Our Hungry Kids...A Practical Response

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.

Home Grown Hunger

Two weeks!

I noticed today that my fingernails do not appear to be growing.  I painted them a week ago and the polish still goes down to the cuticle.  Interesting. 

Also, usually when I workout I sweat...a lot.  This is kind of gross, but usually I am soaked after 40-50 minutes on an elliptical machine.  Completely soaked--wet clothes, wet hair...it honestly looks like I just stepped out of the shower.  However, after working out for 45 minutes tonight I realized that I barely broke a sweat.  Although I'm drinking lots and lots of water, my body is obviously aware of the need to conserve. 

I've made another interesting discovery.  The two women that each also have rooms in this suite have both experienced life in such a way that they can relate to my journey and this entire project.  It's a God thing.  (Knowing that He is in control, why do these little gifts always surprise me?)

Late yesterday evening we were able to visit about our lives.  One of them grew up in the midwest.  Her father left when she was young, leaving her mother to raise both her and her sister.

They were poor.  And they were hungry. 

In fact, their daily meal was Cheeseburger Macaroni Hamburger Helper...without the hamburger.  (Her sister didn't like any other flavor.)  Each evening, this was the meal that would sustain her until morning, if she got a meal at all.

For breakfast, mom got two kinds of cereal--Fruit Loops and Frosted Flakes.  Her sister didn't like Fruit Loops, so that's what my friend ate for breakfast.  Everyday.

School lunches were a God-send.  She said that she would eat as much as she possibly could each day at lunch.  But when summer rolled around, it was a very, very long three months without much food.

Although they were always hungry, sometimes she just couldn't get herself to eat the Fruit Loops or the Hamburger Helper.  It made her nauseous to even look at them.  She would prefer simply to not eat at all rather than to have to choke them down.  In fact, to this day she cannot get herself to eat those sweet, fruity, colorful loops.

Interestingly, my new friend is now a professional cook and particularly enjoys grilling.  But there have been times when she would realize that she hadn't eaten in several days...and she would have to make herself eat.  Now she is hypoglycemic which requires that she eats something every 3-4 hours.

There are other long term issues also.  She has chronic problems with her electrolytes, body pain, and heart issues which require medication.  All are from suffering from long-term malnutrition as a child.

And this is a young lady who grew up right here in our midst.

I am thankful for the systems, foodbanks, and grassroots efforts in many communities to provide food for those who would otherwise not eat.  In my community, the school district also provides summer lunches for any child that needs a meal.  I know that this makes those summer months much more bearable for hungry children.

If you aren't supporting these ministries (and they ARE ministries whether they know it or not) in your own community, please consider finding out what is available and pitching in. Encourage your school district to look into a summer meal program--especially if your free and reduced meal rate is significant.

 And be grateful.