I have been hungry, but have never experienced hunger.  When I am hungry, my stomach growls and I get something to eat. But when a child or adult experiences hunger, they are not always able to get enough food to provide necessary nutrients for a full productive and active life. In fact, extreme hunger may result in illness or death. 

The face of hunger is not always obvious. I grew up in a home where we purchased or grew our food.  My grandmother canned tomatoes, pickles, beans, beets, etc. and made homemade jellies and jam.  My first recollection that not everyone could afford food was when a family in our neighborhood received commodities, or as it was called the ‘government cheese’ program. While in college I worked part time as a checkout clerk in a supermarket. Every month an elderly lady would purchase 20 cans of cat food – primarily tuna. When I asked about her cat, she politely told me that cat food cost less than regular canned tuna. During the Free Summer Lunch program, a volunteer shared with me how a little girl ran up to her, gave her a hug and thanked the volunteer for feeding her.  With tears in her eyes, she shared this little girl told her this was the only meal she would have that day. The face of hunger is not obvious, it may the elderly person next to you in the checkout line, a small child or the family next door.

Since 2010 I have had the privilege, through the United Way Food for Tomorrow impact initiative, to learn about hunger and food security. Through your financial support, United Way targets funding to local nonprofit organizations that collaborate in programming to address hunger and food security with an emphasis on education, sharing of knowledge and improving access to healthier foods.  I continue to learn more about the interrelationship between poverty and food insecurity. A household that is food insecure has limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. Due to lack of money, they may run out of food, cut back on the size of meals or skip meals.

Many households struggling with food security rely on food pantries as their primary food source. One of the local food organizations United Way works with is the Sheboygan County Food Bank. The ten pantries that are members of the Food Bank serve about 3,000 households a month and rely on your donations. 

Through my work with the Food for Tomorrow impact initiative, I have become more aware of thoughtfully donating to food drives and food pantries. Now instead of rummaging through my cupboards and placing some cans of corn, diced tomatoes, a box mac and cheese and maybe some pasta in a bag, I now donate healthier meal options for a family of four. My donation may include a box of whole grain cereal, powdered milk, a plastic bottle of 100% fruit juice, a plastic bottle of honey and coffee or tea for breakfast. The lunch donation is peanut butter and jelly (plastic containers), graham crackers, fruit in light syrup and juice boxes.  Dinner options include canned ham, a potato side dish, canned low sodium green beans, applesauce (in a plastic container) and a beverage.

So this holiday season, if you are considering a food donation, if your company is hosting a food drive or you plan on viewing the light display at Evergreen Park, please remember to donate thoughtfully. To learn more about Making Spirits Bright visit www.RotaryMakingSpiritsBright.org. For more information on the Sheboygan County Food Bank and member pantries visit www.sheboygancountyfoodbank.com.