Ripples: Maryanne and Steve, and the Vegan Pledge in Philadelphia
Steve took the pledge to be vegan for one month beginning 16 Jan 2010.
The pledge in Philadelphia was facilitated by Friends of Animals, but the real doing of this thing is by the people who take the pledge. It's the people who are--each day the pledge continues--striving to change their whole worldview to whom the idea really belongs.
The concept of an assisted, one-month pledge was conceived by the group Vegan Campaigns, whose members got it started in January 2008 in England, and Friends of Animals first heard all about it from two dynamic vegan activists we know, Caroline McAleese and Donald Leung. They shared the tips and information essential to getting started. We'll be sharing them in turn at VeganMeans.com, and look forward to seeing the Vegan Pledge idea take off in many places worldwide, year after year -- and in many people's lives.
Back to Philadelphia...
Steve has great support, to understate the case. Steve's partner Maryanne has been vegan for 25 years. But Maryanne never forced the idea on Steve. Now, veganism is a personal commitment for both partners.
It's now late February, nearly two weeks after Steve's graduation from the pledge. So let's see how Steve and Maryanne have been getting on.
From: Maryanne Appel
2 Feb. 2010
A huge "thank you" to everyone who wrote back to me with your congratulations for Steve. Your support means so much to both of us.
Now, I have to tell you that Steve has surprised me once again, and I am so proud of him. I told Steve that I would like to go in to Philadelphia to bring [jam and peanut butter] sandwiches for the people living on the streets. I asked Steve if he would go with me, and he replied, "Yes." So we're planning a trip for this weekend, shopping for the food on Saturday, preparing the sandwiches (on whole wheat bread) Saturday evening, and then making the trip on Sunday.
I've befriended some of these men and women during the last few weeks when Steve and I went in to the city for the Vegan Pledge meetings, so I know where to find some of them. I'm sure we'll be able to find many more. (How many sandwiches can two people carry? Tons!)
So, a big loud hurrah for Steve. He's my hero!
When I mentioned our plan to my dear friend Deanna, the immediate response was, "I can come with you!" - without my even asking. I'm overwhelmed.
~ Maryanne
From: Matthew McLaughlin
7 Feb. 2010
Maryanne, thank you so much. Please let me know when you, Steve and Deanna plan to go into the city... I would really like to come.
From: Maryanne Appel
22 Feb. 2010
On Sunday, February 21st, Steve and I took our first "sandwich tour" of the Philadelphia streets. We prepared several sandwiches on soft organic wheat bread, and brought along individual pop-up cans of fruit juice, an equal number of tangerines, some moist towelettes and personal-size packets of tissues.
Our first encounter was a man, mentally challenged and obviously looking much older than his years, scouring a public trash can for some bit of food to eat. We offered our vegan food items, which were immediately accepted and stashed into coat pockets. We didn't expect thanks, and we didn't get any, at least verbally. We only knew that here was a human being who needed help far beyond what we were able to give.
We next came across an elderly man playing a flute in the subway concourse. The plaintive notes of "When You Wish Upon a Star," so beautifully rendered, brought tears to my eyes. I put a dollar into a basket by the man's feet. When he finished the tune, I told him it was beautiful. He said he had help with the acoustics in the concourse. I said he had talent.
Walking out of the subway station, we came across three people lying on the ground at the foot of the stairs leading to 16th Street. We had encountered these individuals a couple of weeks ago, when we were in Philadelphia for a vegan pledge meeting. At that time, the man and woman asked us to pray for them because someone was getting an apartment for them. So I was dismayed to see them still lying where we had last left them. The promised apartment never came through.
The man told me the story of what led to their living on the streets -- a sad tale of family betrayal...
This couple, and another person whom we had seen twice before and had also befriended, gratefully accepted the food that we offered them. Another person we came across was an amputee we had seen during our last visit to Philadelphia, and although we gave a small offering of money at that time, we hadn't spoken to him, as he was sitting on the ground outside of the subway station asking passersby for alms. This time, while lying on the ground in the concourse, covered in blankets, it was obvious that he needed human contact, because he spoke at great length...about the plight of people like him, what brought so many of them to the streets, homeless people who are constantly being made to move by the police after receiving complaints from the public. (These complainers have all the amenities that our society has to offer, while those forced to live on the streets are denied even the basic necessities.)
It broke my heart to hear this man - with nothing and no one to call his own - praise the Lord for looking after him.
Lastly, Steve went into the public rest room, where a concourse supervisor told us we could find some homeless people. Here, Steve gave out the last of our food. I didn't have the opportunity to speak with any one of them, but wished, like Steve, that we could have done more.
The basic problem here is created by a society that looks the other way when our fellow humans are in need, and by a government that should be held accountable in providing for all of its people, not just those who are relatively wealthy, have a permanent residence, and can vote. I read Priscilla Feral's posting about a farm that is closing, with so many animals now in dire need of new homes, and this has brought me almost to the breaking point. What is to become of them?
The connection between all of us, human and nonhuman, is one that has to be made, has to be addressed, and the ensuing problems solved. All of these problems, with their injustices and unnecessary suffering, are created by humans, who pride ourselves on our intelligence. But "intelligence" must come from the heart as well as from the brain.
Later, I will post dates when Steve and I plan to visit Philadelphia again to bring assistance to those in need, so that if others want to join us, they would be most welcome.
We are still looking for more of the 400 homeless people in Philadelphia, and don't want to bring in larger groups of people until our search has led us to them.
~ Maryanne
From: Lea Fredrichs
23 Feb. 2010
I would love to help you and Steve. Please keep me posted. What a wonderful thing you are doing. Thank you.
From: Maryanne Appel
23 Feb. 2010
Thank you so much, Lea! I will let you know when we have a group going into Philadelphia. It would be an honor to have you join us.
~ Maryanne
From: Maryanne Appel
25 Feb. 2010
Hello, Lee, Deanna, and Matt!
Steve and I will probably be going into the city again on Saturday or Sunday, March 6 or 7. I think we may be able to come across some of the homeless people in other subway stations and in the park at Rittenhouse Square.
Here is what I'm planning to bring this time: organic baby carrots, celery cut into sticks, cauliflower florets, black olives (all of these combined in small plastic bags); individual cans of vegetable juice (for people who can't chew hard vegetables); and fruit, such as bananas and tangerines, apples, too; along with towelettes and tissues.
Your offer to help out with this is much appreciated. I'll let you know when we are able to reach more people. Of course, you're welcome to join us now, but I don't want to take your time unnecessarily.
I just thought of this: We could go to a vegan-friendly restaurant in the area, too, for some vegan camaraderie. Steve wanted to go to Govinda's last week, but I was too tired at that point to walk to Broad & South streets.
~ Maryanne
From: Deanna Cheryl
25 Feb. 2010
I will be able to help after march 13, when my days off change to fri / sat. :)
Sent from my iPhone
From: Maryanne Appel
25 Feb. 2010
Deanna, you will be welcomed aboard with open arms! Hugs, too.
Since you won't be working on Saturdays, we could make that our day, and meet around 1:00. Wonderful!
~ Maryanne
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This article may be shared and cited as "Ripples: Maryanne and Steve, and the Vegan Pledge in Philadelphia"; with an introductory note and e-mail compilation by Lee Hall, for VeganMeans.com (25 Feb 2010).