the hunger season
Have you ever heard Keb’ Mo’s song “God Trying to Get Your Attention”? It might be one of my all time favorites. And for those who don’t want me to get all religious on you, it’s cool. I don’t think anyone is going to be singing this song at their place of worship anytime soon. (But if you are, let me know. That’s a church I’d like to check out.) Anyway, I’ve had a God Trying to Get {My} Attention moment over the last couple of days and feel compelled to do something somewhat out of the ordinary on this blog. Today, I’m going to make a big old request for help.
Yesterday, I read that our local food bank, The Hunger Coalition, is calling for donations and assistance for our community’s hungry The article referenced the beginning of the “Hunger Season”, which is the season when donations are low and needs are high. March and April are typically tough for food banks. The awareness of the need for donations that peaks during the holiday season has waned but the need has increased.
I took a screen shot of the post so that I would remember that I wanted to do something to help. It’s a sad fact of my life that even things that are this important, or maybe especially things like this that are most important, need to be written down or noted in some way in order to not be overlooked by the mundane (I’m talking to you, laundry and dishes). You totally know what I’m talking about.
Today, I participated in a discussion between bloggers about giving back to our communities. The discussion began with an Edith Wharton quote: “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” It was the second time this week that I had read this particular quote. Coincidence? I think not. But it did not hit me what this quote had to do with me until one of my fellow discussion participants made a reference to how food bloggers specifically can help out. Let’s be honest. The connection didn’t even hit me when I read that reference. My initial thought was what difference does it make what kind of blogging you do, can’t you just help out wherever your passion is?
And then I remembered The Hunger Coalition’s request for help.
Every day, I think about food. Sometimes, I even blog about it. I think about meal plans and grocery shopping and lunch boxes. I complain about these things out loud and in public to the 10 of you who actually read this blog. I completely take for granted that I can complain about these things while other families have nothing. Read that post again. 85 families came through the doors of the food bank for help in one day. I live in a small community. There are approximately 21 thousand people living in this valley. It’s small. And we have to help each other out if we can.
If I had to guess, I’d bet the situation is the same in your community. Your community may be larger or smaller but there are probably quite a few hungry families. Most communities have food banks with generous people working hard to provide food to countless families. Those food banks, and the people who work for them, are the candles. And you know where I’m going with this. We can help. We can be the mirror that reflects the light.
Please consider donating to your local food bank this week. You can start by checking out this list of what food banks really need and what they really don’t. Pick up a can of beef or (plastic) jar of peanut butter or carton of shelf-stabilized milk to add to your market’s donation bins (usually in the store year-round). Or you can call your local food bank and make a cash donation. Or if you can donate your time to help sort food.
It’s the little things that make the biggest impact, isn’t it? We may not be able to feed the entire world, but we can certainly help in our communities.
I will be donating. And I will be making a concerted effort to substitute my complaining about my responsibilities in the kitchen with gratitude that I am able to create a life for my family that centers around my kitchen.
Thanks for listening. And thanks for donating in any way that you can.