vancouver on a rainy day and
served it to about 25 people. Soon, my friend Chris was helping and we made it a regular event on Sundays, buying a pot large enough to feed about 250 people and recruiting volunteers to make and serve sandwiches and come with us to the alley behind the Carnegie in downtown Vancouver. In almost two years we have probably fed more than 20,000 meals all out of our home kitchen, its a wonderful way to give back and we include my daughter, who is now twelve, she hands out the cookies and some people call her the 'cookie lady'. The most rewarding part is we have been able to provide hope in an alley where so many have given up on themselves, just the opportunity to give back lifts my spirits like I cannot explain unless you come down and see/help for yourself. Recently, we invited a colleague of mine from Arizona to join us and she was so touched, she has started a 'SOUL FOOD' of her own in Arizona, what a blessing and testimony to the power of Paying It Forward. I am starting this group to invite any of you to begin your own in your hometown OR join us and help us reach our goals of ensuring that no human being in North America ever go hungry.
