August 20, 2012

beCAUSE



This summer I've been talking about food banks.

I participated in the Nestle Juicy Juice Fruit for All Project. I walked with Run. Blog. Give.

But why do I feel so passionately about helping to feed the hungry?

You'd think I'd be more interested in medical research of Diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and blindness.

I do care about those things. But those problems are more abstract to me.

If I'm being completely honest, maybe I'm a little cynical about those things.

Causes having to do with researching to find cures for diseases are noble and good, and of course I appreciate them.

But hunger, a lack of a basic human need, has more of a pull for me.

It probably has something to do with my strong sense of fairness. My brain just can't comprehend how letting a needy person go hungry is ever alright.

How can we expect people to reach their full potential in life if they are struggling just to have their basic needs met?

I don't have much; less than most, more than some. But I have a home, I have clothes, I have clean water and I have food.

Everyone should have those things. At least.

I'm grateful to not know what it feels like to be hungry.

How desperate it must feel to not know where your next meal will come from!

Giving away some of my food is easy. IT'S SO EASY.

It just makes sense to me. Sharing some of my food, and asking others to do so as well, is something I can do.

I have been the recipient of many generosities in my life. I have to pay it forward somehow. I can't cure disease, but I can give to those less fortunate.

We must do what we can. It's good for the soul, the heart, the world.

It helps me feel like I'm enough.

8 comments:

  1. You're so right--giving away food is very easy. And I feel so wasteful throwing ours out when it goes bad b/c we bought too much again. I've been trying to be more diligent in that area and only buy what we need.

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    1. Oh, me too! I am a big believer in "waste not, want not". I always keep leftovers and make a point of actually eating them sometime soon. If we accumulate a lot of leftovers, we have "leftover night". Also, I don't like to buy fresh produce unless I have a specific use for it in mind, otherwise it will probably get forgotten about and go bad in the crisper!

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  2. What a lovely feel good post - makes me want to volunteer my time to something too! Thanks for linking up again this week :)

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  3. what a fantastic quote, and I heart, heart this post and want to say a big Thank You for going out into the world and doing GOOD!

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  4. It is good to always remember what things we DO have instead of what we DON'T - because in comparison to most, many of us have a lot. Good for you to choosing a cause you feel passionate about and remembering to go into the world and do more good!

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  5. Everyone having the basics needs is also very important to me. I see it all the time in my students...if their basic needs aren't being met, they aren't going to be able to learn. Kudos to you for taking action!

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  6. Im glad you wrote about this, you've inspired me to find a local food bank too :)

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  7. This is such an awesome post and very inspiring. The truth is, there is enough to go around, no one should have to be hungry or go without the basics we all need to live. People just need to as willing and generous as you have been. It doesn't have to be big things, anything we do to help others matters. Awesome post - this made my heart happy Jennifer!

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