Day 357: The Maslow Project

Marionberry and Blueberry Pie

One of the things that was running through my mind today as I prepared my pie, was part of the sermon that Pastor Connie shared at First Presbyterian Church this last Sunday.  It was from a story by Hemingway called “The Capital of the World.”  Perhaps I am the only person who had not yet heard it, but here is the opening “joke.”  The lead character, “Paco”, has left home after a fight with his father.  The father searches for his son all over the country and finally makes it to the capital city of Madrid.  For his one last attempt to find his son, he places an ad in the paper which reads, “PACO MEET ME AT HOTEL MONTANA NOON TUESDAY, ALL IS FORGIVEN, PAPA.”   The “punch line” of this joke is that when the father arrives at the Hotel Montana on Tuesday he sees police trying to disperse the crowd of eight hundred “Pacos” that have shown up to meet their father.

Deep down, I think we all want to be accepted and loved by our parents.  Unfortunately, that is not how the world works and for reasons that I cannot begin to list,  young people leave home and become homeless.  And the lucky ones find the Maslow Project.  Maslow Project was founded by Mary Ferrell. A graduate of Southern Oregon University, Mary had been working with homeless children and families through the Medford School District.  She soon realized the need for kids to access basic needs and supportive services all in one location.  Ferrell took the name from Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs concept, which states that unless our primary needs are met, we cannot move on to other, more advanced needs

Maslow Project has received international recognition for its program model serving  youth and has been featured in such places as The New York Times, 20/20, and MTV.   With their small staff of dedicated professionals, they work hard to help homeless youth find the support that they need.

The slogan on the Maslow Project brochure is “Looking for a hand up not just a handout?”  Clearly they work to help the young people they serve find a way off the streets and empower them to become healthy, productive members of society.

When I called the number for the Maslow Project this afternoon, I spoke with Talia.  I explained that I wanted to bring a pie to the staff to thank them for their work with our valley’s homeless youth.  I am very grateful for all that they do to make a difference in their lives.

Please visit the Maslow Project website, or call 541-608-6868, and learn of the many ways that you can help with their mission.  The need is great and they are doing amazing work.

When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.
~Mother Teresa

Tags: Hemingway, Hierarchy of Needs, Mary Ferrell, Maslow Project, paco, southern oregon university