JonSTeps
He has worked in advisory positions at the United Nations and the New York Civil Liberties Union. His commentary on issues of US Poverty can be found in publications like the Times Tribune, Change.org, Cnn.com and the Huffington Post.
Currently, he is the President/CEO of Community Solidarity, Inc. the largest grassroots food distribution program in the country.
facebook.com/JonSTeps
twitter.com/JonSTeps
lifnb.com
uspoverty.change.org
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“There is a long tradition of the use of rape and sexual assault for political agendas that have nothing to do with women’s safety. In the south of...”
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Two women say Julian Assange raped them.
Diplomatic...
No one can spell my name right :( (Taken with instagram)
17 carts and a uboat for the food share tonight! (Taken with instagram)
Looking up through the peach tree I planted over 20 years ago. (Taken with instagram)
Cool flowers & birthdays are nice. (Taken with instagram)
Dear vindictive office supply chain store manager,
The other night you decided to throw out some brand-new digital projectors. Now, I’m not going lecture you on our economy of waste. We both know that stores like yours toss out brand-new merchandise because you thrive on an overproduction model. There’s just no shortage of Chinese sweatshop labor to manufacture all those 21st century technological marvels. And there’s no shortage of miners in the Congo who’ll toil for the cobalt ore used in those circuit boards. And there’s no shortage of soldiers to die in wars for oil; precious oil to make all those plastic casings. But I digress.
I’m also not going to lecture you on how corporations like your own want to artificially limit supply to falsely promote a notion of scarcity, hence effectively increasing demand. The dumpster is a loyal consumer, and if you feed it 40 or 50% of your innovatory your human consumers will never catch on that your storerooms are actually overflowing with those “high demand” items. You know the ones you want to pawn off on them so badly.
And I’m certainly not going to lecture you on the environmental damage caused by sending those electronics to a landfill. Yes there are electronic recycling centers on here on Long Island, but they’re just so far away! And the government subsidizes your businesses waste anyway. So really, why should you care?
What I am going to lecture you on is your vindictively greedy nature. You see, before you tossed those brand-new projectors into the trash, you opened up their boxes and cut all the power chords in half. Now, I don’t know, maybe there’s some managers guidebook out there in which corporate states:
“when tossing out brand-new merchandise do your best to be a dick at it”
But here’s the thing; even if your corporate puppeteers made such a rule. Why would you listen to it? Why don’t you cut the cords of regulations they use to control you? For Pete’s sake, at least ask yourself the most basic of questions, “is tossing out something that cost so many so much to produce moral behavior?”
What possess you to destroy something like a digital projector; a tool that can be used for learning and art and beauty? Are you that afraid of someone picking it out of the trash? And if you are, if those projectors are that valuable to you, why are you tossing them out? Are you so greedy that you’d rather see something destroyed than face the horrible notion that someone, anyone, could find a purpose for it?
I’m sure you can see where this is all going. The other night when you decided to cut the power cords on those brand-new projectors, after you tossed them in the trash, well, my friends and I dug them out and we were pretty disgusted by what you did.
We were so disgusted that we took those projectors home, opened up their casings and re-braided the cords you cut. Yes, you could have donated those projectors to a school, or art program. You could have but you decided to try and destroy them instead.
So I’m glad to inform you that you failed. They work now and we plan to share these projectors with community programs that are bettering and educating the people in our town.
Yours truly,
Your friendly neighborhood dumpster diver
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Some Photos of the repairs:
First, I unscrewed the brackets on either side of the projectors plastic casing.
After stripping both ends of the cut power chord, I layered them on top of each other in a “V” shape and braided them together.
The next step was to cover the braids and striped wires in electrical tape, and then tape together the split cord. 
After reassembling the projectors casing, I plugged it into my computer to test it out. As you can see the Food Not Bombs presentation I give at universities looks pretty good up on my wall ;)
Starting November 19th and going through November 25th Long Island Food Not Bombs and Community Solidarity, Inc. will be holding their largest endeavor to date; it will include parties, Food Shares, copious amounts of decadent meals, the sharing of clothing, books and the organized efforts of hundreds of community members.
The largest of all these events will be the Vegan Thanksgiving. It’s a 2-day affair that starts as an all night cooking party, (on Nov.19th, everyone is invited) and culminates into the Vegan Thanksgiving Food Share the next day (Nov.20th) in Hempstead, “Hempstead Food Share Bonanza”.
The Hempstead Food Share, on November 20th, will be the largest Food Not Bombs ever (even bigger than last years, which was the largest FNB event to date)! We expect to be able to share a feast with everyone that comes! We’ll then be continuing the week with nearly a dozen events spread across our Food Shares in Bed-Stuy, Coram, Huntington and Farmingville.
Please Spread the word! This is our most ambitious project to date and to pull it off we are going to need your help, your friends help and even the help of their friends. Solidarity is what makes Long Island Food Not Bombs so strong and we ask that you help us make these events even more absurdly inspirational than we could ever imagine.
To do this we ask that you Take The Pledge To Volunteer at one of our events, to help collect materials or to help in a variety of other needed ways. Solidarity and creating something incredible is soooo much easier than you think. Take The Pledge Here!
In addition, we ask that you consider making a monetary donation to our efforts. Long Island Food Not Bombs and Community Solidarity have done some incredible things this year, including spearheading the Hurricane Irene relief effort here on Long Island! And we do this on a shoestring budget, but with your help it doesn’t have to be that way!
: List of Events
Saturday, November 19th @ 3pm: Expanded BedStuy Thanksgiving Food Share
*Saturday, November 19th @ 7pm: Vegan Thanksgiving Cooking Party @ JonSTeps’ House
*Sunday, November 20th @ 2pm: Hempstead Food Share Bonanza
Monday, November 21st @ 5:30pm: Coram Thanksgiving Sleeping Bag/ Blanket Food Share
Monday, November 21st @ 9pm: Dumpster Scavenger Hunt/LIFNB Olympics
Tuesday, November 22nd @ 7pm: Huntington Thanksgiving Food Share
Thursday, November 24th @11am: LIFNB Thanksgiving Lunch in Farmingville
Thursday, November 24th @ 6:30pm: Farmingville Food Share
Friday, November 25th @ 2pm: Pies Not Bombs
Expanded Details:
Saturday, November 19th @ 3pm
Expanded BedStuy Thanksgiving Food Share
Our weekly BedStuy Food Share will be expanded the Saturday before Thanksgiving and will include more hot meals, groceries and clothing. To help organize this event please email us at LongIslandFoodNotBombs [at] gmail [dot] com.
Location:
Von King Park
Lafayette & Marcy Ave
Brooklyn NY 11216
Saturday, November 19th @ 7pm
Vegan Thanksgiving Extraordinaire @ JonSTeps’ House
Deep-frying, dirty dancing and treats. Yes it’s back, Long Island FNB & JonSTeps are having yet another Vegan Thanksgiving and this time it’s loftier than them all.
Come over to Jon’s house on Saturday, November 19th @ 7pm. Bring friends, drinks, awesome vegan dishes and MORE IMPORTANTLY - Vegan Staples and Warm Clothing that can be given out at the following FNB Food Share - “Hempstead Food Share Bonanza”.
Think of this as one part Holiday Party, one part largest Vegan Potluck ever and one part largest Food Not Bombs ever!!!
It’s $5 to $10 dollars to get in, sliding scale, and if you’re super cool you’ll bring, clothing (winter clothing especially), toys, books, games, bikes, skateboard, vegan staples (canned beans, bagged rice, etc…) Everyone is welcome to a place to crash for the night and in the morning you’re welcome to join us for FNB and the craziness that is the Thanksgiving Food Share Bonanza.
Location:
Check out www.lifnb.com for updates. If you need directions please email us at LongIslandFoodNotBombs [at ] gmail [dot] com.
RSVP on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ev ent.php?eid=21747199498836 1
Sunday, November 20th @ 2pm
Vegan Thanksgiving Food Share Bonanza 2011, aka the largest FNB ever!
On Sunday, November 20tht at 2pm Long Island Food Not Bombs will be transforming the weekly Hempstead Food Share into what we’re calling the Hempstead Food Share Bonanza.
In addition to sharing tens-of-thousands of pounds of Thanksgiving groceries, clothing and books - we’ll also be dishing up a cooked feast made up of dozens of delicious appetizers, entrees, desserts and beverages.
It’s all part of our annual Thanksgiving celebrations. This event, Hempstead Bonanza, will be the largest Food Share in the 30 year history of the international Food Not Bombs movement, it will be the largest vegan Thanksgiving ever and it will be the embodiment of a community that is standing in solidarity against hunger.
Basically, this thing is just going to be huge. Last year, this event was the largest Food Not Bombs Food Share in ever! This year we’re looking to outdo ourselves, big time!
But to make this happen we need your help. Take the pledge to help out and stand in solidarity! We encourage everyone to participate by collecting needed items (like clothing, books, toys and other necessities) and sharing them with us on the 20th. We also encourage everyone to cook up their favorite vegan dishes and bring them down as well.
Location:
Hempstead Train Station
W. Columbia St. & Station Plaza.
Hempstead, NY 11550
RSVP on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ev ent.php?eid=19888181352034 2
Monday, November 21st @ 5:30pm
Coram Thanksgiving Blanket/Sleeping Bag Share
On Monday, November 21st @ 5:30pm volunteers at the Coram Food Share will be distributing blankets and sleeping bags to anyone that needs them. It’s just like the spirit of the first Thanksgiving, but instead of sharing smallpox to further genocide we’ll be sharing warmth to further solidarity.
There are tons of people who are sleeping on the streets in Coram. Sharing something to keep them warm is extremely important this winter and we’re looking for your help to do this. Please consider collecting a few blankets and sleeping bags to distribute at this event.
Location:
Coram Plaza
Mill Rd.
Coram, NY 11727
RSVP on facebook:http://www.facebook.com/ev ent.php?eid=26570800347575 1
Monday, November 21st @ 9pm
Dumpster Scavenger Hunt/ LIFNB Olympics
On Monday, November 21st @ 9pm we’ll be meeting up on the North Side of the Huntington Train Station (by the Station house), for a Dumpster Scavenger Hunt/LIFNB Olympics. This is a 2-part event - for the first part, we’ll be breaking up into teams and scavenging Long Island for hidden treasures. For the second part you’ll be pitted against impossible odds that test you’re skills as dedicated food not bombs volunteers. Expect crazy fun, adventure and new friends.
This event is open to everyone, feel free to bring friends, rides will be available from the Train Station if you need one. You also do not need to stay for the whole event (like if you’re one of those people who have work the next day or something). But that said, you’re going want to stay.
Location:
Huntington Train Station
Broadway & Rt.110
Huntington Station, NY 11746
You Must RSVP on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ev ent.php?eid=18491678492740 0
Tuesday, November 22nd @ 7pm
Huntington Thanksgiving Food Share
We welcome everyone to participate in a special Huntington Thanksgiving Food Share – come volunteer and help share with your community. It would be excellent if you could cook up a vegan dish for this Food Share. In Huntington we have a large amount of children (ages 6-12) who help us out. If you have any extra toys, books, clothes or school supplies that you’d like to share they’ll get put to good use.
If you have any questions about this event please email us at LongIslandFoodNotBombs [at] gmail [dot] com.
See our website, www.lifnb.com for updates as this date approaches.
Location:
Huntington Food Share
E. 6th St. & Fairground Ave.
Huntington, NY 11743
Thursday, November 24th 11:00am
LIFNB Thanksgiving Lunch in Farmingville
On Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, you’re invited to share lunch with Long Island Food Not Bombs in Farmingville at our weekly Food Share location off Horseblock Rd. (click here for the address).
From 11am-1pm we’ll be sharing hot meals with anyone who’d like to stop by. Feel free to cook up your tasty vegan dishes and share them with the hundreds of people who will be stopping by. This event is being run as a potluck so your participation is greatly appreciated. You can bring extra clothing, books or whatever else you can think of.
Please consider sharing your time to help make this event, and our other Thanksgiving events, as great as possible. Take The Pledge To Get Involved Here!
Location:
Farmingville Food Share
Horseblock Rd & Woodycrest Dr
Farmingville, NY 11738
RSVP on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ev ent.php?eid=18795833795188 0
Thursday, November 24th 6:30pm
After a week of crazy events it’s easy to forget that we still have our weekly Food Share in Farmingville (Please note we’ll be holding this Share 30 minutes before our regular time). Unfortunately, since this Food Share is during dinnertime on Thanksgiving many of our regular volunteers will be with their families, and there for, not be able to make it. Because of this we’re asking for your help, with the Share and the litany of pickups we do before hand. If you’re interested in helping out please email us at LongIslandFoodNotBombs [at] gmail [dot] com or take the pledge here.
Location:
Farmingville Food Share
Horseblock Rd & Granny Rd
Farmingville, NY 11738
Friday, November 25th 1pm
You may not release this, but most every food store on Long Island tosses out their surpluses of pumpkin and apple pies the day after Thanksgiving. That’s where we come in! Long Island Food Not Bombs will be traveling to stores across Nassau & Suffolk to collect those pies for redistribution. Last year we shared thousands of pies with our neighbors and with your help we hope to do an even better job of it this year.
Location:
All across Long Island
Meet ups will be announced, check www.lifnb.com for upcoming details.
RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ev ent.php?eid=16147968394916 3
Closing Thoughts
Last Year’s Thanksgiving Food Share Bonanza
Are you curious about what the Long Island Food Not Bombs Thanksgiving Bonanza looked like last year? Our 2010 Thanksgiving celebrations we’re the largest Food Not Bombs events in world history, but for 2011 we’re looking to do better, much better. You can find more information about our past celebrations, write ups, pictures and videos here.
We hope these memories inspire you to Take The Pledge To Volunteer!
Our weekly pickups for Long Island Food Not Bombs have been increasing in preparation for our annual Thanksgiving Bonanza. The work we’ve all been doing is kind of insane and hopefully that work will pay off - big time.
Last year we organized the worlds largest vegan Thanksgiving, and the worlds largest Food Not Bombs food share. This year we’re hoping to make it even bigger. On that day, In addition to over 30,000 pounds of food we shared, we also shared thousands of pounds of clothing.
I guess reminiscing about all that reminded me of this video. It’s taken at my house the night before our Vegan Thanksgiving Bonanza in Hempstead. As you can see, we had an endless line of clothing, passed from one volunteer to another. This line made its way from my house into dozens of vehicles and eventually out to thousands of people.
Normal monday doing food pickups across long island.
Is it just me or is bad weather kinda beautiful :). Diving food to the long island food not bombs bedstuy food in the middle of this crazy blizzard!
I spent my saturday afternoon sharing thousands of pounds of fresh produce in a bizarre october blizzard at the long island food not bombs bedstuy food share. Total worth it, even though we’re all still freezing and soaked.
Solidarity, not charity!
