3 new candy machines at church

[Sharon in Colorado]

Well I just wrote a letter to the youth Pastor after discovering in my daughter's flyer that someone had generously donated 3 candy machines to the youth ministry.

Doesn't it always seem like all the junk is cheap or free? Why is that?

Here's the letter I wrote to the youth Pastor:


Hi there - I noticed in my daughter's Elevate flyer that 3 candy machines were donated to the youth ministry. I would like to ask you to please consider putting some healthy options in those machines.

I am not sure what would particularly constitute healthy that might have a shelf life long enough to be in a machine, but perhaps something like pretzels, natural or organic items, etc. over candy bars, gum, cookies etc.

It is a challenge to try to feed my children healthfully and then they go to church and get presented with many processed snacks and sugary items.

If anything, it excites them because it's something they don't get at home, so it's a bit of a bad influence.

Although they do have discernment about food choices and know about nutrition, the over-processed food stuffs still is something they aren't receiving on a regular basis, and they may see it as a positive thing since it comes from Church.

The fruit and vegetable council is setting new guidelines with the public schools, there is no doubt that our churches should be a step ahead.

Please do take this into consideration. Our youth should be taking care of their temples for God as much as their hearts and spirits.

I love this Church and am glad to be a part of it.

Thank you,

Sharon

[juliebove]

I can think of a few options here. First, just because they received the machines doesn't mean they have to use them. Perhaps they could sell the machines and use the money from the sale for a worthy cause? Or perhaps they could put non-edible things in the machines.

There's a golf course here on one of the Islands that is kept natural. The woman who inherited it decided to use no chemicals at all and to do nothing to it other than mow the grass or do obvious repairs that might pose a hazard. Normally it is not manned although you might see her out there on occasion with a cooler on a hot day selling drinks for cheap. You might see the scuba diver who occasionally goes into the water and fishes out the balls that lie in the bottom. Those balls are sold in *you guessed it* a candy machine halfway round the course. To pay for your golf, there is a locked box by a tree. There are also some things you can rent. But you are on your honor to put in the right amount of money.

Now I'm not suggesting that they sell golf balls in there. But perhaps they could think of some other things. Sometimes hotels sell things in machines that are not food items. Like pens, mini sewing kits, combs, etc. Obviously some of these things would be more suited to a hotel, but I'm sure they could come up with some things that might appeal to kids.

My daughter's dance studio has a "candy" machine that mainly has healthy things in it. They do not fill it with any gum because gum is forbidden in dance class. There is usually one or two candy options, and a few other things that some people might not consider overly healthy like Pop Tarts. But most of the machine is filled with nuts, packages of dried fruit, fruit and nut mixes, small cans of fruit, crackers and cans of tuna, etc. I don't think the machine gets much use though because there is a health food store next door and most of us who want a snack just go over there.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Julie that is a great idea. Putting non-food in there, like chapstick, pens, pads of paper, etc.

I was thinking of some of those new Cacao Lara Bars, Power Bars, some "Hemp" energy bars, other cool things like that. I have often wondered if there are natural or healthy snacks, my kids passing them up for the candy bars in there.

[juliebove]

My daughter loves the Cashew Almond Boomi Bars. The same company also makes a raw bar called Prana. She doesn't like those at all. I haven't tried them because they all seem to have almonds in them and I'm allergic to almonds.

[Lay-Lay]

let us know what he saids about your letter.

[SedonaSun]

Hey Sharon,

Make and package some raw treats and let them sell those... :D

Good letter, by the way!

[fiddler]

Hi Sharon,

Unfortunately, the vending machines are probably going to get loaded with all the junk food that kids eat. Unless, you can rally the church attendees to collectively cast their vote otherwise. Strength in numbers.

Good luck,
Fiddler

[AJ Bodine]

Sharon, what a great letter! That would be wonderful if they could be sold and the money put to better use or filled with healthy snacks (wishful thinking). I would be interested to hear what the response of the pastor is.

My son was invited to a local church over Easter this year. When I picked him up from the Sunday school party, he had a loaded plate full of garbage, cheetos, chocolates, etc...fortunately he hadn't eaten much, but for his system, a little is very bad as he's not used to it. They wrapped up his plate and then sent him home with a bag of candy and other goodies. I pitched it all in the trash when we got home and my son suffered for a few days after that with irritability. I mentioned it to the couple that provide snacks that I don't want my son to have all that sugar and they said, that's what kids like to eat!

[Rawkinlocs]

Yeah, unfortunately (and this is coming from a former Pastor's wife) it's often times about the money that will go to the church for...whatever the needs are...the fund-raiser dinners with extremely SAD foods, the candy/bake sales...they focus on what they feel most of the congregation will WANT and gladly pay for as opposed to what is necessarily best for them.

The junk vending machines were seen as a blessing because they KNOW that folks are going to gladly spend money on those snacks, especially after service when they're hungry and ready to eat and that money is going to be a huge "blessing" to the church. Notepads and pencils are a nice idea, but realistically-speaking, they may not sell as readily as the junk food...unfortunately.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Thanks for all the positive feedback. The youth Pastor in fact e-mailed me back pretty quickly and said he would definately bring that up at a meeting, that he sure didn't want the kids to turn into "sugar fiends"...lol he's from London.

I e-mailed him back saying that some other ideas could be Bible Journals, Pens, Books, Lip Balms, etc. that they could use those machines for merchanding for the youth. I would definately be willing to contact some energy bar companies and see if they'd sell them wholesale or donate them to the church.

I know it isn't much, but if one person speaks up, it may spark others to agree and then before you know it they realize that parents ARE concerned about their kids' health and what gets put into their little bodies!

Rawkinlocs I totally agree with you. I could see the notebooks and pencils just hanging in there while the candy/gum/chip/cookies get bought up and need to be refilled time and time again. That is why I was wondering if some of the energy bars would do well, but who knows.

[SedonaSun]

You go girl!!! :D