A LOVE LETTER BEFORE I LEAVE

 

 

 





         There's so much love and gratitude that I want to express to every person who helped make this dream of a garden in Bupala become a reality ~ thank you so much for helping our pen pals here and in Uganda to see that a little bit of love goes a long way.

 

  First, to SCA Corporation  who believed that teaching kids about living sustainably is a worthwhile investment.  This paper product company was recognized as one of the world's most ethical companies in 2014, and our garden is a small but meaningful way they have chosen to demonstrate their commitment to making the planet a healthier place for everyone.

 
                                                                          

  To Radnor Educational Foundation for sponsoring the Peace Flag Project.  Their generous grant allowed us to purchase supplies to create an outdoor art installation in the garden in Bupala where our community can share our true colors with their community.  This tye-dye and hand crafted flag-making project will adorn the garden in Uganda, and we will be conducting flagmaking workshops with the students at Bupala School so we can bring some of their beauty back to Radnor. 



    To High Road Cycles in Wayne: your donation of a new bike for a raffle has encouraged kids to donate to the Peace Flag initiative.  Some lucky kid will find out next week if s/he gets to cruise around on a brand new High Road bike this summer.  My son worked with their team of talented mechanics for years; if you need your bike tweeked, or if you need a new bike, visit them and tell them the RMS Pen Pals recommended you go there.  They completely rock.

    To Mom's Organic Market...I really hope everyone in Radnor finds this amazing market and gets hooked like I have.  Mom's learned about our project and jumped on board with us.  Developing a sustainable, organic garden was close to their hearts, even if it's in Africa.  They were kind and generous contributors to this mission.  Go there - you'll fall in love with food shopping again.  They spoil you with delicious bread and coffee and tea and snacks while you're shopping, then they carry your bags out to your car.  Kind, kind, compassionate people there.
     We all know that it takes                             

village, well, our village came through in such a loving way.  Rittenhouse Farms is a main staple in my diet.  Honestly, I only eat chicken/poultry from Rittenhouse.  Their turkey sausage and Sassano's amazing pasta salad made the Peace Flag Party on Morningside Circle a culinary event.  Thank you for feeding us so well.  Sassano's catered an event for me six years ago, and I'm still thinking about that food.  Their pasta at our Peace Flag Fundraiser was worth millions.    

                                            



 

   To all the folks in Hollywood who contributed, I thank you.  You know you can take the girl out of Hollywood, but you can't take the Hollywood out of the girl!  I am honored to spread your pure Florida sunshine on this lovely little village, and I'm touched that you helped to support this project.

    To my fellow volunteer adventurers: Catherine Spence-Godin, Molly Samson, Ryan Byrd, HannahWorrell, and our fearless source of inspiration, my college roommate, Joanne Trangle, founder of Kuchanga Travel:  we are about to embark on something huge.  I can't wait to see what wonders will unfold on this journey of a lifetime.  Traveling with Radnor students is the greatest honor imaginable.  

   To my students (present and past), colleagues, neighbors and friends in and around Radnor Township School District: every one of you has qualified for the Accelerated Compassion Class.  Thank you for creating and sustaining this friendship with our pen pals.  There are not too many schools around the world that can claim to have accomplished what we have.  We are helping to heal the world.  To every kid who helped sew, tie-dye or decorate a Peace Flag, helped bake for or contributed to a bake sale, wrote letters, grew plants, made a tile two years ago, cleaned and decorated your old gym shirts to send to Bupala...if you took an interest and/or you made a contribution, thank you. The people in Bupala will be dancing and singing in your honor.  I will do my best to capture their gratitude and joy.  They are very aware that you are making their lives healthier and more secure, and for that they send their deepest gratitude.  I'll send you some pictures.  


                                                                             With love and gratitude,
                                                                                             Jodi