Dish-Houston

**** Update**** June 6, 2011

The Semi arrived Saturday morning and they are still unloading it and sifting through things. The amazing Semi driver is actually volunteering there while the truck is being sorted out so it's truly a mission of love!

A HUGE DISH THANK YOU to the person who donated the funds for the truck and set the entire thing up...they wish to remain in the background but you know who you are and God has a special blessing for you!!

Thank you to all who donated, you've made a very loving and positive difference in people's lives and believe me when I tell you they are all very thankful. Speaking to them on the phone today and hearing the excitment when their kid got a bicycle from our truck, or a new pair of shoes because they had been running around barefooted since the storm. You are a blessing to others and that makes you a beautiful soul that shines in the darkness when we all need to find our way. THANK YOU!!

Our deadline for accepting donations was Saturday May 28 at 5 pm. PLEASE DO NOT take any more items to our donations locations because we will NOT have a way to get them to Joplin.

Thank you for your tireless generosity, kindness and desire to help others, Houston. When this is all finished check back here for some amazing stories about the beautiful heart our gorgeous city has and how it's shared that heart with others in need.

Blessings and Love

LF

Ok DISHIES! This is where we can show the world...one more time...just how amazing Houstonians really are!

As you well know, the town of Joplin, Missouri was hit by a massive tornado Sunday. over 35% of the city was literally blown away.

DISH'S Aunt's house is a slab now. The Hospital where DISH'S Grandmother was just last week was horribly damaged. This is an awful happening and DISH is asking YOU to help out!

DISH is doing a relief drive for clothing, food, diapers, wipes, toothbrushes, pet items and food...anything you can think of that you use in your everyday life is needed up there.

The gorcery stores are either out of items completely or have been damaged so folks can't shop there.

The list of donation drop off points is here and will be growing so please keep this page up and refresh it as our partners list grows!

Thank you in advance for giving back and helping others. Remember....I doesn't have to be in our city to be in our hearts and need our help.

DISH is working with the Red Cross in Mo so if you'd like to make a financial donation, please make it out to them and we'll deliver it for you.

ALSO...The Animal Adoption and Rescue Center needs financial donations as well. There are scared, homeless pets all over the city right now and folks have spent a lot of the day chasing after them to put them in the shelter so they can have a safe place to be.

Blessings and Love to you! - DISH

Drop Off Locations

Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane has officially announced he has agreed to sell the Houston Astros to a group led by local businessman Jim Crane, who tried to buy the team three years ago.

Terms have not been disclosed however, the sale is subject to approval by Major League Baseball.

McLane bought the team in November 1992 for about $117 million, put the franchise up for sale in November. Multiple reports have said McLane was asking about $680 million but nothings been confirmed. Speculation was the prices was driven down by the team lowest attendance this year in franchise history.

A major selling point was the team's share in a new deal with the NBA's Houston Rockets to create a regional sports network that will begin airing Rockets games in 2012 and the Astros in 2013. Any deal was also expected to address the team's lease at Minute Maid Park, which is owned by the Harris County Houston Sports Authority.

Crane, who founded a Houston-based logistics company in 2008, is the chairman and chief executive of Crane Capital, a private equity fund company. In 2009, he was in the running to buy the Chicago Cubs and last summer teamed with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in a bid to buy the Texas Rangers. Both times, he fell short.

The franchise, playing its 50th season, has reached unprecedented success with McLane as the owner, making the playoffs six times since 1997.

But Houston has finished with a losing record in three of the past four seasons and attendance has dwindled as the team began rebuilding after the departure of its most recognizable stars. Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio were both gone by the 2008 season, and Houston traded pitching ace Roy Oswalt and five-time All-Star Lance Berkman in 2010. Headed into Monday's games, the Astros were a National League-worst 15-25 and only the Twins had a worse record in the majors.

On Saturday, May 14, 2011, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 19^th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive across the country.  Here in Houston, close to 3,800 letter carriers of the NALC local chapter will collect donations throughout the area to be donated to the Houston Food Bank and its partner food pantries. 

            Patricia Claiborne, spokesperson for the Houston chapter of the NALC says, “Houston-area letter carriers want to do what we can to help out our neighbors in need.  This is a successful drive because of its simplicity.  All that Houstonians need to do is place a box or bag of nonperishable food next to their mailboxes before their letter carrier delivers mail on Saturday, May 14.  Your mail carrier will pick up the food and take it to their postal station.  It will then be transported to the Houston Food Bank, where it is distributed to area hunger relief charities.”

 Locally, letter carriers collected a record 477,000 pounds of nonperishable foods in 2010. This year’s goal is 500,000 pounds – and the public’s help is needed! All food collected locally benefits the Houston Food Bank.

Area letter carriers are requesting that Houstonians donate nonperishable foods such as canned meat, tuna, peanut butter, soup, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, rice and beans and other essential items.  All donated items should be in non-breakable containers, please. 

The U.S. Postal Service and Campbell Soup Company are underwriting the printing and distribution of postcards and direct mail pieces for delivery to postal customers throughout the country, asking them to participate in this important food drive. 

Brown paper grocery bags donated by Kroger are being inserted into the Houston Chronicle.  Subscribers can easily fill the bag with nonperishable items and place it outside their door on collection day.  Included on the bag will be information about how to participate.

 

            Says Brian Greene, president and chief executive officer of the Houston Food Bank, “With the current economic conditions, many of our food pantry partners are seeing people coming for help who have never needed food assistance before.  And with summer just around the corner, many schoolchildren who rely on school lunches will not have access to much needed nourishment.  The timing of this food drive makes it one of our most important efforts, especially given economic conditions.”  

The NALC food drive is the largest one-day food drive in the nation, including over 10,000 cities and towns throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

For more information on the letter carriers’ food drive, please contact the Houston chapter of the NALC at 713-641-2366.

About the Houston Food Bank

The Houston Food Bank is the largest source of food for hunger relief charities in 18 southeast Texas counties. A network of nearly 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies, feeding a total of 137,000 people each week, provides more than 65 million pounds of food and prepared meals annually. Fresh produce, meat and nonperishables are distributed from Herzstein Center, a 73,000 square-foot warehouse, and hot meals are prepared and distributed from Keegan Center, a 15,000 square-foot industrial kitchen. In 2011, the Food Bank’s warehouse operations will be moved to a much larger facility near the East Freeway and East Loop.  Additional community services range from nutrition education to assistance with food stamp applications and hands-on job training. Red Barrels offer a convenient way for grocery shoppers to donate nonperishables for their neighbors in need. The Houston Food Bank, founded in 1982, is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network. The organization plans to grow to an annual distribution of 120 million pounds of food by 2018. Visit HoustonFoodBank.org for more information

Mamma Mia is showing this week (through Sunday) at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts...AND IT'S DELISH!!

DISH was treated to opening night and it was more than we ever dreamed it could be! Mary Callanan and Alison Ewing play Donna’s best friends and former back-up band, “Rosie” and “Tanya,” (respectively) and they are HYSTERICAL! Their timing, voices and personalities carry the humorous show to new heights of joy. Of course, they come to the island to reunite with their best friend's daughter's, Sophie, wedding.

The three men from Donna’s past and Sophie’s possible dads are John Bisom (“Sam Carmichael”), John-Michael Zuerlein (“Bill Austin”), and Paul DeBoy (“Harry Bright”). (All very hot men...John the Aussie will take your breath away!)  Sophie’s & Sky’s best friends are played by Stephanie Barnum (“Ali”), Elena Marisa Flores (“Lisa”), Ethan LePhong (“Pepper”) and James Michael Lambert (“Eddie”).

But the VOICE that stopped the show was Kaye Tuckerman as “Donna Sheridan”! She's not only gorgeous but her voice and emotion will give you goose bumps and make your cry right along with her!

Mamma Mia makes you want to go on vacation with your very best friends so that you can have fun stories that will last a life time too...and going to this show will be one of them! There is even a sing along at the end!

It's fun for the entire family!

CLICK HERE to purchace your tickets!

PLUS for a little fun this week: The cast of Mamma Mia will perform a special late-night cabaret performance at Vue this Thursday night at midnight.  The good news is, with the super late performance time, there should be very little competition in terms of other events! Proceeds of the $20 door donation are benefiting AIDS Foundation Houston. 

As part of Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS, the Mamma Mia touring company identifies a deserving benefiting agency that deals with HIV/AIDS issues in each city it visits; AIDS Foundation Houston being chosen as the organization of choice for the Houston market.  Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based HIV/AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations.  The organization funds the social service work of The Actors Fund and award grants to AIDS service organizations nationwide. 

SIDE NOTE: The Cordua Restaurant at the Hobby Center, Artista served up the most amazing Greek Themed dinner last night for the after party! They are the most creative chefs! If you can eat there before the next show you attend, DISH highly suggests it!

This weekend is the 2nd Annual Noah's Kitchen Chili Cookoff!

It will all take place from Noon – 6PM and tickets are only $10 at the door! It's happening in one of the neatest places on Washing Ave...The Garden at Hughes Hangar (formerly Washington Grill)

This is a family friendly chili competition so bring the kids and be ready for a taste bud treat!  There will be raffle prizes, a bake sale, local music acts and, of course, some of the best chili in Houston that will be judged by a prestigious culinary panel from the Houston area. 

Funds raised will benefit Noah's Kitchen, a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Noah's Kitchen provides the less fortunate with food, gently used clothing, and the resources that will help them in finding medical help, shelter, employment, and eventually housing- getting them off the streets. We currently crowd-sources donations, labor, and delivery vehicles on Sunday afternoons/evenings and other random days during the week as well. Anyone is encouraged to share their time with us, and volunteers are always welcome! This website and blog was created so those of you with an interest would be able to follow our progress from a dream and beyond.

#SLGT ~Support Local Grow Together~

For more information on the Chili Cook Off CLICK HERE

See you there, DISHIES!