“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” ~ Mother Teresa
Out of all the service projects I was a part of as a kid, the ones that helped those who were food insecure always struck a chord with me and were the most memorable. Perhaps it was because I was a part of the group of kids who received free lunches at school, or it was because like most kids I “felt hungry” on occasion when we had a late dinner and I could temporarily feel how others felt. From making sack lunches to collecting canned goods to volunteering at the shelter, I had hoped to make a difference.
I imagine if your child spots a sign from a homeless person asking for food or sees another hungry friend at school, they too may be curious about the situation and wondering what they can do to help. September is National Hunger Action Month, and families have the opportunity and duty to tackle that issue right here in Columbus – a place where a third of households in some neighborhoods struggle to get enough food according to a 2018 study by Ohio State University researchers. Here are five ways your family can get involved.
- Read: Reading stories is a great way for children to understand the complex realities of other people’s lives. Consider adding these books to your family’s list: Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt, One Potato, Two Potato by Cynthia DeFelice, Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan, and Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio.
•Collect and Donate: Gather food and monetary donations among neighbors, family and peers, and then bring them to a local shelter or organization that distributes them to community members in need, such as Westerville Area Resource Ministry, Feed & Read Ohio, Broad Street Food Pantry, Children’s Hunger Alliance and Little Free Pantry. For my son’s 4th birthday this year, he had a superhero theme and in place of gifts, he collected donations from his friends that he could donate to Mid-Ohio Foodbank so together they could “save the day” for someone in need. You can make this an ongoing effort with an organization like Family-to-Family where your family recruits three or more families to join this network of “givers” to provide struggling families in our community with a monthly box of basic grocery staples.
•Grow: Plant seeds and collect a harvest to donate to a local food pantry. Your child will be engaged in efforts to fight hunger AND practice sustainability. If your family would like to expand this idea, consider working with others in your area to create a community garden.
•Volunteer: Join Seeds of Caring as it teaches kids about food insecurity and how to take action in our community. One participating parent pointed out, “Our whole family gained a greater perspective of the devastation of hunger and food insecurity right in our backyard. We all left feeling that it’s our responsibility to contribute more often and get more involved in the fight against hunger." In 2018, Seeds of Caring kid volunteers made and assembled 1,900 sack lunches to nourish the hungry. Check its event page on the 1st and 15th of the month to sign up for one of its future hunger volunteer events.
•Experience: Try a unique exercise to share your abundance, such as this “Make Room for the Hungry” project that lasts a month, makes kids mindful of hunger and requires only a few moments each day.
Seeds of Caring empowers children to create a kinder community with their hearts, hands, and minds. Follow Seeds of Caring on Facebook for more ideas and visit its calendar to register for upcoming events.
