Hunger

I

I was doing some errands today. After getting in the car and pulling out of the driveway, I realized that I probably should get some gas. I headed out of my neighborhood and down the street about a mile and a half to a little corner gas station and food mart. Typically, gas is five to ten cents cheaper there than at the two stations in my neighborhood.

In a few minutes, I was back on my way having filled the tank. Then I realized something: I wasn’t pan-handled while getting gas. Typically, I’m approached by one or two people asking for money for food. It’s become very common – so common that I notice when it doesn’t happen.

And, yes: if I have a single dollar bill in my wallet, I do give whoever asks some money. The truth is that I’ve often seen people at that mini-mart looking for food in the trash cans when I stop for a fill-up.

II

As soon as you meet him, you’d recognize his type. He’s nothing short of a Southern gentleman. Now in his 80’s, he walks with cane and looks forward to hip replacement surgery in a few months. He’s kindly, gracious, warm and was quick to welcome me to Atlanta.

We met for lunch at a restaurant near his home that seems to be “his place.” The tables were filled with people in his age group, most of whom appeared to also be white Southerns. Now a retired minister and seminary professor, he continues his involvement in the community as a member of boards and as an advisor to various projects. He’s something of a legend in the church-world of Atlanta.

“We’re doing something different at the church I attend,” he mentioned toward the end of lunch. “We’ve always collected food for the hungry – or it seems that we’ve always done that. But now, we’re collecting food to be distributed to children at a school. It seems that the youngsters are so hungry that they steal lunches from one another. Since there’s not enough food in their homes, the church adopted the school and prepares bags of food for the children.” Interesting, I thought …. and tragic. After a thoughtful pause, he added: “I grew up in Alabama after the Great Depression. I never remember something like this.”

III

The woman checking out ahead of me sits in a motorized cart. With cane across her lap, she struggles to reach the few groceries in the basket. I offer to help her and she responds with appreciation.

The items are simple: bread, peanut butter, tuna, and some frozen vegetables. They were all “store brand” items – the cheapest on the shelves. She pays with the food stamp card, but there wasn’t enough to cover the few items. She pulls out a credit card to cover the rest. However, the credit card doesn’t go through. “Oh, how can that be?” she asks quite clearly. “I pay all my bills.”

The clerk at the next register saw what was happening. “Oh, Mrs. Smith. I’m Helen’s daughter from church. Is there a problem?” In the end, the other clerk pays the few dollars for the groceries and says, “You can just pay me back some time at church. It’s really not a problem. Sometimes those credit card’s just don’t work.” While she was able to help Mrs. Smith save face, clearly, the woman had no money to pay for food.

In between the news of unemployment, housing foreclosures and a poor prognosis for the economy are the lives of very real people. In fact, many people in the United States are hungry. Those who are hungry are not just the obvious poor but include those who had been middle income individuals and families who are simply in need.

All three of these vignettes occurred over the past week. While the events are unrelated, they demonstrate the problem of hunger today in the United States.

My church like many other houses of worship is in the midst of special food drives. November is the time when many people think of the hungry. Perhaps in preparation for Thanksgiving, as we become aware of our need to be thankful for what we have received, we are more mindful of those in need. Whatever the reason, if our spiritual practice leads us to anything, it should lead us to compassion for those who simply don’t have their daily bread.

Yes, hunger is a problem in far away lands. We need to be concerned about that as well. But hunger in our communities, neighborhoods, schools, and probably among those whom we would not suspect is something we can address. Because it’s close to home, our efforts make an immediate difference.

My own denomination, the United Church of Christ, is in the midst of a special program called Mission 1. http://www.ucc.org/mission1/ Aimed at addressing the needs of hunger in our communities, the United Church of Christ is asking people to do what they can to help address the very real need of hunger. Those steps include:

1. To donate food to local food banks, if you are able.
2. To donate money to local food programs, if you are able.
3. To donate time in feeding the hungry.
4. To write letters to elected officials expressing your concern that far too many people in the United States are hungry.

Individually, we can’t solve the problem. But united in faith and hope, together we can help those in need.