A HELPING HAND

“Mommy, I’m hungry”.   “Is there any food to eat, Mommy?”  What if this were your child imploring you?  What if you had to tell them, “Not today, but in 2 days we can go to the food pantry and get some food”.  Then you go to the food pantry and they don’t have any food, either.  Breaks your heart, doesn’t it?

More and more families are going to food pantries every day.  In this economy, it’s not looking good for the near future, either.

Now the holidays are upon us and families are hoping to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner.  I grew up in the 40’s and 50’s in a family of 10 children and remember those big dinners and all the family gathered around the table.  We never gave any thought to families in our community that didn’t have enough food to eat, altho I suppose there were some.  I really don’t know how my parents did it, actually…..my dad was a mechanic and my mom was a stay-at-home mother so there was only one income for the household.  I suppose back then the fact that we lived in fairly small towns and everyone knew everyone, the grocers were willing to help out on prices, credit until payday, etc.  We always had food on the table; sometimes it wasn’t what we wanted.  I remember lunches when we had “side pork”, which is bacon that hasn’t been smoked which means it’s actually pretty tasteless.  We would have it with eggs, which were pretty much a dime a dozen back then.  Potatoes and beans were also a staple in our house.  Mom would usually fry the potatoes and there would usually be a line of little kids standing there waiting for a slice of raw potato when she was peeling and slicing them.

Now we have families that can’t even fix the basic things for their children and themselves because due to job losses, etc., they don’t have money for food after the rent is paid. 

Our church has an ongoing outreach mission to help supply our local food pantry, Helping Hands for Jesus.  I must admit that I forget to take food most Sundays which is the day we are asked to bring food.  It has not been uppermost in my mind, even though my pantry is pretty full.  I just don’t follow through and put items aside.  I must change that mindset.  It’s such a small thing to do, actually.  Buy an extra can or two of vegetables, an extra box of cereal or jar of peanut butter.   Then, as soon as you get home from the store, immediately set those extra items aside in a place that you will remember to pick them up when you leave for church.  If we all make an effort to bring just one or two items, it will add up and make a difference to the people who really need it. 

May we all be in prayer for those who need our help and may we all do our best to contribute a helping hand so no mommy has to have a hungry child.

                                                                                                                 By Lynn Moore

 

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