For the past two years we’ve been treated to a political landscape littered with speeches and sound bites about "change" and how someone needs to come in and bring about change for the U.S., change in the economy, the war in Iraq, education, and healthcare. Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, Green, or Other – you’ve heard it all and it’s all about change.
What we want to know here, at Chocolate Zoom, however, is how these candidates feel about chocolate. As of this writing neither presidential candidates had replied to press inquiries regarding their feelings (or their families’ feelings) about chocolate and change – although the Huffington Post (website) did briefly mention a purchase by the McCain campaign of about 1000 chocolate elephants from a sweet shop in Dallas, Texas for $3,589 in dark, milk, and white chocolate. But, that doesn’t tell the discerning Chocolate Zoom reader what kinds of chocolate either of the senators like or dislike. Would they ever change their opinion about chocolate? Would they ever use chocolate for change? Typical of Americans everywhere, we’ll have to look to ourselves to see how chocolate figures into change in America and around the globe.
If you’ve been reading Chocolate Zoom for any length of time you know that in almost every issue there is an article about a chocolatier or chocolate company that is doing their best to somehow use chocolate to bring about positive change globally. No matter who gets voted into office, these people have been unflagging in working with what they have – chocolate beans, chocolate companies, chocolate truffles, to make the world a better place.
But, what about you, the reader? How can you use chocolate to bring about positive change around you no matter who is elected November 4th? We did a little research and discovered some places you can go to use chocolate to effect change.
Chocolate for Change!
The motto for Chocolate For Change (website) is "Help make a difference one bite at a time." A New York City based company founded by a woman in 2004 who wanted to combine her love of chocolate with her desire to help make the world a better place, Chocolate for Change educates the public and raises funds for issues that ultimately benefit humanity. Proceeds are donated to a variety of organizations. Chocolate for Change believes in not only giving money, but also energy in seeking positive change in the world. Chocolate bars are packaged in wrappers designed for whatever particular cause you want to promote, catering to whatever organizations or charities have in mind. Wrappers use graphics and text to inform those buying the chocolate about the cause they’re being sold for.
Save the Planet!
Endangered Species Chocolate (website) combines natural chocolate with no processed sugars with saving endangered species. Each chocolate bar is made with ethically grown and traded cacao beans, chemical and pesticide free, and uses no processed sugars or hydrogenated fats. Each wrapper comes with artwork and educational information on specific endangered animals, and 10% of the proceeds go to supporting these species, their habitat, and ultimately humanity. The chocolate bars are also vegan, kosher, and gluten free.
Dazzling Delicacies!
Berg Fundraising (website) offers a program where your group can sell anything from dog treats and sausages to candy and chocolate to earn money for your organization. This company does not replace their wrappers with those designed especially for your group or cause, but they do promise to provide quality chocolate products (and other gourmet items) at a discount price to you, so you can sell them for your group or organization, or that field trip your band or orchestra wants to take during spring break.
In the end, change only happens when we all pitch in and work for it, no matter if that change is adjusting to the time change, a new administration, or working to make our corner of the world a better place. Anyway we do, it’s nice to know we can do it with our favorite food in hand, offering others a sweet alternative like chocolate as a way of making the world a better place, one bite at a time.
Rachel is a freelance writer, copy editor, and proofreader who attempts to cobble enough together each month to pay for rent, kitty litter, and chocolate (and maybe cat nip for the cat). Sometimes you can find her in Larchmont Village struggling to pass by the Leonida's Chocolates without going in.
