By now you probably know that one in eight Americans will be hungry this year. One in EIGHT!
One might expect that number to grow, while I hope not.
Feeding America
Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity.
Follow me to the Land of Plenty below...
The FIFTH Diary is the series is now up...please go to Srkp23's diary, read and REC IT UP. And thanks so much for all the support with my diary...I'm thrilled to be a part of this.
_________________
I feel privileged to be a part of this series at DailyKos, to do our part to ease the hunger pains of many Americans through Feeding America and local action. This diary is the fourth in the series. Please also read the excellent diaries of fellow Kossacks: Noweasels, Boatsie, and rb137
(with several more to come this weekend!). Thank you so much to Noweasels for organizing.
Greetings from New Britain, Connecticut.
It is eight p.m., here on the East Coast. I'm at home with my kids and now is the time that I settle them down. We have had a full day here (what Saturday ISN'T super busy for a young family) but in my errands and activities I thought long and hard about this diary...what could I say to drive the point home.
I knew that my previous diarists would cover the issue well, and they have...they have more than adequately described for you (through their links and original words, through telling you others' words) that hunger is a horrible, too common, ugly thing. But you may already know that (hopefully you don't from first hand experience but maybe you do)...so why help now?
Why help now, at eight p.m., on the East Coast (when you're settling down your kids or maybe headed out to a night of fun outside the home)?
Why help now, at seven p.m., in the Central part of our Country (when you're just sitting down to eat dinner or when you've just finished)?
Why help now, at six p.m., in the Mountains (when you're finishing your afternoon activities and marveling over what the rest of the evening holds)?
Why help now, at five p.m, in my native California and the rest of the Pacific region (as the Sun finishes going down and you view the beautiful sunset)?
Why help now, in the afternoon in Hawaii and Alaska, WHY HELP NOW??
Why indeed...because you can...you just need to click right here (Feeding America). A click now, for any amount you can afford, sends the message that we, the DailyKos community, think no child should go to bed hungry. A click now sends the message that ending hunger FOR ALL is doable and APOLITICAL, that a country as vast and diverse and well-off as American should be able to feed all Americans. A click now sends a Mandate, that ending hunger in this Country should be the utmost national priority. A click now is much bigger than your single click. And so we ask for your help now, one community together.
And so that's my thought on the timing of our help but in addition to that I wanted to speak about gratitude. Our national holiday of Thanksgiving (like it or leave it) was just a few days ago and I wanted, personally, to share some feelings of gratitude.
Some of you know that we have had a recent setback as a family. In our case it was a fire that happened October 11th, that leaves us without a home to live in right now. More importantly, we lost six beautiful animals. And yes, it still breaks my heart.
YET, we are so very profoundly grateful for so much, for our friends who took us into their small ranch house, that the fire didn't take many items of sentimental value, that my husband is still working, that my family is healthy, that my children are in good schools of choice, for good online company. It is with THAT spirit, that I personally feel the need to give. Twenty-one dollars for the months I spent trying to conceive my daughter, sixteen dollars for the parents toiling through our current parent leadership class, seven dollars for my son who turned seven two days ago, six dollars (this time, to be oft repeated) in remembrance of our animals, six dollars for the number of kids driving me and my friend crazy as we adjust to living together in her small ranch house LOL...it is not hard to find some reason to click, in gratitude. Any any amount.
The times may well get tougher for all of us...yet in the spirit of Ben Franklin from that popular political musical??!! 1776, as he sought to get signatures on the Declaration of Independence,
we must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.
I enjoy hanging with you!
I have faith in our community here, I have faith in my community in my home town, I have faith in my State and Nation. I have faith in my world. We can make a difference, one of at a time but together.
MORE LINKS and ongoing information on the series...
First my daughter (who is nine) wanted to help and suggested the Free Rice website...you can learn AND help end world hunger at the same time. What a deal! This is a site you can share with your children's teachers. My son is still too pumped up from Barack Obama's victory to say anything that's not overtly political but I can assure you that he HATES to be hungry so he's all for helping too!
Second, local action is GREAT, here are two examples of how people are helping out in my town...but I know this is happening in towns and cities and communities all over our country. Meeting the Challenge in New Britain. New Britain Public Library is looking for food.
Third, here is the link for Feeding America and their partner
Kraft (who will match donations!!) again. For every $1 you donate, Feeding America will provide 20 pounds of food and grocery products to men, women and children facing hunger in our country. If you can't get through tonight (hopefully because the sites are BUSY), then please try again).
Lastly, please help us out by keeping our visibility up on Daily Kos, by reading and rec'ing the diaries in this series...here's the schedule.
Saturday (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
10 p.m.: srkp23 (5)
OVERNIGHT: Kula2316 (6)
Sunday (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
10 or 11 a.m.: blue jersey mom (7)
2 p.m.: DeviousPie (8)
5 p.m.: Timroff (9)
8 p.m.: Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse (10)
10 p.m.: blue jersey dad (11)
Be well all. From my Jellybears and our home to yours, wherever you are, our best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a joyous 2009.
Srkp23's diary