The Recovery Relief Foundation

    It was a very long letter I originally wrote to myself.
    It was written by happenstance when I decided to put my fingers upon the keys of the keyboard... well after I had been hospitalized for the second time.
   
    The actual (and original) book was entitled The Momentous Journey... I never planned to publish it, yet showed it instead to some friends who adamantly stated that it needed to one day be published and made available to the public.

    I tried (whenever I could) to make sure I was completely secluded and isolated from all the greedy, evil forces present in what appeared to be the reality of the outside world, yet this became ever more difficult as I grew older.  I always felt safe and secure going back and existing within the precious walls of the stone castle (where I had only bliss, contentment, and peace of mind... and no nightmares).

    Quite often (although not quite as often as I would have liked) I felt as if I had fallen asleep in a feather bed and dreamt I was awake reliving many wonderful, peaceful and joyful moments in my past and my present (which became a real present).

      I still quite often feel as if my head is part of the ground and my feet are attached to the sky while I'm suspended in mid-air on my swing set in the backyard of my house at the mere age of 5.
 
      I like to re-live that moment as much as I can, as if I am able to 'see' the world upside down in such a way that it makes more sense to me.  And of course, when I come to a stop and am longer swinging, I can see the beautiful weeping willow tree standing right before me in my neighbor's yard with the rope connected to it's branch, holding the tire that I never had the nerve to sit or swing on (which was always far better than being up in the air with my legs and feet dangling, feeling as though I had no weight or control).

       I had always been very smart, and as I dreamed of growing up, I came to know that it was I who awakened myself and created my life's reality with its nightmarish dreams (or not).

    While living within this cloud, I, Queen Sara, dreamed of being able to be completely awake (whether I was sleeping or not), and I thought I knew this would be possible (and possibly even easier) after my last final breath during this particular physical lifetime of existence.

    In order to become fully conscious of myself during this lifetime, I needed to learn to be patient and accept all things arriving in proper times and space.

    I delightfully experienced being awake while asleep quite often while remembering peaceful and loving moments in my past... as a young princess.  Sometimes past memories exist in the eternal present moment of my reality, whether I am lying in my feather bed (or not). 

 
    I... like Sara Rachael, continually worked to learn the lessons required to incorporate my past and future happy dreams into my present moment as a real 'picture of life time frame' vision (which I dreamingly and continuously displayed and replayed to myself over and over and over again).

    It was as if she, Sara Rachael, was still that fairy tale princess in her mother's bedroom, mesmerized while looking into the three-way vanity mirror that reflected itself.

    As she looked into the mirror, she (even as a grown-up) dreamed of getting to the end of it within it.

    The mirrors have always been, and are always never ending, because I would try to look deeply within them within the blink of an eye timeframe. And it wasn't until I had more of both the hindsight and foresight in an instant experience,  I even noticed that the mirrors had dark backsides as well as no sides at all... which made it palatable for me to finally accept I'd put my own self under the gun.

    Sara Rachael Hope helped me come to know that although the invisible is not always seen in the mirror, it still always exists... and some things also exist within it as well.

    Although it may have been daytime during most of Sara's life, she forgot that the stars always were (and still are) always up there in the sky... as if it was night!

    She wanted to learn as much as she could about all of life's mirrors and the lessons contained within them (as well as not within them), since she knew they would help her come to realize that she chose everything that ever happened to her in all her eternal waking (and sleeping) moments and hours of reality.

   This allowed her, as well as me (personally), to grow and evolve ourselves.

    We knew there would be other things as well, that we could and would dream of happening in the future, and we desperately wanted to be able to know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we'd benefit from them and what was required for us to just 'BE'.

    By creating Sara's own dream states, with the help of Creator and his/her (It's) directives, I have been able to fully realize who I am, where I am going and where I am from.

    Sara Rachael Hope helped me learn that by using an objective and scientific discipline toward the non-visible, subtle, and secret conditions in life, I am challenged to accept an eternal kiss bestowed upon my head (as my body and mind are lovingly cradled and gently rocked in every moment of every day -- whether sleeping or not).

    This required me to be able to see myself as more than (and even beyond that of) just a mere physical, emotional and mental type or form of person I embody.

    As a mortal human, I've found it imperative to have my mind become gentle, kind, quiet and still... as well as peaceful and filled with love's light.

    She had felt eternal kisses were hard to come by... most especially when previously feeling and thinking as though she needed to be raised by the dead!

Hurrying, hurdling, stumbling, falling, running, and jumping on
the paths of my life, I (must not) surrender and flounder while
crawling, walking and flying along.
The paths have been treacherous, inspirational as well, and I'm
motivated to stay on track.
Exploring troublesome, explosive and inspiring environments, I consciously transpire (going higher).
Go left, right? It's a dead end. STOP!
Near a sane place in numbness, darkness and brightness prevail.
Angelic devilish loving brilliance exists.
Visions and sounds emanate and entangle.
Sensing an understanding of my habitat, my thoughtful feelings are candles.
Sparked in flight they are soaring with wings that flutter convictions and knowledge and fable.
Fire, water and earth irrigate the world of the air, as I burn melodically in it with necessarily a care.
Drenched and stained in a blustering inferno, I stand within paths enveloped in sight and lighter than air.
I'm surrounded and embraced by the rain, dirt, and light, as progression takes place during day (and through night).
Through them all on the wind I continue my flight.
As the lightning arouses me in towards the wind, I am making me eager for romance in 'The End'.
Is it coincidence? Believe not, because harmony exists, as the wind strongly gusts in direction of bliss, and fixes me on Universal earth's tender kiss.
Spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds... experienced ensembles that I use for clothing.
Continuing to explore, inevitable joyful mornings and evenings before me.
The paths are embodied within a momentous time's journey. Wide open to me, embracing all that is Thee.

In 1996, while working for one of the largest organic supermarkets in the nation, Debra Ulrich noticed the staggering amount of food that was being thrown out and wasted. She asked that the food to be given to her so that it could be delivered without charge, to individuals who needed it... and never resold for a profit.
After making sure the food was available for pickup (that first friday night), Debra gradually increased the number of days she would recover and freely distribute the food. Over the course of less than 4 years, she got hundreds and hundreds of volunteers to pick up and freely deliver over $4 million worth of food (and some shelter items). It was with volunteer's help, that Recovery Relief was created and born.
The 300 $100 meal dinners that were recovered from a Smithsonian fund-raising dinner for 3000 people, were freely delivered to the Gospel Rescue Mission in downtown DC.
It was a tremendously huge and awesome task to be able to make it possible for nothing to be thrown out on any day of the week with just one 'particular' supermarket she had been working for... especially when churches were fighting amongst themselves for the food, volunteers wouldn't show up, the supermarket didn't really care (or want to care!) about having to be 'conscious of their corporate waste=abundance!'. And most especially, the small communities with the greatest need, not being able to acquire it for themselves (for many reasons). Initially, it took over a year for the food to be consistently recovered from the first store alone, since the employees needed to be educated and schedules had to be implemented as well as carried out. Ultimately, enough food was recovered in 4 years from just a couple of places, to at least feed over 4000 people per week. It became clear (over time) that specific â??pocketsâ?? of communities of truly disadvantaged people (and/or their organizations) existed and were in the most dire need due to a real 'lack'. They themselves were rarely in a position to recover it, and there was too much food recovered for such a small community to consume all by itself. They could not handle the tremendous amount of effort required to distribute to others like them. It became impossible for Debra as one individual, to direct, manage and support the all-encompassing mission to carry out her own vision any longer... especially with only voluntary support. The food that Debra initially delivered to a friendâ??s house with the effort (and intention) of first, never having it thrown away, and second, having it only go to those with no food (or very little food) to sustain and support LIFE, was, over many years... picked up, distributed and consumed by over thousands and thousands of people and organizations who needed it .
The majority of organizations and individuals Ms. Ulrich spoke to about the abundance being wasted, were and still are, very concerned about it.One of her biggest challenges was to get dependable and reliable transportation and manpower resources, public support and awareness.
In November 2001, the law firm of Arnold & Porter established Recovery Relief, Inc. as a public, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation to carry out the charitable activities mentioned above.
In 2003, the Anchor of Hope's trucks broke down and the bread from a bakery that fed over 1000 people a night (22 55-gallon garbage bags) was no longer able to be recovered. Debra felt she couldn't 'dump it' on the White House lawn to feed the birds without getting arrested, and it was at that time that she felt her recovery relief effort was needing to be at a standstill (even though it had been years and years of bountiful recovery). She didn't have the ability to continue corporate operations any longer. And (maybe?!) she was correct in not demanding to stay after closing time one night when a large grocery store that was throwing out $200 worth of milk refused to give it to her (even though she had a refrigerator truck in the parking lot ready to go to a ministry with a daycare facility). It probably would have been entertaining to have the newspaper and the police there to remove her from the store. It probably was a missed publicity opportunity that she could have had, yet, then again, she didn't want to be arrested. One of the largest foundations in D.C. had expressed an interest in funding the company, yet she did not have enough manpower available at the time, to write the proposals necessary to build the company's capacity and foundational structure. This particular foundation was (unfortunately) only interested in supporting and recovering items strictly to be consumed for the Washington, D.C. area anyway, thereby 'squashing' her vision (and ultimate mission) to provide a complete and coordinated reliable and dependable (and self-sustaining) national/world recovery relief effort. In building the corporate capacity and organizational structure of the corporation, there needed to be a (built-in) system that functions efficiently and reliably, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week with no definitive local (or even state) lines drawn. It is only then that Recovery Relief will be able to effective. Although many surplus providers were (and still are) available, there needs to be more awareness given to this expansive 'vision' and corporate mission. The abundant food needs to stop being wasted simply because it generates a profit (or doesn't). It's not about profit. It's about nourishment and sustenance for all. Emergency fire, police and rescue agencies; federal, state and local governments; as well as profits and non-profits alike, need to work together as an integral part of this 'whole' recovery effort, so future generations of needy families in disastrous situations are cared for in the years to come.
Recovered items are needed most by so many who are barely making ends meet. An organized recovery relief system - through an effort that has the capacity at any time of the day or night to transport items of sustenance to a disadvantaged community or individual in any location - is urgently needed in this nation (as well as all over the world). The operation has to have the capabilities necessary to offer pick up and delivery of perishable and nonperishable surplus foods, clothing, household goods to anyone who does not have it and has no means of getting it. After all... there is a Post Office in every town across America
The process is a very valuable source of expanded outreach service fostering community growth and sustainability for ALL individuals. If done correctly, it will freely provide a tremendous nationally (& multinational) public service not currently available. As long there are children in need every day in this nation, no surplus or unused goods need to be thrown away.
The day may yet come, when toleration of waste will no longer be an acceptable practice, and the effort supportive organizations, individuals and governments put forward in making the Recovery Relief mission a reality, will be a priceless outreach program that will support ALL communities far-and-wide.
Support for this effort allows an individual to maintain dignity and respect.It also assures the sustainability of this planet and every living being on it!

Hurrying, hurdling, stumbling, falling, running, and jumping on the paths of my life, I (must not) surrender and flounder while crawling, walking and flying along.
The paths have been treacherous and inspirational as well, and Iâ??m motivated and resolved to stay on track.
Exploring troublesome, explosive and inspiring experiences, I consciously transpire to go higher and higher... desiring aspiring.
Go left, right?, as the dead end STOPs, as the sopping mop drops!
I'm not 'always' near a sane place in numbness where darkness and brightness prevail and angelic devilish loving brilliance exists.
Where visions and sounds emanate and entangle.
Sensing an understanding of (my) habitat, my thoughtful feelings are double-sided sparking candles.
When sparked in flight, they are soaring with wings that flutter convictions and knowledge and fable.
Fire, water, earth and air irrigate and sustain the world as I burn as a flame melodically (with)in it.
A necessary care?!, without the air? My soul dares.
Drenched and stained as a blustering inferno, enveloped within sight and lighter than air.
Iâ??m surrounded, embraced and composed of rain, dirt and loving light.
I stand within my own paths as progression takes place during day and night.
Through them as the wind I continue my flight.
As lightning arouses me toward the wind, I'm making me eager for romance in â??The Endâ??.
Is it coincidence?
I believe not!, because harmony exists as wind strongly gusts in direction of my bliss, and fixes me on universal earthâ??s tender kiss.
Spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds.
The experienced ensembles that I use for clothing, help me continue to explore inevitable joyful mourning all mornings and evenings before me (since the paths are embodied within a momentous timeâ??s journey).
It's wide open before me... used to adorn me, and given unto me by Thee.