More Hungry People

Every week I get to see and meet more and more people that struggle to get a grip on hunger and the eonomy. The last two weeks were in counties with 400 plus people waiting in line for hours waiting to get food. On some of my days I am not handing out for USDA, I go to help at a food pantry here in Jonesboro, that hands out to the needing without judging. That is something I do not like. Judgement. That is a big reason I like to work at this one. The lady that heads this one, talks to individuals one on one, and will double up on food when she detects the need. I really believe she can decerne the difference in needs. Once when I was there, a Man came in with his daughter and granddaughter. He said my daughter ande her child were hungry and he was unable to help them today. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE AND DO THIS PEOPLE! Then, the other day a lady came in in tears, she said her husband had been laid off, there are very little jobs to be offered here, and her kids were starting to feel the hunger now. Sometimes, you have to know when to ask for help, and it can be the hardest part.

Enough of my soapbox. We did nearly 1000 people in two counties in the last 10 days. The further south in the Northeast part of Arkansas the more food for kids we gave out. I would think one of two things are happening here economically. Either the younger people are getting without jobs, or more and more grandparents are raising kids. In both cases the economy is worse there. And white, black, or hispanics have no bearing. They are pretty even accross the state. Once again I say that if we have that many hungry, needing and hurting people, the eonomony is not getting better in this area. Me and these people do not care or worry about wall street or stocks and bonds, we are worried about where the next meal comes from. As well as more than 40 million americans.

What I am wondering now is this: Since we have so many rice farmers in Arkansas, what if all farmers that owned 200 acres or more, ( I think this is most of them) would donate 1 acre per year to feeding Americans in need?  Some already do, and I am going to learn how many. Now I am not a omplete fool: I know for example there are people show up and get free food that does not need it, or they lie in order to get the food, and I still hand it out. However, if I can give to 1 person that needs it out of 10 or 100 that do not, I have still helped. I do think that most people are hungry that come out to these events, but some or not.