OCHNA Newsletter - The Stone Soup Gazette

The OCHNA Newsletter, The Stone Soup Gazette , was named after a folktale that had the powerful message that collaboration among all members of a community can lead to positive change. The story goes that three good-natured fellows ended up lost and hungry in a village. Well, as they looked around the village, it appeared to be deserted. Not a soul was walking about, and not a sound was to be heard. The three fellows went about knocking upon the first cottage door, and calling out, "Greetings, we are but three hungry lost souls and ask if you have just a bit of food you might be so kind as to share with us. We would be most grateful and in your debt." Ever so slowly, a worn wooden shutter was cracked open just enough to see one suspicious eye peering back at them. A voice responded, "I am sorry dear sirs, but you see, we are but a poor family and have only enough to feed ourselves and nothing to spare. Being both hungry and of an optimistic nature, our three fellows continued on from door to door, repeating their request and receiving the same sad response.

Together the three built a fire in the very center of the village, within easy view of each cottage, and placed on the fire a huge iron pot filled with water. Each one then placed a big gray stone in the bottom of the pot. They started stirring, sniffing, and exclaiming loudly, "Hmmm, how tasty!" One by one, each villager approached and asked the burning question, "Excuse me dear fellows, but may I inquire as to what it is you are cooking?" "Why, Stone Soup of course! Oh yes, and simply wonderful stone soup it shall be - enough for all to share. Ah, but it would be so much more tasty if we had just a bit of potato to add. Oh, yes, chimed in the other two, just a bit of potato." One curious villager offered up that she might have a bit of potato that she could add to the delicious stone soup. And so it goes, until every member of the community has added its limited but vital resources to the pot, creating a wonderful concoction to be shared by all.

The Stone Soup Gazette is OCHNA's Official Newsletter which attempts to bring all health partners together, in much the same way as the stone soup did in the folktale. The Gazette provides an opportunity for members to learn about current health events happening in Orange County and to publicize their own sponsored events. If you have an article to contribute click here to email us or call our office at 714-547-3631.

All newsletters are in PDF format and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

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