Lehigh Valley Food Not Bombs
Food Not Bombs is a worldwide movement dedicated to the redistribution of
surplus food to hungry people. Consider that approximately 46 billion pounds
of food is thrown away each year in the U.S., while if only four billion
pounds of that food were recovered, the national hunger problem could be
solved. We are one of the fastest growing grassroots political groups in
North America. There are over 100 autonomous chapters protesting militarism
and poverty by serving free vegetarian food to people in need and in support
of on-going political organizing efforts. We believe that society and
government should value human life over material wealth. Many of the problems
in the world stem from this simple crises in values. By giving away free food
to people in need in public spaces we directly dramatize the level of hunger
in this country and the surplus of food being wasted. We also call attention
to the failures of the society to support those within it while funding the
forces of war and violence, including the police. Food Not Bombs was formed
in Boston in 1980 as an outgrowth of the anti-nuclear movement in New
England. We are committed to the use of non- violent direct action to change
society. It is by working today to create sustainable institutions that
prefigure the kind of society we want to live in, that we build a vital and
caring movement for progressive social change. Food Not Bombs serves food as
a practical act of sustaining people and organizations, not as symbolism.
Thousands of meals are served each week by FNB groups in North America and
Europe.
Basic Principles of Food Not Bombs:
Food Recycling: Enough food is wasted each day to feed everyone who is
hungry. Food Not Bombs recovers healthy nutritious vegetarian food that would
have been otherwise discarded and prepares and serves it to people. We
collect food from produce warehouses and grocery stores that might be
unsalable because it no longer has the necessary shelf life and we use it the
same day.
Non-Violence: Our society is dominated by violence. Our daily lives are
effected by the constant threat of crime and police violence and the ongoing
possibility of nuclear war. The authority and power of our government is
based on the threat and use of violence at home and abroad. Food Not Bombs is
committed to a vision of society that is motivated by love and sharing not
violence and greed. Poverty is also violence. While our society pursues the
massive accumulation of wealth for the few it relegates millions to hunger
and homelessness. This combined with police violence, inadequate healthcare
and various forms of discrimination deprive each of us of a vibrant and
loving way of life. The commercial food industry is also predicated on
violence. It involves the slaughtering of millions of animals and the
poisoning of our planet through the use of chemical pesticides and
fertilizers. It also allows tons of usable food to go to waste to insure
profits. Food Not Bombs serves only vegetarian food and makes every effort to
use organic produce. Food Not Bombs challenges the violence of society by the
free sharing of food and non-violent actions that highlight the injustices of
militarism and poverty. We cannot jeopardize ourselves or the people we
work with through the use of shortsighted acts of violence in the heat of the
moment.
Consensus Decision Making: Rather then relying on a system of winner take
all, Food Not Bombs believes that every member of the group should have a
full opportunity to participate in shaping all the group's decisions. The
consensus process insures that the will of the majority doesn't dismiss the
values and contributions of everyone else. Consensus process forces us to
resolve conflicts through negotiation and compromise rather than overruling
and censoring.
Want to help out:
We meet and serve every saturday at 1pm in center circle Easton. Feel free
to come share ideas and food! Click here to look up directions.
Contact: 610 349 6607
3140 Tilghman St #119 Allentown PA 18104
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