Holiday Food and Clothing Drive

From Wendy Black Nasta of Artists for World Peace

As the holiday season approaches, I am using this opportunity to share with you what an amazing year this has been for the Artists for World Peace foundation and to ask for your generous support for our Annual Holiday Food and Clothing Drive 2009 Campaign. Each year we hold this event to honor the memory and life work of Chief Luciano Perez, who began this holiday drive many years ago.

Artists for World Peace organizes the Holiday Drive, bringing warm clothing, blankets, and food to the Rose Bud Reservation in South Dakota. Traditionally, we begin organizing this event in August sustaining it through the first week of December. (This drive represents a 19-year old community tradition that began in Oneonta, NY and has continued in Middletown, Connecticut for the last 14 years). Just over seven years ago Artists for World Peace embarked on a long journey towards a grand vision of global peace and unity. With your collective support we are closer to that goal of bringing peace and humanitarian relief one community at a time. A list of the most needed items are as follows:

Sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, coffee, dry cereal, pasta and sauce, tuna, canned meats, juice, soups, stew, canned vegetables and fruit, rice, and beans.

In addition to food we bring new, warm blankets, as well as warm winter coats, hats, scarves, boots and gloves. These are needed for all ages, particularly children. Also needed are warm sweaters, pants, and sweatshirts. We also bring new toys for young children, and art supplies. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10^TH FROM 5-9 P.M.

We will be meeting at the First Church of Christ, on Court Street in Middletown, Ct. (across from Klekolo Coffee House). Please enter through the glass side door. We will be there from 5-9 p.m. Needed are boxes, packing tape, and people able to help us sort donations, box, and then shuttle the boxes from the church to the storage unit, one mile away. If you are able to volunteer please contact us asap.

Also needed are a handful of strong volunteers to help us load our truck on Friday, December 11^th. Truck loading will take place starting at 5 p.m. We will meet at my house, drive to Extra Space Storage a mile away, load the truck, and then meet back at my house for some drumming and food. Please call us if you are able to volunteer either day, or email us at wendyblacknasta@aol.com.

If you would like to make a generous tax-deductible charitable donation we need to receive your donation as soon as possible in order to purchase the food for this year’s food drive. We have been working with Price Rite in Cromwell, Connecticut, who orders food in bulk for us, that they pack and help us load onto our truck. A special thank you to Lou, the store manager, who so generously helps us each year. Money is also needed to help pay for gas from here to South Dakota and back. You can either drop off your donation on Thursday or Friday of next week, or mail it to

Artists for World Peace

P.O. Box 95

Middletown, CT. 06457

This 2009 Food and Clothing Drive won’t be a success without your help. Thanks so much!!!