Have you ever truly gone hungry?
Our Let’s Eat section in today’s newspaper is all about Thanskgiving food – desserts, turkeys, side dishes and more. The recipes sound delicious, the photos make my mouth water. The season of overeating is almost upon us.
Yet the federal government tells us that 49 million Americans – about one out of every six of us — does not have enough to eat. That’s a hard number to read for so many of us who stare into full pantries and refrigerators and can’t decide what to make for supper. Or for those of us with kids who open and close cabinets, complaining that ‘there’s nothing good to eat.’
Are you, or someone in your family, one of the people who is facing hunger? Or have you been there in the past, either as a child in a struggling family or as an adult out on your own? I’ve been fortunate. My family certainly went through tight financial times when I was a child, but we always had supper on the table. And now, with my own family, we’ve always been able to provide. And yet like most folks, I’ve thrown out the phrase ‘I’m starving!’ in the past.
We all know people who had good jobs and good lives who watched their plant close or their company downsize — and who suddenly had to wonder how they would provide something as basic as food.
Tell us if you’ve gone hungry, and what you had to do. Food pantries report increased demand. The Boy Scouts will be collecting back their plastic bags this weekend for their annual food drive. And a good many of us will overeat on Thanksgiving Day.
Donated dry goods at a food pantry.
I can honestly say that I don’t know what it is to be hungry. I can go without eating all day and feel nothing different. You have to understand that homeless are just that, meaning that they spend a lot of time outside in the elements. During cold and bad weather they burn much more energy trying to stay warm. It’s a sad thing to think that a human being has to suffer pain from not eating.
I have a friend that was murdered on the street about a year ago. It was in the PD. She had many opportunities to go to relatives and turned them down. It’s hard for me to think that there is not someone in their families that won’t feed them if they will accept. Maybe I have been to lucky in life to understand.
Yea, I could afford to not use the phrase “I’m starving” when it’s only been 6 hours since my last meal… but saying “I am hungry because I am spoiled and I get to eat on regular intervals usually” just seems like such an impractical thing to say.
Donate to your local food drives, folks.
Yes,every week I am a member of the working poor.
When I was in college at SLU, Campus Ministry had a program called, “50 Hour Fast”. For 50 hours (I recall is being around Thanksgiving), you “went hungry” and didn’t eat (you could drink water). The point was to feel the plight of those who don’t have enough to eat and do know what it feels like to “be starving”. I did that almost 20 years ago, and even today I recall that 50 Hour Fast as one of the most profound and educational experiences of my college years. It changed how I look at food, how I consume food, and how I treat food. I am also very sensitive to those who do not have enough to eat and I frequently donate to food banks, etc. I’ll never forget what it felt like to “not have food be the center of my life”. It was something I’ll never forget.
Melanie,
That sounds like a very worthwhile experiment. My daughter is a college freshman and I’m wondering if there might be something like that on her campus. Thanks for the idea.
The closest to hunger I have ever been was when I was putting myself through college in Chicago. I got to the point of having only white bread, margarine and poached eggs. I tried, but couldn’t stand Raman noodles. Then a friend brought me a care package and things got better. Thanks Marina McV wherever you are!
I can honestly say I never went hungry. Even as a kid with 4 brothers and a sister my dad always found a way. Now I did eat a lot of squirrel, gravy and busquits growing up, but there was always food on the table. Of course that was back in the 60’s.
it is truly a sad state of affairs our churches send millions out of our country to feed the souls of the lost. we have many lost souls in our own back yard to feed and witness to……. why dont we ?
I go to bed hungry every night. The food in my home is reserved for my twelve year old daughter. I work a full time job and raise my daughter alone with no welfare, food stamps, or child support from her mother. I do not qualify for any assistance. The state tells me that my $10.00 per hour job is more than enough to pay for food, clothing, rent, electricity, gas, car insurance, water, and phone. Notice I didn’t mention cable TV or internet?
I eat an apple or an orange for breakfast. Lunch usually consists of a hot dog, bologna sandwich, or pb&j with a few chips and water. Dinner for me may include swiping a couple carrot sticks or a french fry from my daughters plate with a glass of water.
Thanksgiving this year will be the same as every other day, there will be no turkey with the trimmings. My daughters birthday is tomorrow so I scraped up what change I had lying around to buy a cake mix and icing. She wants cupcakes this year.
Have I ever truly gone hungry? You betcha…every day of my life.
To add to my above post…I am on my computer at work as I typed this. I don’t need anyone harping on me suggesting I sell my computer to buy food.