U = Underfed and Undernourished
As a child I spent many days hungry. I know what it is like to have State cheese and dried milk. I know what it is like to go to bed hungry and having your stomach growl. I remember saying my kids would never wish for crayons, bananas, and ice cream. And if you ask my husband and kids, they will tell you that we have never, ever been without any of those. I have enough crayons in this house to supply three schools. You make promises like that when you are hungry and poor.
When I was given an opportunity fifteen years ago to help start a food shelf for our local community, it was something I leapt to do. I had always wanted to bring the hunger full circle and start something that would ensure the people in our community didn’t struggle to find food.
There are many people who fall between the cracks. There are people who can get food stamps and free lunches for their kids, but there are also people who earn literally ten dollars too much and receive absolutely no benefits. Those are the people who struggle the most. Those are the people that the food shelves help in addition to the poor who don’t have enough food stamps for the whole month.
People always remember to donate food to the local food shelves or food drops during Thanksgiving and Christmas, but one of the most important times to donate food is after school ends. Most families that have kids and meet the requirements for free lunch, actually receive free breakfast and lunch for the kids while they are in school. Once school ends, the burden for feeding the children falls back onto families that are struggling to make ends meet.
They need foods for breakfast and lunches: Boxed cereal, oatmeal, breakfast bars, spaghetti O’s, soups, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, tuna, pasta, spaghetti sauce, juice, even freezie pops, etc. If you don’t know where the local food shelf is, bring food to the local post office. Most post offices will take food for the food shelf and may actually have a drop off bin. In addition, you can bring any food donations to the police stations, ambulance, or local schools.
Every little bit given is beneficial at this time of year. Many shelves struggle during the summer months to meet the demands of children being out of school. So, if you can donate that would be awesome!
I hope you all have a great day and go visit the other blogs!
Megan, I'm proud to know you. You are my second blogging friend who helped to create a center like this. It is so important to remind us all that people need food at times other than Christmas. You go girl!
I have enjoyed getting to know you too! Some of us have become close! Would be nice to meet someday!!
What an excellent post. Having worked in social services for many years, I can't stress enough how important year round food banks are. Please help anyway you can, one box or can of anything can make a difference in a hungry person's life.
Thanks so much Megan for reminding people of this year round need.
Summer is such a difficult time for kids, parents and food shelves. And you are right anything matters–a can of soup feeds a couple kids!
What a great post, Megan! I remember you sharing your story during Advent Calendar and giving us good ideas how to help out. It's a good point to help out in the "off-season," or besides the big holidays.
It is just as important as Christmas!!
goodness, how humbling… and enlightening as I would never have thought of the holidays as bringing extra hardship. Thank you Megan. Sometimes we need our eyes opened.
It's so hard on the families to take on 20 extra lunches or breakfasts per child! That's a huge expense!