What should we – individually and collectively – be doing differently about hunger issues in our community?

There are many different theories as to why Memphis is the “Hungriest City with a population over 500,000 in the Nation”; the importance is to learn from the past and change our future course. Thankfully, there are agencies in the city that help meet the immediate need by providing much needed substance; these are supported by caring individuals, community groups, our government resources, and the faith based community. Once the basic needs are taken care of, the greater good is to provide educational resources to assist the “food insecure” to meet the demanding challenges ahead of them. Having attended “A Taste of Hunger”, I was struck with the vivid reality of the sheer number of those in our community who lay down each night hungry or worried if they will have enough to eat the next day. It seems to be of epidemic proportion.

Proactive educational forums, both classroom and hands on training, could be in areas of employment assistance, budgeting, proper nutrition, shopping on a budget, cooking, gardening, and physical exercise to name a few. Having all the interested and appropriate organizations in the community come together and expend their efforts on this initiative will only make a difference if and when the affected individuals are willing to take personal responsibility for their own temporal welfare. We each must become self-reliant; taking responsibility for own welfare and our family. “We become self-reliant through obtaining sufficient knowledge, education, and literacy; by managing money and resources wisely, being spiritually strong, preparing for emergencies and eventualities; and by having physical health and social and emotional well-being.” (Julie B. Beck) We may not get there today and we may not become self-reliant without the assistance of other generous benefactors, but we must instill in each individual that they should work towards providing for themselves and assisting family members where possible.