Burrito Project feeds homeless and hungry
(reposted from my bloggz)
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight (give props to, if you will) a group of very well-meaning and kindhearted riders.
No matter which side of the homeless debate you choose to stand on, one thing is clear: the Burrito Project doesn't pick sides - it just wants to feed the hungry without judgment, without a need for fame and glory - and it's hard to deny that it accomplishes that mission very well, week in and week out.
Garnering headlines and a ton of interest when it received the first ever Myspace Impact Award almost a year ago, which earned the non-profit organization a whopping donation of $10,000, the Burrito Project has since grown at a more than impressive pace, with "chapters" popping up all over the country, including a Northeast Los Angeles effort getting underway recently. The Los Angeles chapter, which serves mostly downtown and surrounding areas, has flourished with so many volunteer cyclists that they appear to no longer be taking new riders/cooks. Instead, they (and the main Burrito Project website) encourage others to create new chapters in their own communities. The L.A. chapter has been known to hand out 400+ burritos on their weekly rides through the metro area.
Here's how it works: one night each week, mostly anonymous groups of cyclists get together and "build" vegan burritos from store-bought or donated materials. After wrapping and stuffing them in messenger bags, the shadowy crew then rides out to feed the homeless and hungry in their local communities.
The underlying concept is simple. People are out on the streets, and regardless of their individual situations, are often times cold, mentally disadvantaged, and hungry. The Burrito Project aims to feed these people - one human to another - to give them a much needed meal, and much needed hope. It's like the urban cycling community's way of paying it forward. From their site:
The mission of Burrito Project is to provide people with the means to become active members in their community. It is a way for people to bridge a gap between the fed and the hungry. Burrito Project is in no way, shape, or form affiliated with any religious or political organization; we are non-fame and a non-personal recognition group. We would rather profit with personal satisfaction than personal recognition...The homeless and hungry are people. They are our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and parents...
...The Project is respectful and friendly. Despite the reasons for these people’s displacement, the project extends a free burrito without judgment. There is no sermon or lecture. We offer substance in the form of a handshake, eye contact, warm food, and even some hugs.
We can argue about the issues surrounding homelessness in Los Angeles until we're blue in the face, but there's no arguing that these riders are making a huge impact on the day to day lives of the homeless and hungry across the city. Kudos to them, and happy Thanksgiving to all.
P.S. rumor has it that a Hollywood Burrito Project is in the works...
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight (give props to, if you will) a group of very well-meaning and kindhearted riders.
No matter which side of the homeless debate you choose to stand on, one thing is clear: the Burrito Project doesn't pick sides - it just wants to feed the hungry without judgment, without a need for fame and glory - and it's hard to deny that it accomplishes that mission very well, week in and week out.
Garnering headlines and a ton of interest when it received the first ever Myspace Impact Award almost a year ago, which earned the non-profit organization a whopping donation of $10,000, the Burrito Project has since grown at a more than impressive pace, with "chapters" popping up all over the country, including a Northeast Los Angeles effort getting underway recently. The Los Angeles chapter, which serves mostly downtown and surrounding areas, has flourished with so many volunteer cyclists that they appear to no longer be taking new riders/cooks. Instead, they (and the main Burrito Project website) encourage others to create new chapters in their own communities. The L.A. chapter has been known to hand out 400+ burritos on their weekly rides through the metro area.
Here's how it works: one night each week, mostly anonymous groups of cyclists get together and "build" vegan burritos from store-bought or donated materials. After wrapping and stuffing them in messenger bags, the shadowy crew then rides out to feed the homeless and hungry in their local communities.
The underlying concept is simple. People are out on the streets, and regardless of their individual situations, are often times cold, mentally disadvantaged, and hungry. The Burrito Project aims to feed these people - one human to another - to give them a much needed meal, and much needed hope. It's like the urban cycling community's way of paying it forward. From their site:
The mission of Burrito Project is to provide people with the means to become active members in their community. It is a way for people to bridge a gap between the fed and the hungry. Burrito Project is in no way, shape, or form affiliated with any religious or political organization; we are non-fame and a non-personal recognition group. We would rather profit with personal satisfaction than personal recognition...The homeless and hungry are people. They are our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and parents...
...The Project is respectful and friendly. Despite the reasons for these people’s displacement, the project extends a free burrito without judgment. There is no sermon or lecture. We offer substance in the form of a handshake, eye contact, warm food, and even some hugs.
We can argue about the issues surrounding homelessness in Los Angeles until we're blue in the face, but there's no arguing that these riders are making a huge impact on the day to day lives of the homeless and hungry across the city. Kudos to them, and happy Thanksgiving to all.
P.S. rumor has it that a Hollywood Burrito Project is in the works...