"… because nothing says, "I'm sorry I nearly got you arrested" like a spider plant…"
Well, back at UNC I'd fund-raise for various charities. On South Campus the officials thought it was so neat they'd put up bulletin boards for me and call it a hall project. North Campus, where I later lived, wasn't so cool. To put some things into perspective, we weren't supposed to have candles in the dorms. What was the dorm arts and crafts project on semester? Candle holders.
Anyway, one particular evening resulted in this:
Relax, I didnÂt get arrested: Livestock for poor folks, UNC-PD and me.
Hello Folks,
Many of you may know that over the past years, since High School in fact, I've begged for spare change for various charities. This evening someone called the cops on my philanthropy (you can skip the first half of this if you want to get to the good stuff).
I've collected for the support of Lemurs, the fight against Multiple Sclerosis, my High School Drama Department, and this year the Heifer Project (www.heifer.org). A little bit of self-motivation can turn coinage that would have fallen prey to couch cushions into good things.
I crawled all over Ehringhaus my sophomore year raising change (over $250) to adopt lemurs at the Duke University Primate Center, where I have since worked as a volunteer tour guide and where I am doing my honors thesis. This year my cause is one that gives needy people around the world the livestock they need to support their families and become self sufficient.
For $20, a family around the world or right here in the States can receive a flock of geese, whose eggs will give them nutrition and extra income for schooling, medicine . Heifer also distributes goats, ducks, rabbits, llamas, water buffalos and of course Heifers. Over this past academic year I've raised over $400 on North Campus for Heifer, numbers which can't be reached without face-to-face contact with donors.
So I knock on a door, and follow with "Good Evening, do you have any extra change - pennies, nickels, dimes - you'd like to donate to ." The resident then gets a little card with Heifer's webpage on it so that they can learn more.
I learned last semester that I needed to be escorted by a resident of the dorm I'm in. So I arranged with a buddy named Doug that he meet me this evening to heifer (I love verbing) his dorm, Joyner.
The first hall was very generous, and the people showed no malice to my efforts. I more often encounter people who are very supportive, and appreciate a mockingbird (I think you have to be an English major to get that one). The second hall started off a bit cooler. Toward the end of the hall, which Doug lives on, I noticed Officer Swain and another Officer coming towards us.
I've seen pot busts on campus that were only one-cop offenses, so I didn't think they were coming for us. But sure enough, someone had called the cops on us, and Doug and I, standing in a room of students whose evening just got a little more interesting, were soon explaining ourselves, showing our credentials as UNC students, and being told that if he had to come out again we'd be before the dean of students.
Admittedly we're not technically supposed to be soliciting. But wouldn't it be nice, for all the student groups, student body election candidates, and commercial enterprises who beg around here, to have a little honest philanthropy? Hundreds of students over many years seem to have agreed.
And thankfully the Officers did let us off light. They're just doing their jobs, and I'm generally appreciative and supportive of their duties. But I can only wish that charity was the worst of Chapel Hill's sins this evening.
So now Doug's going to get a spider plant from me (my trademark flora of choice), because nothing says, "I'm sorry I nearly got you arrested" like a spider plant. Thanks to everyone who's escorted me through their dorms. My cop quota for the next few weeks was filled in about two minutes, and I won't be requiring any more of your fine service.
And thanks to everybody who's helped with money or good thoughts. Anyone who wants to support or learn more about The Heifer Project can visit the website at www.heifer.org or contact me at 914-1834, jderrick@email.unc.edu.
Thanks,
John "charged with over $400 worth of philanthropy" Derrick
Bonus Question: Next time UNC or the Police Benevolent Society rings asking for money, tell them you'd love to help, but you've already donated your money to The Heifer Project: Livestock for Poor Folks. www.heifer.org
Anyway, one particular evening resulted in this:
Relax, I didnÂt get arrested: Livestock for poor folks, UNC-PD and me.
Hello Folks,
Many of you may know that over the past years, since High School in fact, I've begged for spare change for various charities. This evening someone called the cops on my philanthropy (you can skip the first half of this if you want to get to the good stuff).
I've collected for the support of Lemurs, the fight against Multiple Sclerosis, my High School Drama Department, and this year the Heifer Project (www.heifer.org). A little bit of self-motivation can turn coinage that would have fallen prey to couch cushions into good things.
I crawled all over Ehringhaus my sophomore year raising change (over $250) to adopt lemurs at the Duke University Primate Center, where I have since worked as a volunteer tour guide and where I am doing my honors thesis. This year my cause is one that gives needy people around the world the livestock they need to support their families and become self sufficient.
For $20, a family around the world or right here in the States can receive a flock of geese, whose eggs will give them nutrition and extra income for schooling, medicine . Heifer also distributes goats, ducks, rabbits, llamas, water buffalos and of course Heifers. Over this past academic year I've raised over $400 on North Campus for Heifer, numbers which can't be reached without face-to-face contact with donors.
So I knock on a door, and follow with "Good Evening, do you have any extra change - pennies, nickels, dimes - you'd like to donate to ." The resident then gets a little card with Heifer's webpage on it so that they can learn more.
I learned last semester that I needed to be escorted by a resident of the dorm I'm in. So I arranged with a buddy named Doug that he meet me this evening to heifer (I love verbing) his dorm, Joyner.
The first hall was very generous, and the people showed no malice to my efforts. I more often encounter people who are very supportive, and appreciate a mockingbird (I think you have to be an English major to get that one). The second hall started off a bit cooler. Toward the end of the hall, which Doug lives on, I noticed Officer Swain and another Officer coming towards us.
I've seen pot busts on campus that were only one-cop offenses, so I didn't think they were coming for us. But sure enough, someone had called the cops on us, and Doug and I, standing in a room of students whose evening just got a little more interesting, were soon explaining ourselves, showing our credentials as UNC students, and being told that if he had to come out again we'd be before the dean of students.
Admittedly we're not technically supposed to be soliciting. But wouldn't it be nice, for all the student groups, student body election candidates, and commercial enterprises who beg around here, to have a little honest philanthropy? Hundreds of students over many years seem to have agreed.
And thankfully the Officers did let us off light. They're just doing their jobs, and I'm generally appreciative and supportive of their duties. But I can only wish that charity was the worst of Chapel Hill's sins this evening.
So now Doug's going to get a spider plant from me (my trademark flora of choice), because nothing says, "I'm sorry I nearly got you arrested" like a spider plant. Thanks to everyone who's escorted me through their dorms. My cop quota for the next few weeks was filled in about two minutes, and I won't be requiring any more of your fine service.
And thanks to everybody who's helped with money or good thoughts. Anyone who wants to support or learn more about The Heifer Project can visit the website at www.heifer.org or contact me at 914-1834, jderrick@email.unc.edu.
Thanks,
John "charged with over $400 worth of philanthropy" Derrick
Bonus Question: Next time UNC or the Police Benevolent Society rings asking for money, tell them you'd love to help, but you've already donated your money to The Heifer Project: Livestock for Poor Folks. www.heifer.org
posted by John Derrick | 12:13 AM
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