“Eight years ago, I became the coordinator of the Trinity Food Pantry. Four years later, I came to Feed My People Food Bank. Until that time, I didn’t understand what hunger meant. It’s not the kind of hunger that happens after a long day without a break. I’m talking about children who rely on the lunch they get at school as their main meal. Parents who go without food so there’s enough for their kids. Imagine going to school hungry every day. These kids struggle to pay attention in school wondering how long they have until lunch. Over time they struggle in school. They struggle emotionally and physically. It’s a downward spiral. Last Fall, I sat down with 4th graders at a local school where over 80% of the kids qualify for free/reduced lunch. We talked about what it feels like to be hungry. One girl said that when she’s hungry, she’s so tired and all she wants to do is curl up in a ball. I still get teary eyed when I think about those kids. I try to put myself into the shoes of a struggling parent who goes to the store with only a few dollars. They need to buy as many calories as possible with those few dollars to feed their kids and those calories probably aren’t going to be in the form of fruits and vegetables. You don’t have the luxury of choosing healthy food. You just need as much food as possible for your kids with the few dollars you have. I’m passionate about my job at Feed My People. I’m passionate about finding ways to reach those parents and kids who are struggling. I know that there is no excuse for me. I’ve never been homeless. I’ve never suffered hunger or had to put my kids to bed with empty stomachs. That leaves me with a great responsibility to make good choices in my own life, and to do what I can to help those who can’t.”