As I prepare for a leisurely lunch at a delightful French Bistro, I take this opportunity to give thanks for the love of my family, my partner, James, and for the sense of community I've found here at Daily Kos.
I'm posting this diary because here in Houston, one in three families still has trouble buying groceries each month and thousands go without food every day. I'm thankful that my work with the largest non-profit in Houston allows me to make a difference everyday; to help with basic needs assistance, food pantries, nutrition counseling, meal delivery and more, 365 days every year.
Obtaining enough healthy food is one of the greatest challenges for low-income individuals and families in the Houston area. Proper nutrition can boost energy levels, improve mental health, strengthen immune systems, and reduce health problems.
Again and again, food tops the list of requests in calls to the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE. With one call to 2-1-1, individuals and families in the Houston area are connected with food and meal programs, grocery assistance and more—right in their own neighborhoods.
Here’s how we're addressing hunger in our community:
Home-delivered meals:
United Way makes a substantial investment to provide hot, nutritious meals to thousands of Houstonians every day. Home-delivered meals are carefully planned by a nutritionist and each meal provides at least one-third of the recommended daily allowance of calories. Meals are delivered by caring volunteers and staff and help those who are home-bound, elderly and disabled stay healthy.
Congregate meals:
Planned by a nutritionist, congregate meals are served daily at community centers and other sites throughout Houston. Like the home-delivered meals, congregate meals help prevent isolation and allow staff and volunteers to monitor the health and well-being of their clients. Congregate meal sites often provide access to and help with other health and human services.
Food pantries:
United Way invests in food pantries and grocery assistance to help those who are struggling to make ends meet. In Houston, more than 80,000 individuals receive assistance from food pantries every week. Of them, 44 percent are children. Just $200 a month can provide 218 families with groceries for one week—and have a profound impact on their health and well-being.
Holiday meal programs:
As the holiday season approaches, United Way is working to make sure that everyone in our community has food to warm their bellies and their souls. We support holiday meal programs that provide special meals and/or additional food, making this time of year brighter for families and individuals who need it most.
I'm so thankful I have the privilege to work with community leaders, compassionate volunteers, and generous donors who are all committed to helping people in our community become self-sufficient, healthy and strong. Through food pantries, grocery assistance, meal programs and nutrition counseling, we give families and individuals a better chance of not only surviving, but thriving.
I close with an excerpt from President Barack Obama's first Thanksgiving Day proclamation.
As Americans, we hail from every part of the world. While we observe traditions from every culture, Thanksgiving Day is a unique national tradition we all share. Its spirit binds us together as one people, each of us thankful for our common blessings.
As we gather once again among loved ones, let us also reach out to our neighbors and fellow citizens in need of a helping hand. This is a time for us to renew our bonds with one another, and we can fulfill that commitment by serving our communities and our Nation throughout the year.