The Fate of That Plate

We've all been faced with a challenge at some point in our lives, but what if that challenge was a day-to-day occurrence. For many people scattered about our great nation, hunger is an issue. I bet you never thought of that, ey? How can people possibly go hungry in a land filled with dollar menu fast-food chains and a smorgasbord of buffet lines. There is undoubtedly a lot of food throughout the U.S., but not everyone has the luxury of having access to it. I come from a small town of roughly 120 people, and I can think of one or two residents that probably have a harder time finding their next meal than the rest of us. Struggling people are out there. We need to adjust our vision, so these people are no longer overlooked.

It truly is hard to fathom that in 2013, 49.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households. Did you catch that? 49.1 MILLION AMERICANS in our own, amazing country that's full of freedoms. But how free are we really if there are people unable to receive a healthy diet every day? I firmly believe we lack the freedom of equality. Yes, we are all Americans, but people are becoming left in the dust. Once and for all, our nation should be filled with citizens who can all foresee their next meal. That's equality in my book.

Now yes, unemployment continues to be an issue, with nearly 8.8 million Americans searching for careers. I find this an easy cop-out though, to say that people are not trying to take care of themselves, but really, who are we to judge? I think those calls should be left for the man upstairs. Of course we hope unemployment diminishes over time so that people have the fiscal ability to create a strong foundation for their lives. But for now, it's up to us to help aid in that lifestyle change. Give generously to your local food bank when possible. Take time out of your day to not worry about your to-do list, but to concentrate on your help-who list. Together we can make a positive difference.