A Zumba Benefit ... how cool is that?

Let me get this straight. I spend $20 for an hour(plus) of Zumba to send to Grenada to help cocoa farmers to produce chocolate for Burdicks to make candy that I cannot afford to purchase. Hummmm, Sorry, I think I will schedule my root canal instead. Bill

lol Bill - schedule a colonoscopy while you're at it. I can only afford to eat about 2 pieces of Burdick's chocolate every year but it tastes good when I do!

I have to say the Bill is spot on with this one! If my husband and I both attended this event, that would be 40.00. I would rather see that go to the Fall Mountain Food Pantry than cocoa farmers in Grenada. Sorry, but there are people right here in town who can't afford basic foodstuffs. Burdick's chocolate may be yummy, but it's always been way too pricey for this household's budget.

I agree that Burdick's chocolate is expensive. I also know that there are people here in our community who need support during these difficult times. However, I have a different take on the Cocoa Farming Future Initiative (www.cffigrenada.org) and on L.A. Burdick Chocolate. CCFI is a non-profit with the mission to promote sustainable agricultural practices in a fragile tropical ecosystem with tremendous biodiversity that is at risk. Whether that mission is more worthy of our support than the Fall Mt Food Shelf is a fair question. I see L.A. Burdick Chocolate as a great asset to our local community. Larry Burdick's vision and effort have resulted in the creation of many jobs here in Walpole. Folks who are willing and able to pay for Burdick's chocolates help to support local families and the Walpole economy.

It was not my intention to downplay Burdicks worth to the Town of Walpole. I too feel they are an asset to the community and are very supportive of many projects and people within the Town. I also agree that it is admirable for the ICCO to support the cocoa farmers of Grenda. Did you know that Paula Burdick is on the board of directors of he ICCO? Also a couple of facts I managed to dig up in support of my not supporting any fund raisers: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) played a major role in Grenada's development. In addition to the $45 million emergency aid for reconstruction from Hurricane Ivan, USAID provided more than $120 million in economic assistance from 1984 to 1993. About 16 Peace Corps volunteers in Grenada teach special education, remedial reading, and vocational training and assist with HIV/AIDS work. Grenada receives counter-narcotics assistance from the United States and is eligible to be considered for U.S. military exercise-related construction and humanitarian civic action projects. Bill

To Andrew: Sorry if my comments were construed as dissing Burdick's in any way - that was not my intent. No question, Burdick's is a huge asset to the town of Walpole, in particular the provision of jobs to locals - it's just that for me, I would rather "think globally but act locally" when it comes to immediate need. It's easier to relate to my neighbors that lack the basics than it is to their cocoa farmer counterparts in Grenada(not that they aren't deserving as well, but a blue collar dollar only goes so far.). I am happy that there are people in Walpole who CAN offer their support by purchasing Burdick's products - we just aren't able to do so ourselves; and I find their Zumba fundraiser a bit highbrow for those like us who can't afford their products and are a bit more concerned about feeding our own.

I respect the reluctance to send money out of the country when it might be well used locally but consider that there are real economic ties between Walpole and the community in Grenada where they hope to see cacao processed. There's a kind of enlightened self interest at work here too as Burdicks works to reduce some of their long term raw material costs. That will tend to keep Burdicks a viable employer right here in our wonderful Walpole!