Columns

Sunday, November 14, 2004

hunger amidst plenty

Hunger in Iowa? In a state famous as the breadbasket of the world? Shockingly, the answer is yes. In fact, an estimated 10 percent of our fellow Iowans, most of them single mothers and children, are “food insecure.” They skip meals for cheaper, less nutritious alternatives. They simply don’t know when they’ll get their next meal.

According to The Des Moines Register (Nov. 10), “Food pantries across Iowa report an unnerving jump in the number of people seeking assistance – with not only food but also rent, clothing and utility bills. The rush started in late summer, and it’s getting worse.”

Many families are turning to food pantries for the first time. “These are working families and people who have been laid off, people whose companies were downsized,” according to Susan Paterson-Nielsen, director of West Des Moines Human Services. “They’re taking lower-paying jobs, and they just can’t make ends meet.” Food pantries’ funds and supplies have been depleted by the surging demand. At the Food Bank of Iowa, for example, for the first time in two years, donations have been inadequate to pay for the needed food. At some pantries, needy families are restricted to one visit a month. The good news is that Iowans are generous and big-hearted people. Especially during this holiday season, many of us are listening to what Abe Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.”

There are many ways that individual Iowans can make a difference – not just during the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas season, but year round. Soup kitchens and food banks always welcome financial gifts. You might consider organizing your church or civic group to raise funds for a local organization serving the poor.

You also might want to consider volunteering at a soup kitchen. In many cases, an entire office or church group comes together to prepare a meal for a soup kitchen. This can be an eye-opening and rewarding experience for all.

There’s an old saying: “we make a living by what we make, but we make a life by what we give.” To reach your local soup kitchen or food bank, I urge you to contact the Community Action Agency for your area. A list of the agencies can be found at http://www.iowacommunityaction.com/memberagenright.htm

Have a safe and happy holiday season – and a generous new year!