Thursday is Feed America Day

One of the Senators that represents New Mexico has just sent me an email about a resolution he sponsored. He said Senate Resolution 334 was passed unanimously. It has designated November 19th, the Thursday before Thanksgiving, as “Feed America Day.” This is to bring out attention to nation wide food insecurity. The resolution encourages the people of the United States to sacrifice two meals on Thursday, November, 19, 2009, and share what they would have spent on these meals with those in need.

This is a valid concern when one learns about how the economic down turn has struck our nation. Employment rates have dropped and more and more families have had to turn to food banks and other emergency food services to meet their day to day needs. Our emergency food providers are being stretched to their limits to try to meet the current demand for assistance.

The Senator was able to inform me about the emergency food providers of my home state. He said that after an unprecedented need in local communities they are struggling to gain the support necessary to confront new levels of food insecurity. A similar message is coming from food pantries and emergency food providers across the country.

According to a new report from the US. Department of Agriculture, in 2008 nearly 50 million Americans –including almost one child in four–suffered from food insecurity and struggled to get enough to eat. The figure represents the highest level of hunger in the US. since the Federal government started keeping track.

The Senator said that there are many efforts underway at the Federal level and local government level to build up the economy and create opportunities for families to become more financially stable. This resolution is just a reminder that there is need for assistance in each of our communities.

Out of the blue as it may seam, it is really easy to agree with this Senator. We should all understand how heart broken many parents must feel on Thanksgiving when they can not feed their children like that had been at their age. How are any of the families which can not afford any food going to be able to celebrate this holiday. This is just like helping the other settlers out as the wagon train makes it across the country. You would just never let the other settlers starve to death when the buffalo heard was far off. You would all split what ever meat was hunted down no matter how hard it was to catch. This deer is for all of us. I hope all the other people in this country check their email and catch on quickly as well. My mussel loading cap and ball rifle still works fine.