If you cannot feed 100…

…then feed just one

I do not know how we stumbled upon tonight’s Food Network special, but I am glad that we did.  Tonight, Graham and I took a second, and watched the documentary special on Food Network regarding the No Kid Hungry campaign.

The documentary featured not only on what the program itself was all about {trying to eliminate child hunger by 2015}, but it also showed how Americans struggle each and every day to feed their children. 

As I sat there watching a hard working father struggle to feed his son, I instantly felt the tears billowing up in my eyes.  Or when they showed a new mom who wanted nothing more than to provide her children with fresh fruits and vegetables, but had to travel 45 minutes on the subway to do so, I was left with a pit in my stomach.  I really felt like I have been taking a lot of things for granted.

The “trigger” moment, however, was when the cameras scanned the empty cereal shelves of a food pantry – a place TRYING to feed America’s children – and all I could think was “Oh my gosh, I could FILL that shelf, almost for free, just with the simple couponing skills that I have.” 

The lady that runs this food pantry said something that really left me thinking:

“If you cannot feed 100, then feed just one”

You know what?  She is right! 

For anyone that knows me, you are probably thinking “Oh great, here comes one of Jen’s big ideas.  An idea that will change around her entire life as she always wants to do nothing more than commit, very passionately, everything she can to the cause.”

Well, for the most part, you are right.  I do want to help.  I do understand that change has to start somewhere.  But, I also realize that sometimes, in order for the necessary change to occur, small steps need to take place first {Rome wasn’t built in a day, people}.

And although I probably cannot feed 100 children, right at this moment, I know I can help to feed just one!

Of course, simply by writing about the No Kid Hungry campaign I am helping.  But there are also things that I can do to help that will not actually change too much of what I am already doing.

Up until now, I was only helping to feed my family with couponing.  But, there have been plenty of times when I did not purchase items {even if they were free} simply because we either already had plenty, or because it was something that we would most likely not utilize.

In the past, I have thought about how couponing and donating to food pantries could {or should} go hand in hand.  I just haven’t taken action {I only talked about it}.  All it took was a one hour documentary to remind me that I can make a difference.  It just broke my heart to see that ANY child, ANYWHERE would be hungry.

So, going forward I am going to try and make a bit more effort.  Right here, right now.  No longer will I use my couponing “super powers” to feed just my family. 

If I have the coupons {and means} available to pick up 12 boxes of cereal, I will…not for myself, but for a local pantry.  Although I may end up being able to only feed just one child, what if I do end up feeding 100? 

I do not care if the checkout cashier at the local supermarket thinks I am crazy for buying THAT much cereal {maybe after a couple of trips, I will fill the cashier in on my intent, just so that I am not always known as the crazy couponing lady}. 

The only thing that will change for me is finding ways to accumulate the additional coupons – if this is all I need to do to help, why wouldn’t I?

Also, Graham and I briefly discussed our garden plot.  We also see how much more important, yet equally as hard, it is for local pantries to be able to supply fresh fruits and vegetables.  We haven’t worked out a specific plan, but we both agree that we can most certainly work a bit extra this summer to be able to supply a local pantry with goodies from our garden.

You will also see that I have added a couple of buttons to the right hand side of my blog page.  By clicking on one, you can simply donate two minutes of your time and sign their petition…a petition asking government officials to support existing federal nutrition programs and increase access for eligible families.  The other button sends you to the monetary donation portion of the No Kid Hungry website.

I am hoping to share with you some of the donations I am able to put together very soon!