This past Saturday, May 14, 2011 the United States Postal Service conducted its 19th annual food drive to help their local communities. While in past years the event has been quite successful, this year had mixed results. In some areas, the collection was short several thousand pounds whereas in others, the collection was at an all time high.
Though there were varying results from the drive this year, it’s ultimately a success. Food pantries around the country struggle year round to keep their shelves stocked and the donations received help to feed more people than they would have been able to do otherwise. It is important to remember however, that hunger does not take a holiday and these pantries are always in need.
While some of us don’t have to think about going to the fridge to grab a snack, others go without. While many have a refrigerator filled with unwanted leftovers, there are those that have empty shelves in theirs. Many families have the tough decision of medications or food and heat or food so rely on the food pantries to help feed their children or themselves.
That this happens in our country and around the world is a tragedy. It can be very easy to forget the needs of others in our community when becoming consumed with our day to day lives but it’s imperative that we are ever mindful of the needs of others.
It is a very easy thing to pick up an extra box of cereal or 2 extra cans of vegetables when doing your grocery shopping. Making an effort to put together even a small bag of items to bring to your local pantry once a week or once a month can help a family near you.
Please remember, you may not know who you are helping but know that you are helping. The person that benefits from your efforts could be that man sitting next to you at the DMV, the woman in the car behind you at the stop light or the child sitting next to yours in the class room. You can make a difference. Do it today. Do it everyday.
“There is no one so rich that they don’t need help or so poor that they cannot help.” ~ Finnish Proverb
