Elaine Whitney #1117

A beautiful conversation with One Generation Away co-founder Elaine Whitney. This beautiful organization distributes healthy foods to families throughout Middle Tennessee that currently do not have access to food sources due to economic and physical barriers.

Elaine and her husband Chris moved from St Louis, MO to Franklin, TN in 2004 to start a church. Little did they know that in the process of pastoring a church that One Generation Away would be birthed. In 2013 One Generation Away was established and in the first year distributed 400,000 pounds of food from the back of the Whitney’s car. It has now grown to serve over 4.4 million meals to those in need all over Middle Tennessee and in 4 states with disaster relief. Chris and Elaine have a passion to see churches and organizations come together to serve our neighbors in need.

In November of 2018, Chris stepped down as the pastor of a local church to focus his time with OneGenAway full time. The ministry of OneGen Away has opened many opportunities for Chris and Elaine to serve in the community and beyond.

Chris and Elaine have been married for 34 years and have 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren who all live in Middle Tennessee.

OneGenAway is a non-profit 501(c)3 that works to bring fresh, healthy food directly to people in need. We strive to eliminate food deserts in the low income neighborhoods in America.

Food deserts are defined as parts of the country where citizens lack access to fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthy whole foods due to lack of grocery stores, lack of transportation, and economic hardship.

We serve communities by rescuing food seven days a week from local grocery stores and restaurants such as, Whole Foods, Costco, GFS, Publix, Outback Steakhouse, Aldi, and many others.

Also, each month, OneGenAway, with the help of many volunteers, holds Saturday mobile food distributions in communities throughout Middle Tennessee. Our distributions provide fresh food through the help of local organizations, ministries and volunteers. Mobile pantries are expanding into Alabama and Florida.

In His Own Words…

My name is Djaffar Shalchi and I have faith in the future of our wonderful world.

Me and my beloved wife started Human Act with a wish to make a difference in the life of the millions of people living in extreme poverty. Grounded in the saying – Poverty is the worst form of violence – by my role model and great spiritual and political leader Mahatma Gandhi, we are determined to end the suffering of millions. The current inequality in wealth results in a few having much more money than they can spend in an entire lifetime, while many live under inhuman conditions, struggling to survive on a day to day basis.

I was born in Tehran, Iran in 1961. When I was 8 years old, my parents decided to seek residency in Austria. Unfortunately, our residency application was rejected after one year, forcing our family – me, my three brothers and a younger sister – to split up. While my mother, my siblings and I had to move back to Iran, my father traveled on to Denmark. Luckily, we were granted residency here. But shortly after my parents got divorced, and my siblings and I were sent to an orphanage.

The Iranian Revolution in 1979 had a huge influence on my family. In Iran, the Shah was forced into exile and the long and deadly war with Iraq began. Both of my brothers returned to Iran to help rebuild the country. Unfortunately, my oldest brother disappeared during his efforts in his birth country, and was never to be found again. My younger brother, who also returned, died due to illness.

When my family returned to Iran, I decided to stay in Denmark and finish my education. Denmark had become my home away from my birth country. I married a lovely Danish girl, Ané Maro, and we had two amazing children. I obtained a degree as constructional engineer in the year of 1988. When the time was ready in 1999 I decided that I would be self-employed, which lead to my great financial success and my private means.

The Danish welfare system, designed to foster social mobility and equality of opportunity, made it feasible for a me as migration to climb the ladder of success. The advanced social tax system financed my free higher education and social security, enabling me to start my own business. My family and I wish that all the world’s children would have the same opportunities as I was given to create a better life, and we are determined to never forget to give back to those who are less fortunate. Therefore, my wife and I have decided to put more than $30 million of our fortune into the foundation. By doing this we want to help make a difference and to inspire others to do the same, in the name of truth, freedom and justice.

Subscribe for Free to Never Miss an Episode

Click the appropriate link to follow the show so you get every episode of What Matters Most as soon as they’re available!

Your Review of What Matters Most Helps the Show Reach More People!

If you enjoyed this — or any! — episode of the What Matters Most podcast, please leave a review of the show! Reviews help boost the show in rankings, which makes it more visible… and that means more listeners! It’s a great way to spread the word about What Matters Most!

Create your review – click here!

Help Support Future Episodes!

What Matters Most is 100% listener supported by generous pledges from people just like you.

Did this episode speak to you? Please consider pledging your support for as little as $5.00 per month… or pledge at higher levels and enjoy perks like a guided meditation audiobook, a library of Paul Samuel Dolman e-books… and more!

Read the Book That Inspires the Show

Paul Samuel Dolman, author, podcaster, and speaker, presents What Matters Most (the book!) a series of interview transcriptions from more than twenty inspirational Nashville and Tennessee residents, including special guest the journalist and author Bill Moyers.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, former Governor Don Sundquist, Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal, Grammy Award-winning entertainer Wynonna Judd, and many more share intimate and inspirational aspects of themselves.

This twentieth anniversary edition also features bonus material from thirty more notables from Tennessee, including local business owners, spiritual leaders, coaches, radio personalities, authors, and educators.

The post Elaine Whitney #1117 appeared first on Paul Samuel Dolman.