Terrie Spieker



Why I Want to Feed the Hungry, and How You Can Help:

Our society is comprised of a group of individuals, and at times every individual can use a little help. Whether we have lost a job, a home, or loved one, or we simply need a shoulder to cry on, each of us will probably call on another for some support at one time in our lives. While many of us have friends or family we can always count on, others are not as fortunate. I do not believe that lending a hand to someone by offering food or a place to sleep is merely an act of charity. I believe it makes our community a place that I want to live in and a better one for all of us. What could be more horrifying than losing your home or losing your ability to make enough money to procure a place to live and enough to eat? Most of my friends and I get grumpy if we miss a meal; imagine missing most of them. The stress that would cause is unimaginable for many of us. I have found that feeding people who would go hungry otherwise has added enormous joy to my life, and that I have learned new skills through actual training and volunteering. I have met many wonderful and fascinating people, both volunteers and people I have offered to help. There are countless ways to try to make sure that no one goes hungry. One way is volunteering at local shelters or food banks; some are operated by religious groups or other kinds of community organizations. You can check out these various places and find one for which you feel an affinity, and most organizations let you volunteer as much or as little time as you would like. There are other ways to help hungry people. If you take your own lunch to work, pack an extra one and hand it to someone who needs it. If you order a meal to go, order an extra one for that homeless person you passed on your way in the restaurant. Alternatively, after your sit-down restaurant meal, order a take-out option to give away as you walk to your car. Many churches and other shelters have lists of people who are poor, elderly, or disabled and therefore cannot get to the shelters or food banks. These people need meals brought to them, so delivering meals to others is another way to become involved in helping people meet their fundamental need to eat. Community gardens are springing up all over the country, utilizing unused land and resources for feeding the community. This is a particularly fun and exciting way to get involved with other people who are socially responsible and mindful of poverty, sustainability, and environmental issues, or who just enjoy gardening and being outside. Many community gardens are linked to organizations that feed the poor and hungry, but if not, you can help make that happen. Growing food is one of the most gratifying activities and sharing that food comes naturally to most gardeners. Organizing people to preserve and share grown food is another way to get involved with community gardening. For example, a person with certain physical limitations might be unable to do all the labor involved in gardening, but would love to help can and preserve vegetables, make pickles and jams, or prepare fresh meals from the produce to take to food banks. Thomas Jefferson said, “I believe…that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.” Feeding someone who is hungry is one of the “good” things you can do, and it does feel pleasurable. I know that from personal experience.