Behind `Stone Soup' comic strip's story line is some serious business.Byline: GUEST VIEWPOINT By Jan Eliot Jan Eliot is an American cartoonist. She writes and illustrates the comic strip "Stone Soup." She created a previous strip known as "Patience and Sarah," which enjoyed a run of five years in 10 publications. Her next comic strip was called "Sister City. For The Register-Guard In March of 2004, readers of my comic strip comic strip, combination of cartoon with a story line, laid out in a series of pictorial panels across a page and concerning a continuous character or set of characters, whose thoughts and dialogues are indicated by means of "balloons" containing written speech. , ``Stone Soup
Then there was the time Gramma went to Africa to build, much like volunteers travel around the world to build with Habitat for Humanity's Global Village program. It turns out Fiona Eastwood, then director of Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program, was among the strip's readers. When Fiona e-mailed to ask whether I might consider helping Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity, nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization that enables low-income people to own affordable, livable housing. Headquartered in Americus, Ga., it was founded in 1976 by businessman Millard Fuller and his wife. raise awareness of opportunities for women and girls to get involved in Habitat's work, I enthusiastically agreed. Readers often say they think I've been writing about their lives - and that's true. I get my ideas from real life, conversations overheard. But in this instance, I'm hoping my readers will mirror the strip rather than the other way around. I hope you'll get involved in Habitat's efforts. This weekend, I'm following in my comic strip characters' footsteps and swinging my hammer on a Women Build work site. Along with other women volunteers, I'm helping Kinte, a single mom of three young children, build a Habitat home where she can safely raise her family. Right now, Kinte and her family live in a basement apartment with plumbing plumbing, piping systems inside buildings for water supply and sewage. The Romans had a highly developed plumbing system; water was brought to Rome by aqueducts and distributed to homes in lead pipes—hence the name plumbing from the Latin word plumbum that leaks in every room, exposed wiring and a broken-down boiler. ``Stone Soup,'' the name of my comic strip, comes from an old fairy tale fairy tale Simple narrative typically of folk origin dealing with supernatural beings. Fairy tales may be written or told for the amusement of children or may have a more sophisticated narrative containing supernatural or obviously improbable events, scenes, and personages that illustrates how a community turned its limited resources into a grand feast and celebration - creating something from nothing. I know from firsthand first·hand adj. Received from the original source: firsthand information. first experience that this is what parents, especially single parents, often must do. For 10 years I was a single working mom, with too little time, money and patience. Because I received help and support from friends, family and understanding employers, we nonetheless had a good life. I was lucky enough to eventually buy a home of my own, because I had parents who could help me. But many are not so fortunate. Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program works to involve more women in Habitat's efforts to help more families in need. The program gives women the opportunity to learn construction in a comfortable environment. Like all Habitat homeowners, Women Build partner families work hard for their homes. They invest hundreds of hours of `sweat equity' by working on their own homes and on other Habitat homes. And they pay for their homes through a zero-interest, no-profit mortgage, which Habitat uses to build more homes. I'm proud to do what I can to help. The generosity of Habitat volunteers and donors makes parents' task of providing a simple, decent home a little easier. Everyone can help in some way - whether that's by making a donation (www.habitat.org/wb), swinging a hammer or by sharing expertise. Lowe's - Women Build's national underwriter underwriter n. a company or person which/who underwrites an insurance policy, issue of corporate securities, business, or project. (See: underwrite) UNDERWRITER, insurances. One who signs a policy of insurance, by which he becomes an insurer. - offers financial support of the program as well as free clinics at its stores to help volunteers. Home Interiors & Gifts' independent decorating consultants have raised support one candle at a time, raising more than $1 million for the Women Build program. Stay tuned and you'll see the characters of ``Stone Soup'' swinging hammers again - soon on a Women Build. Even before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. the Gulf Coast, more than 12 million children in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. were living in poverty. The need is even greater now. All of us working together can make a big difference. At the end of her building experience, Holly ends up asking, `Who knew blisters could feel so good?' I hope you'll join the Stone Soup family and me in finding out for yourself just how good it can feel to help a deserving de·serv·ing adj. Worthy, as of reward, praise, or aid. n. Merit; worthiness. de·serv  ing·ly adv. family build a brighter future.
Jan Eliot is a Eugene resident whose comic strip, "Stone Soup," appears in The Register-Guard. |
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