Give thanks, and a hand up to those in need.
The warm glow of the holiday season is upon us, and many of us are already looking forward to gathering around the dinner table with family and friends. The act of sharing a meal is an important, meaningful ritual shared across cultures; it is a universal human experience, something we have in common with people from all walks of life. In his article “Serving Up Gratitude in Troubled Times” author (and BBQ pitmaster) Drew Robinson writes:
The culinary community has a unique opportunity [in difficult times] to be on the front line of trying to help revive and nourish people in need. Food can very quickly comfort and consule people and help give them a little strength to start rebuilding or recovering from what has hurt them.
Food nourishes our bodies, but sharing a meal nourishes our hearts and souls. We know that for many children, school meals may be the most nutritious—or only—meal they eat during the day. That means holidays, weekends, and breaks can be times of hunger, rather than times of feasting and celebration.
We wish all of our readers a happy, healthy, hunger-free holiday season. Whether you need a little extra help this year, or you are looking to give a little extra help this year, we have compiled a list of online resources to help you locate food banks and pantries, and learn more about what you can do to fight hunger—childhood and otherwise—in America. We also encourage you to check with your local school district for backpack and/or holiday feeding programs.
Whether the helping hand you offer this season takes the form of a donation of money, a donation of time, or a commitment to become an anti-hunger advocate, we urge you to take the first step and get involved in the fight against childhood hunger in America.
Feeding America Food Bank Locator
PantryNet.org Food Pantry Resources and Food Pantry Locator
Share Our Strength and Share Our Strength Hunger in Schools Resource Page