|
Don't let your neighbors go hungry
27 August 2009
This article may be considered my own little PSA, but it's been something on my mind recently. While researching this, I quickly learned that September is Hunger Action Month. News to me! I began to think about hunger - sad, but true, hunger.
When I go to the grocery store I am frequently asked if I wish to donate a dollar to fight against hunger in this country. Sometimes I do it, but I am ashamed to only say "sometimes." Here I am in the midst of a life long love affair with anything food oriented, yet I cannot say I have done a darn thing beyond leaving a few cans for a food drive, or donating the "free" ham or turkey earned at local stores to improve anyone's status when it comes to something as basic as eating or not eating. It's not that I don't care. Rather, it is unpleasant, and like many people, I tend to push unpleasant realities away from my normal realm of thought.
I will pat myself on the back for the countless meals I have taken to friends, neighbors, my in-laws, etc., when there is illness, death, birth, or just moving to the neighborhood. That will always be something I just do. As my eldest son told me when he was no more than 3, "It's nice to be nice, Mommy." Well, yes, it is. Somehow, at that young age, he understood karma on such a basic level. For whatever reason, (to improve my own karma?) I have decided to take it upon myself, and you, my readers, to make a difference. Even if it's just by spreading an awareness about the very real need some families have for food—it's that awareness that incites action.
I have done a small amount of research, and the numbers are staggering to me. The most recent statistics I found are from 2007 (I'm certain they may be worse now) courtesy of Feed America. Here are just a few to consider -
- In 2007, 36.2% (23.8% adults, 12.4% children) of Americans were living in what are considered food insecure households.
- In 2007, 13 million American households were food insecure.
- In 2007, 3.4% of all American households (3.9 million) accessed emergency food assistance from a local food pantry at least once.
While I have many times wondered how to finagle the money for paying bills and groceries for my family of five, I am thankfully unable to say we have ever once gone hungry. I have never gone to bed in tears because of the inability to feed my children. I suspect most of you have never had to go hungry, either.
There are simple ways to help, and I would ask you to consider doing so, if only on the small scale $1 donation at a supermarket check-out, remembering to donate for your local school food drives (usually before Thanksgiving), or to take it upon yourselves to make a difference in a bigger way. I would hope it to be a steady flow of generosity, however when our minds start filling with thoughts of holidays, that tends to be when donations spike. Whatever the case, you could never be ashamed when helping; even the smallest amount helps.
For more information on how to help, visit Feeding America and Feeding America's Hunger Action Center. Both are part of what used to be known as America's Second Harvest, but since 2008 has been known as Feeding America. The sites allow you to simply donate straight from there. Also, they allow the option to input your zip code to locate the nearest food banks.
Another donation spot to consider is Meals on Wheels.
No political agenda or town hall meetings needed. Getting involved this way, there are at least faces proving the positive results of your kindness, whether you realize you're seeing them every day or not.
References
Feeding America (2009). "Hunger and poverty statistics." Retrieved from http://feedingamerica.org/faces-of-hunger/hunger-101/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx 27 August 2009.
|
