Can we stamp out hunger? Is it possible? We can try. What’s the hungriest you’ve ever been? Have you ever gone days without food? Were you ever faced with the uncertainty of where your next meal would come from? Have you ever been desperate enough to eat food out of a trash bin? I haven’t. Can you imagine?
Are You Food Fortunate?
I had my time as a starving artist when I existed on three loaves of bread, two dozen eggs, and a jar of peanut butter week after week (I lost 20 pounds and can tell you more things to do with those three ingredients than you want to know). But I was never starving. I’ve been fortunate. Others aren’t so lucky.
Some will say that if people want to eat, they need to work. Before you jump on that bandwagon, consider the following:
It can be difficult to find food when you’re homeless. The average age of a homeless person in America is eleven years old. It’s hard to find a job when you’re eleven years of age. The Average Age of a Homeless Person In America Might Surprise You
Do the Math
“For a moderate budget for a family of four, you would spend $304.30 a week for groceries or $1,318.80 a month.” — US News — How Much Should I Spend on Groceries?
A member of the working poor making minimum wage grosses $290 per week at 40 hours. After taxes, that’s about $230 net. Even with two working adults, that’s only $460 weekly take-home. After buying food, $150 or so remains. The average two-bedroom apartment in Indianapolis rents for $1092 per month — Apartments.com. $1092 times 12 = $13,104 divided by 52 weeks = $252 per week. And what about clothing, school lunches, health care, daycare, personal hygiene products, utilities, laundry, and more?
One in Five Families
One in five families, with children, surveyed in Indianapolis, struggle to afford enough food to feed their young. And many, If not most, are hardworking Hoosiers trying their best. Just take one look at the previous paragraph—the numbers don’t add up. Something must give, and too often, what gives is food. Oh sure, people can live missing a meal here and there. But consider this: what would you give up if it were your kids? Would it be your children’s dinner?
Let’s Stamp out Hunger
As most of us prepare to sit down to a Thanksgiving feast with family and friends, many will have little to nothing to eat. If you’d like to help, here are a few resources.
If you’re not in Central Indiana, I’m sure plenty of resources in your area would appreciate your help. Be the change, and help stamp out hunger.
Image by Artur Skoniecki from Pixabay
