BY Kathy Utley, Madison Food Policy Council and Dane County Commission on Poverty.
"Spirit, are these yours" asked Ebeneezer Scrooge to the ghost of Christmas past. And, the spirit answers, "They are man's. The boy is ignorance and the girl is want. Beware them both, but most of all, beware the boy."
Ebeneezer asks., "Have they no refuge, no resource?"
As a young child growing up in an industrial town in the Midwest in the 1960's, I loved reading the novels by Charles Dickens. My mother was a single mother who worked during the day as a hair dresser and we lived with my grandmother who was a cook at night in local restaurants. I had two little sisters and while we had the basics, a roof over our head, clothing and ample food to eat, I knew that we were poor. Dickens class struggles spoke to me as a young reader and his message of caring for each other inspired me to work for the poor my entire life. We are all Ebeneezer and we can all redeem ourselves of our own selfishness and greed.
Children do go hungry in Dane County and parents struggle to make ends meet. It happens everyday. Christmas time reminds us all that there are children who need a healthy well-balanced meal. Their little growing bodies need basic nutrition to grow and learn. Their growing bodies need a little fruit, a little vegetables, some protein and healthy fats, minerals and vitamins. Parents who are on fixed incomes or working poor, are finding it difficult to keep up with the rising costs of healthy foods and yet still keep up with all the basic costs of living, rent, fuel, etc.
This is where food pantries can help. Dane County has over 62 food pantries that serve thousands of families and individuals. Food pantries help supplement food budgets that are being stretched to the limit as food costs and other costs continue to rise while incomes stay stagnant. Most people who use food pantries have some kind of income and most are working low-wage jobs. Many people who use food pantries are seniors and most of them are women. They need basic nutrition as well.
"Spirit, are these yours" asked Ebeneezer Scrooge to the ghost of Christmas past. And, the spirit answers, "They are man's. The boy is ignorance and the girl is want. Beware them both, but most of all, beware the boy."
Ebeneezer asks., "Have they no refuge, no resource?"
As a young child growing up in an industrial town in the Midwest in the 1960's, I loved reading the novels by Charles Dickens. My mother was a single mother who worked during the day as a hair dresser and we lived with my grandmother who was a cook at night in local restaurants. I had two little sisters and while we had the basics, a roof over our head, clothing and ample food to eat, I knew that we were poor. Dickens class struggles spoke to me as a young reader and his message of caring for each other inspired me to work for the poor my entire life. We are all Ebeneezer and we can all redeem ourselves of our own selfishness and greed.
Children do go hungry in Dane County and parents struggle to make ends meet. It happens everyday. Christmas time reminds us all that there are children who need a healthy well-balanced meal. Their little growing bodies need basic nutrition to grow and learn. Their growing bodies need a little fruit, a little vegetables, some protein and healthy fats, minerals and vitamins. Parents who are on fixed incomes or working poor, are finding it difficult to keep up with the rising costs of healthy foods and yet still keep up with all the basic costs of living, rent, fuel, etc.
This is where food pantries can help. Dane County has over 62 food pantries that serve thousands of families and individuals. Food pantries help supplement food budgets that are being stretched to the limit as food costs and other costs continue to rise while incomes stay stagnant. Most people who use food pantries have some kind of income and most are working low-wage jobs. Many people who use food pantries are seniors and most of them are women. They need basic nutrition as well.
When thinking of giving this holiday season, give the gift of nutrition to a local food pantry. Food pantries struggle this time of year to maintain food inventory and could use your generous donation.
Some of the needed items this time of year are fresh fruits, dried fruits, fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables, canned proteins, dried beans, vegetable and meat broths, whole grain cereals, oatmeal, nuts and nut butters, like peanut butter, and other butters made from nuts. Winter is a time of want for most low income families and eating healthy should never be the right of a privileged few.
In the spirit of the season, this season of giving, give to your local food pantry. Give them a call and ask them what are their needs or visit their websites, many have wish lists posted. If you do not know what food pantry is in your neighborhood, call United Way's 211 and they will direct you.
Get a group of friends together and make up Christmas stockings with fruit, nuts and candy and donate them to a local food pantry. I will guarantee you that you will make some little child very happy at Christmas time!
Some of the needed items this time of year are fresh fruits, dried fruits, fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables, canned proteins, dried beans, vegetable and meat broths, whole grain cereals, oatmeal, nuts and nut butters, like peanut butter, and other butters made from nuts. Winter is a time of want for most low income families and eating healthy should never be the right of a privileged few.
In the spirit of the season, this season of giving, give to your local food pantry. Give them a call and ask them what are their needs or visit their websites, many have wish lists posted. If you do not know what food pantry is in your neighborhood, call United Way's 211 and they will direct you.
Get a group of friends together and make up Christmas stockings with fruit, nuts and candy and donate them to a local food pantry. I will guarantee you that you will make some little child very happy at Christmas time!