Sometimes I get nervous when we’re down to $40 and can’t buy treats until pay day. Sometimes I think that getting rid of satellite television would be a good way to save some money, especially because of Hulu and Netflix. Other times, I feel deprived that I can’t always go out to eat whenever I want. But then, the Grown-Up in me gets disgusted and reminds me that some families in the world subsist on $40 a year. That there are plenty of people in the world who would consider a transistor radio a luxury–heck, even a bed–let alone a television with satellite reception. And that, even if I don’t go out to eat, I can still make a filling, nutritious meal at home. Millions of people can’t, and going out to eat is just a dream.
We get so wrapped up in our own problems that we forget that we are among the very fortunate few in this world, who don’t have to go to bed hungry. Heck, I live in America, and there are close to 50 million people in my own country who go to bed hungry every night.
If you have the wherewithal to give, even just a little, to the charity of your choice, please do so. You’ll sleep better at night. I do.
Since I run a food-related blog and website, here is a listing of some really excellent charities that exist to eradicate hunger. Please consider giving your support to one of them. The descriptions of the charities come from their respective websites.
Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth.
By giving families a hand-up, not just a hand-out, we empower them to turn lives of hunger and poverty into self-reliance and hope.
With gifts of livestock and training, we help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. We refer to the animals as “living loans” because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal’s offspring to another family in need. It’s called Passing on the Gift – a cornerstone of our mission that creates an ever-expanding network of hope and peace.
Action Against Hunger ACF International is a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger. Recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF saves the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. With 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programs in some 40 countries benefiting five million people each year.
ACF’s 4,600 professionals work in over 40 countries to carry out innovative, life-saving programs in nutrition, food security & livelihoods, and water, sanitation, & hygiene. ACF’s humanitarian programs directly assist some five million people each year, along with countless others through capacity building programs in collaboration with government ministries. Committed to principled humanitarian action, Action Against Hunger restores dignity, self-sufficiency, and independence to vulnerable populations around the world.
Freedom from Hunger brings innovative and sustainable self-help solutions to the fight against chronic hunger and poverty. Together with local partners, we equip families with resources they need to build futures of health, hope and dignity.
Other Bloggers Promoting Hunger Awareness
Marc, of [No Recipes], finished in the top three of Project Food Blog 2010. Had he won the $10,000, he was going to donate half to The World Food Program. Having missed it by that much, he is now raising $5000 for the WFP. Read his beautiful post, Why I Feel Like a Winner, and help him meet his goal by the end of 2010.
Ruby McLee, of the fabulous food blog Tomayto Tomaaahto wrote this beautiful and thought-provoking post about hunger. She is also organizing a fund raising group called Foodies Sans Frontiers to raise money for The Hunger Project. Her group is in the very beginning phases, but she has a link to donate to The Hunger Project in the group’s name.
Michelle Judd from the wonderful Taste As You Go has pledged 100% of her ad revenue through the end of 2010 to Share Our Strength. Read her post here. Ad revenue is generally based on page views, so this would be a great time to go check out her blog and her archived posts. Thanks, Michelle!
During the month of December, RebeccaSubbiah of Chow and Chatter, is giving 10% of her very cool Chow and Chatter Recipe App sales to World Vision. Here’s the link to the app on itunes, or you can get there from Chow and Chatter, as well. Her app will allow you to search an archive of 80 of her best recipes from around the world, and now would be a great time to check it out! Wonderful idea, Rebecca!
Jacqueline Church of the wonderfully well-written LDGourmet (as well as being a fellow cat-lover) is holding her second annual Skirting Hunger ChipIn Effort to support Ricesticks & Tea, the food pantry at Tufts Medical Center. It’s a worthy cause near and dear to her heart, so consider chipping in now through the end of the year.
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