I had lots going on today and got my first headache of the project. A nap took care of it...but I really didn't have time for a nap today. Nor did I have time to exercise. The good news? I didn't battle hunger today, even when watching the kids load up their dishes at
Yogurtini tonight for a special treat after parent/teacher conferences.
Recently I was talking to one of my educator friends and I found that the building in which she works is taking practical steps to help those children who don't have access to regular and healthy meals. In particular, they focus on long weekends and holidays when a child may have to go several days without proper nutrition.
Teachers are asked to confidentially identify students who they suspect are not fed properly. Prior to these long weekends or holidays, a backpack is sent home with these students providing basic food products to assure they do not go hungry.
Apparently the first few times they did this, they had cans coming back unopened but really beat up. After some questioning and finally talking to some of the kids, they found out that these students often do not even have access to can openers. They were trying all different kinds of things to get those cans opened. Now they don't send canned goods home unless they can be opened without a pull-tab on top.
What a great idea!
Last year my church "adopted" a local elementary school with high rates of poverty. This has been a great opportunity for our congregation to reach out to those less fortunate.
Your church can do the same thing. And, although there are many projects you can do with this school, you could provide these backpacks prior to holiday and parent/teacher conference extended weekends. Items sent home could include peanut butter, macaroni and cheese (with the squeeze sauce), juice in plastic containers, rice side-dish boxes, bagged instant flavored mashed potatoes, and instant oatmeal. Of course, you may have some other better ideas. Just avoid frozen or canned items as well as food products that require other ingredients which they may not have at home. Plus, you'll need to buy some backpacks. I also think it would be a good idea to provide a card with the name and address of any local food pantries.
The process needs to be discreet to protect the privacy (and dignity) of the children and their families. But it is a very realistic way to fight hunger right in your own community.
There is no sense in anyone in this country being hungry. We simply have too many resources to allow this to happen right under our noses.
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