As you read last Food Friday, this is Hunger Action Month and we are dedicating our Food Friday's to highlight hunger and ways we can help. When most of us think of the hungry we picture children. Their little brains and bodies are growing at nano speed and proper nutrition is so important for them. It hurts any of us to think that there are children who are unable to eat because nothing is provided for them.
Yet, what REALLY gets me these days is this statistic. We don't think about our parents and grandparents being hungry. When we first moved to J'Town 3+ years ago I got involved with the Food Bank by delivering senior packs. Every two weeks I would load my Maxima with 20+ boxes of food and take them to a senior apartment complex. I had a love/hate relationship with it. I loved helping and felt the need was great, yet I hated the sadness it left in my heart for days afterwards. I am not one of those people that helps and feels good about it. I still see the need and focus on it. I would find myself going to each door and not being able to leave. They each wanted me to stay and visit. My deliveries often took over two hours. Randall and I decided I needed to find a different way to give.
I started writing a check to support a few seniors instead of delivering. I felt awful about it, but I learned my limitations in giving through all this. It is not emotionally healthy for me to see the need first hand. I think it is okay to admit that and beef up the areas where I am able to give until it hurts. We are all called to give of our time, talent and treasure in different ways.
At each stop I would see my sweet little Granny and that made me feel all sorts of things I did not want to feel while providing nutrition and smiles to these people whom I did not know. I then started seeing all sorts of people because honestly this need could hit my parents, my friends' parents, my aunts and uncles, etc. It is hard to swallow, but so true.
The need is great for our seniors and will be even greater in the years to come. It is up to the working generation to provide for them while we can. Let's make a pledge to be aware and offer support for those that have always supported us. It is sad to think that each day many of our seniors are choosing medicine or food.
Here is my little foodie. He was all ready for bed after his bath, with his "bonkie" in hand. He loves to hide in my cookbook cabinet. He is almost too big for it and that is surreal to me, really. When I look at this photo of him I realize how blessed he is and how blessed we are to have the means to provide for him and live in a country that can help us if we are ever in need. Pray for our country and the programs that support so many that could not do without them. Pray that the funding continues and that those with open hearts can continue to support the local programs that afford many of our neighbors the chance to survive.
Yet, what REALLY gets me these days is this statistic. We don't think about our parents and grandparents being hungry. When we first moved to J'Town 3+ years ago I got involved with the Food Bank by delivering senior packs. Every two weeks I would load my Maxima with 20+ boxes of food and take them to a senior apartment complex. I had a love/hate relationship with it. I loved helping and felt the need was great, yet I hated the sadness it left in my heart for days afterwards. I am not one of those people that helps and feels good about it. I still see the need and focus on it. I would find myself going to each door and not being able to leave. They each wanted me to stay and visit. My deliveries often took over two hours. Randall and I decided I needed to find a different way to give.
I started writing a check to support a few seniors instead of delivering. I felt awful about it, but I learned my limitations in giving through all this. It is not emotionally healthy for me to see the need first hand. I think it is okay to admit that and beef up the areas where I am able to give until it hurts. We are all called to give of our time, talent and treasure in different ways.
At each stop I would see my sweet little Granny and that made me feel all sorts of things I did not want to feel while providing nutrition and smiles to these people whom I did not know. I then started seeing all sorts of people because honestly this need could hit my parents, my friends' parents, my aunts and uncles, etc. It is hard to swallow, but so true.
The need is great for our seniors and will be even greater in the years to come. It is up to the working generation to provide for them while we can. Let's make a pledge to be aware and offer support for those that have always supported us. It is sad to think that each day many of our seniors are choosing medicine or food.
Here is my little foodie. He was all ready for bed after his bath, with his "bonkie" in hand. He loves to hide in my cookbook cabinet. He is almost too big for it and that is surreal to me, really. When I look at this photo of him I realize how blessed he is and how blessed we are to have the means to provide for him and live in a country that can help us if we are ever in need. Pray for our country and the programs that support so many that could not do without them. Pray that the funding continues and that those with open hearts can continue to support the local programs that afford many of our neighbors the chance to survive.
Happy Food Friday!
Abby
Abby
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