Tag Archives: Silent Guest program

December 20, 2018 · 3:09 am

Des Moines Register oped: This holiday feed a “silent guest” from Yemen

During the holidays we can’t ignore the starvation taking place overseas in war-torn Yemen. The UN World Food Program (WFP) says 20 million Yemenis are in desperate need of food aid.

We can do something about it like we did after World War II when Americans fed “silent guests” during the holidays.

The “silent guest” plan ran from Thanksgiving through Christmas of 1947-48 to collect donations for hungry Europeans. It was a nationwide program started by activist Iris Gabriel, who got all the governors to endorse her charitable idea.

See my full commentary in the Des Moines Register

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November 30, 2016 · 5:29 pm

My History News Network Thanksgiving Oped

Imagine a mystery guest coming to your Thanksgiving dinner, one you have never met.  Imagine this “silent guest” being a starving person from a war-torn or impoverished country. That is what students at Mount St. Joseph University in Ohio want you to think about this Thanksgiving.

Students of the Mount’s Impact Club (Monica Brucher, Andi Saylor, Courtney Reed and Brittany Hein) are urging everyone to feed a “silent guest” at this year’s Thanksgiving. These students have been holding fundraisers for the World Food Programme (WFP) and trying to get people to join their “silent guest” plan. Where did they develop this idea: From history!

See my full article at the History News Network:

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November 30, 2016 · 5:16 pm

My Cincinnati Enquirer Oped: Students revive ‘silent guest’ tradition

Imagine a mystery guest coming to your Thanksgiving dinner, one you have never met.

After World War II, that is what happened in thousands of American households. But it was an imaginary, or “silent,” guest: one of the world’s hungry.

The “silent guest” campaign of 1947-48 asked Americans to open up their hearts and share their Thanksgiving bounty. Gov. Robert Bradford of Massachusetts, a descendant of the Pilgrims who started Thanksgiving, proclaimed the new tradition of feeding a “silent guest” at the holiday meal.

Read the full article at the Cincinnati Enquirer:

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November 26, 2015 · 8:29 pm

Thanksgiving and the silent guest

This Thanksgiving season take a moment and let your mind wander back to the autumn of 1947. That’s when the Greatest Generation again rose to meet a challenge and help those in need.

They started the tradition of setting aside a plate at the Thanksgiving table for a ‘silent guest,” one of the world’s hungry.

See my full commentary at The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

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November 26, 2015 · 8:19 pm

Invite a ‘silent guest’ this Thanksgiving and help people in need

Former Massachusetts Gov. Robert Bradford was a messenger of hope. It was the Thanksgiving season of 1947 and Bradford, a descendant of the Pilgrims, made a special radio address to the nation.

The governor asked Americans to invite a silent guest into their homes for their Thanksgiving meals. This imaginary “silent guest” would be one of the hungry people in Europe.

See my full commentary at The Seattle Times.

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November 25, 2015 · 11:25 pm

My History News Network Thanksgiving Column

This Thanksgiving season take a moment and let your mind wander back to the autumn of 1947. That’s when the Greatest Generation again rose to meet a challenge and help those in need.

They started the tradition of setting aside a plate at the Thanksgiving table for a “silent guest,” one of the world’s hungry.

See my full commentary at The History News Network

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December 9, 2014 · 2:37 am

My Letter in the New York Times

Today, the public is a powerful force in raising money and awareness about the hunger facing Syria’s war victims

Read the letter at the New York Times.

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December 9, 2014 · 2:16 am

How to help WFP feed Syrian war refugees

Today, I have a letter in the New York Times about ways we can help the starving Syrian war refugees. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to cut rations for these war victims because funding is so low. We can do something about it.

Read the full article at Examiner.

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November 30, 2014 · 7:46 pm

Feed a “silent guest” on Giving Tuesday

Imagine if you looked out your window and saw starving refugees from the war in Syria. They have traveled for days to escape the civil war in that country.

Read the full article at Examiner.

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November 30, 2014 · 4:29 pm

Newspapers featuring the “Silent Guest” program to feed the hungry

Here is a list of newspapers and media sites that published my article on feeding a ‘silent guest” this holiday season! A couple of the newspapers also published their own editorial endorsing this holiday tradition to feed the hungry.

Baltimore Sun

Boston Herald

The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Des Moines Register

Detroit Free Press

The Green Bay Press Gazette

Global Hunger Examiner

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Missoulian newspaper (MT)

Monterey Herald

Red Bluff Daily News

San Jose Mercury News

San Jose Mercury News Editorial

Contra Costa Times/Oakland Tribune Editorial

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