Do you have enough to eat? Many don’t you know, even right here in America where it is called the land of plenty. There are individuals, and families who go without on a regular basis because they don’t have enough to eat of healthy, well balanced meals. From babies, to the working poor, to the elderly who quietly suffer in seclusion or shame because they are afraid to ask for help…people are going without.
If you are blessed…give thanks to God above…and do what he calls us to do; Deuteronomy 15 vs 11 says “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor & needy in your land”. People who struggle financially do so for a variety of reasons…many of them are not at fault for their situation. Don’t judge. If you are blessed and have enough, or more than enough….you must respond to your hearts prompting. Give…give generously and without strings. Do it with sensitivity and in such a way as to honor their dignity. It is hard to accept help from others.
You can give money, you can give time, you can give produce…you can give your skills, knowledge or talent to improve the situation of others. Did you know that many children are getting fed at school because they have so little at home? They are on food programs at school…but what about weekends? There is no school on weekends…are those children getting enough to eat during that time? Many are not. Feeding America, formerly known as Second Harvest, has a program that provides backpacks of food for children on weekends. For every $1 donated…it provides $14 worth of food. http://bit.ly/2YzhwU
The children aren’t the only ones going without the basic healthy items they need to eat a well balanced diet. Families are spread all over the country. Many don’t live near their elderly parents and therefore, they don’t know their true financial situations. Pride keeps many elderly people from sharing their difficulties. They would rather go without than share with others the fact that they do not have enough to eat. This is unacceptable in America where we have the means to feed our children, our poor and our elderly members of society; if we all do our part to fill the gap.
Talk to your local food bank or Commision on Aging about helping out the elderly in your community. If you have enough to eat, why shouldn’t they? There is always a need. You can help fill it…making a positive impact on those around you. What does your heart tell you to do? Please support and donate to these organization to uplift people. You just never know how this will impact their lives or your own! Thanks!
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Oh, Rainy! You have hit my hot button yet again! I spent some time volunteering in a food pantry recently. The need is so great, especially now. I hope all those folks who are in need find adequate food to nourish the whole family. I also hope those same people will find avenues of education so they will learn how better to stretch those food dollars and keep their family members in the pink of health!
If we can reach out neighbor-to-neighbor that will be a good beginning. There are so many charitable organizations and so many opportunities to serve our fellow man in this way.
Thanks for having a dialogue about this, Rainy. You always touch our hearts and inspire us to become better people.
Hugs,
Connie Baum
http://foodstampscookingclub.com/blog