It is great to see volunteers dedicating their time to Living United. Arianne, recently shared her Live United Challenge experience with us and she really went the extra mile. She made tough choices from the onset and kept to her budget. Arianne learned how it feels to go hungry, how challenging it is to make difficult choices because you must stay within your means, how much hunger can affect your ability to concentrate. Arianne, we admire your resolve to understand what so many of our neighbors experience every day - and certainly not by choice.
Who is next - what challenge will you try? Will you take the food stamp challenge too? Will you reduce your utility usage? Temperatures are soaring and the humidity makes it worse. What would your days and nights be like without air conditioning, cold/hot water. Try the utilities challenge and tell us about it.
Get started at http://www.unitedwaynca.org/getinvolved/advocate.html
Jul 20, 2009
Day 5,6 and 7-Live United Challenge/Arianne
I'm finished with my challenge!
Friday was basically the same as Monday through Thursday although I had just come to the frustrating conclusion that even though I continued to be hungry, there just wasn't any food to eat.
I was afraid of the weekend because I knew that I wouldn't be concentrating on work and would have more time to think about how hungry I was.
I tried to keep myself busy but didn't do as well of staying on track as I did during the week.
I went to the grocery store yesterday to buy my groceries for the coming week and I found that I was much more concious of what I was buying and what would last me the week and perhaps flow into the week after that. I wasn't standing in the grocery store with a pen, paper and calculator like I was the week before, my bill came to $43.18, $22 over the amount I spent last week.
In the end, i'm extremely glad I did this challenge even though it was much more difficult than I had anticipated. I learned a lot about myself and about the challenges that many in our area face every single day.
I'm asking you to try a LIVE UNITED challenge, it may change your life-it's changed mine.
Don't hesistate to ask me or a staff member about how you too can LIVE UNITED!
Friday was basically the same as Monday through Thursday although I had just come to the frustrating conclusion that even though I continued to be hungry, there just wasn't any food to eat.
I was afraid of the weekend because I knew that I wouldn't be concentrating on work and would have more time to think about how hungry I was.
I tried to keep myself busy but didn't do as well of staying on track as I did during the week.
I went to the grocery store yesterday to buy my groceries for the coming week and I found that I was much more concious of what I was buying and what would last me the week and perhaps flow into the week after that. I wasn't standing in the grocery store with a pen, paper and calculator like I was the week before, my bill came to $43.18, $22 over the amount I spent last week.
In the end, i'm extremely glad I did this challenge even though it was much more difficult than I had anticipated. I learned a lot about myself and about the challenges that many in our area face every single day.
I'm asking you to try a LIVE UNITED challenge, it may change your life-it's changed mine.
Don't hesistate to ask me or a staff member about how you too can LIVE UNITED!
Jul 16, 2009
Day 4-Arianne/Living United Challenge
Not too much has changed on day 4. All I can say is that it's extremely difficult to be surrounded by people eating the foods you want so badly to eat, I haven't slipped yet today though!
Jul 15, 2009
Day 3 evening Arianne/Live United Challenge
It's now 730pm and my hunger has gotten the best of me. I ate my specific meals all day, but when i got home from work I ate a small salad with my spaghetti and meat sauce. I'm going to try not to slip up again but it is truly hard when I have food in my fridge that I can eat. It's hard to imagine what it would be like if that food wasn't there...
Day 3-Arianne/Live United Challenge
It's Day 3 of my Live United challenge and it hasn't gotten any easier. I find myself thinking about food more than I normally do and I notice a change in my mood. I'm more irritable, i'm tired and i'm having trouble concentrating on my work.
It's hard to have to focus so much on what i'm eating and when i'll be eating next, it's a constant countdown to the next meal. It's a necessity to count out my portions so I ensure I have enough food to last me all the way through Sunday.
It's hard to have to focus so much on what i'm eating and when i'll be eating next, it's a constant countdown to the next meal. It's a necessity to count out my portions so I ensure I have enough food to last me all the way through Sunday.
Jul 14, 2009
Day 2
It's only Day 2 and I have already been tempted to cheat on this challenge. My mom and her friend were going to my favorite restaurant last night and it took all of my will power to not go with them!
For breakfast I had two eggs and a piece of toast, again I must reiterate that I am not allowed to use butter because it didn't fit into my budget. I love butter!
It's almost lunch time and I will be having an apple, a peanut butter sandwich and some pretzels which actually sound delicious right now!
For breakfast I had two eggs and a piece of toast, again I must reiterate that I am not allowed to use butter because it didn't fit into my budget. I love butter!
It's almost lunch time and I will be having an apple, a peanut butter sandwich and some pretzels which actually sound delicious right now!
Jul 13, 2009
Day One
I'm well into Day 1 and am quite hungry! I'm going to be making spaghetti with tomato sauce for dinner, no extra frills like cheese or butter (I have those things in my fridge but it doesn't fit into this weeks budget!)
I went into Whole Foods today to see what I could purchase for $21. The food is much more expensive there but the quality of the food is high and it is organic and natural. Living off of $21 a week doesn't allow you to get fresh fruits and vegetables.
After Whole Foods I went to Giant and found that the prices were a bit more in my range.
The amount of time and thought it took me in the grocery store was suprising. Normally, I pick up random things and throw them in the cart and don't think too much about the cost. This exercise has forced me to think about each item I put in the cart.
Usually I would buy whole wheat pasta but with a price difference of almost $2.00 that was something i would have to do with out.
Here is my list of food and the total amount I paid:
4 apples
Generic Creamy Peanut Butter
Generic Spaghetti
Generic Spaghetti Sauce
Whole Wheat loaf of bread
1lb of pretzels
dozen eggs
ramen noodles (6pack)
The total is $18.57 including tax
I had to look at the typical brand I might buy versus the brand that would fit my budget as well as what would fill me up for the whole day.
As you can see by what I chose, meat and fish were out and nothing extra was allowed.
It was extremely difficult and eye opening and i'm looking forward to seeing how i feel tomorrow on Day 2.
I went into Whole Foods today to see what I could purchase for $21. The food is much more expensive there but the quality of the food is high and it is organic and natural. Living off of $21 a week doesn't allow you to get fresh fruits and vegetables.
After Whole Foods I went to Giant and found that the prices were a bit more in my range.
The amount of time and thought it took me in the grocery store was suprising. Normally, I pick up random things and throw them in the cart and don't think too much about the cost. This exercise has forced me to think about each item I put in the cart.
Usually I would buy whole wheat pasta but with a price difference of almost $2.00 that was something i would have to do with out.
Here is my list of food and the total amount I paid:
4 apples
Generic Creamy Peanut Butter
Generic Spaghetti
Generic Spaghetti Sauce
Whole Wheat loaf of bread
1lb of pretzels
dozen eggs
ramen noodles (6pack)
The total is $18.57 including tax
I had to look at the typical brand I might buy versus the brand that would fit my budget as well as what would fill me up for the whole day.
As you can see by what I chose, meat and fish were out and nothing extra was allowed.
It was extremely difficult and eye opening and i'm looking forward to seeing how i feel tomorrow on Day 2.
How do you Live United?
As part of the United Way of the National Capital Area’s ongoing mission to help those in need, we have looked into the growing problems within our region and put together a set of opportunities to Live United.
Below is a listing of all of the challenges our team has put together:
Utilities Challenge- Imagine it is 90 degrees and all you have to keep you cool is a small fan and a glass of ice water. Imagine what it would be like to not have air conditioning, a television or your computer. The average monthly electric bill for DC customers rose from $58.16 in 2004 to $103.67 in 2009. Would you use your air conditioning a bit more wisely if you couldn’t use it at all for a month?
Transportation Challenge- Imagine your life without a car, go without it for a week. How would you get to work? How much time is added to your daily commute? Is mass transit a less expensive option?
Food Stamp Challenge- Did you know that in the DC Metro area, there are approximately 633,000 residents at risk of, or experiencing hunger? Imagine feeding your family of four on just $84 a week, or $21 per person.
Below is a listing of all of the challenges our team has put together:
Utilities Challenge- Imagine it is 90 degrees and all you have to keep you cool is a small fan and a glass of ice water. Imagine what it would be like to not have air conditioning, a television or your computer. The average monthly electric bill for DC customers rose from $58.16 in 2004 to $103.67 in 2009. Would you use your air conditioning a bit more wisely if you couldn’t use it at all for a month?
Transportation Challenge- Imagine your life without a car, go without it for a week. How would you get to work? How much time is added to your daily commute? Is mass transit a less expensive option?
Food Stamp Challenge- Did you know that in the DC Metro area, there are approximately 633,000 residents at risk of, or experiencing hunger? Imagine feeding your family of four on just $84 a week, or $21 per person.
My name is Arianne Llerena and I am a UWNCA employee and have been for the past 10 months. A group of 6, including myself, came up with these challenges in a meeting one day to give those who give back to the community an idea of how those who are less fortunate live.
September 15, 2009 is our UWNCA Campaign Kick Off event, the idea is that once you complete a challenge you receive a Live United experience sticker, upon receiving this you will be able to talk about your experience at our event.
I have chosen to do the food stamp challenge. As a single 24 year old I go to the grocery store once a week and pick up whatever happens to satisfy my cravings at that moment. I can admit that I do very little price comparison and don’t think too much about spending $30-40 dollars once, sometimes twice a week at the store.
I plan on blogging about my experiences, starting with my trip to the grocery store today with only $21 to spend. Wish me luck!
September 15, 2009 is our UWNCA Campaign Kick Off event, the idea is that once you complete a challenge you receive a Live United experience sticker, upon receiving this you will be able to talk about your experience at our event.
I have chosen to do the food stamp challenge. As a single 24 year old I go to the grocery store once a week and pick up whatever happens to satisfy my cravings at that moment. I can admit that I do very little price comparison and don’t think too much about spending $30-40 dollars once, sometimes twice a week at the store.
I plan on blogging about my experiences, starting with my trip to the grocery store today with only $21 to spend. Wish me luck!
**Tell others how you Live United in the Nation’s Capital. What are you doing in your community? Have you taken the Live United Challenge? Email your experience to sselender@uwnca.org to be posted on our blog.
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