POETRY FEEDS BELLIES TOO: POETRY X HUNGER & THE POARTRY PROJECT CRAFT A DELIGHTFUL COUPLET

 Note: Click on photos to enlarge for better viewing

On August 8, 2022, Hiram Larew, founder of Poetry X Hunger, and Fizza Abbas of Fizza Writes  co-hosted Poets Speak Back to Hunger: A Global 90-Minute Fund-Raising Reading. Twenty-eight (28) poets from several countries and states presented poems addressing hunger, and twenty-seven (27) additional participants comprised the audience.

 

The event was organized as a fundraiser, with those willing and able contributing to a hunger fighting organization of their choice in honor of Poetry X Hunger. We suspect that there were more donations than we can account for, but we know of at least twenty (20) contributions to organizations in the US and Pakistan.

The August event was just one of Poetry X Hunger’s

attempts to demonstrate that poetry can feed not just minds and spirits but can contribute to feeding those with hungry bellies as well. In addition to publishing the work of poets across the globe who care about anti-hunger initiatives, Poetry X Hunger is actively pursuing tangible initiatives to enhance awareness and to raise additional funding to feed the hungry.

cheryl latif

Among the initiatives underway to highlight the role that poetry is playing in the fight against hunger is poet cheryl latif’s article (seeking publication) about the role that the more than 300 poems published on the Poetry X Hunger site has played and is playing in advancing food security.

In addition, just recently, in their
Fall 2022 edition, Pathways Magazine published an article by Hiram Larew which emphasizes the current and potential of poetry to mitigate world hunger. The Stansbury Forum has also picked up the article and the word continues to spread.

Heightened awareness is a plus, but tangible action, particularly fundraising efforts, are critical weapons in the fight against hunger. Toward that end, Poetry X Hunger is partnering with The Poartry Project, founded by poartist (poet and visual artist) J C Wayne, to organize another fundraising effort to assist hunger battling organizations with their mission.

Artwork by JC Wayne

This ongoing initiative is a collaboration among poets and visual artists culminating with an online art opening-the first time the artwork will be made available publicly-and auction on December 3, 2022, at 2pm EDT (auction ends on December 17, 2022). Seven (7) visual artists chose twelve poems currently published on the Poetry X Hunger website as their inspiration for 14 artworks/creations that will be auctioned, with partial proceeds going to selected anti-hunger organizations. More details about the art opening and auction will be forthcoming as the event draws nigh.

Are you excited yet? I sure hope so because your craft, poets and artists, is making a tangible difference in the mental, emotional, AND physical health of your fellow human beings! Stay tuned for more….