Hungry to end hunger

Our Opinion

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Ever wonder what giving looks like?

There's a warehouse in Owings where helping others has gone from an abstract concept to a physical presence this month. In that warehouse, boxes and boxes of food have been sorted and whisked away in a moving truck.

On Friday, nearly 3 tons of potatoes were sorted into 5-pound increments, one recycled plastic grocery bag at a time. From that warehouse, the potatoes were taken to food pantries and churches in Calvert County, where they will be distributed to people who need them the most.

The volunteers on Friday were a mix of people, ranging from college students to retirement age, and they were busy on a dozen different tasks at any time. The warehouse itself was donated space, graciously offered by Kelly Generator. The food was donated food, everything from grape jelly to boxed pasta to canned goods, in addition to all those potatoes.

The volunteers were working on a project that is now in its second year, End Hunger in Calvert County. These volunteers were the most visible of the program, and their spirit of giving is the most tangible.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of other people involved in this program that has such a broad purpose that it's almost difficult to explain.

Members of this campaign want to end hunger, and while they are starting by handing out food, they are also working to help with the circumstances that sometimes lead to hunger. They are taking a few people under their wings, people who are working hard and doing everything they can to feed their families — people who just need that little extra push to catch up.

The partners in this campaign vary from the people who were in that warehouse on Friday to the businesses that offer their services, possibly lowering their fees so that a single mother can afford to work, or so a family can get its car fixed and have transportation again.

End Hunger is a visible, tangible campaign that really just shows the nature of this county — one in which residents want to help their neighbors. The will has always been here, and now there is a way to get it done.

The big push for the campaign is this month, but all year there are people working behind the scenes to keep the program going, to help those individuals, and to direct the food that people are willing to donate to the places with the most need.

All of us can help. Businesses can donate food or services or supplies or time.

With everyone's help, this program can grow and be successful. Will hunger end? Will poverty in our county cease to exist? Will every resident be without worry over their mortgage, their medical bills, their utilities?

That is one seriously high goal. But it doesn't hurt to try.