2015 - Day 98/267 - Wednesday...

Carrie and I were honored to be invited to attend the Hunger Heroes luncheon today, honoring two organizations that work to further the cause of the Capital Area Food Bank.  We were invited by Hester and Kris, the two kind, generous and caring women that operate the Austin Empty Bowl Project.  Coming up on the 19th Annual Empty Bowl Project, Hester and Kris were honored for their continued participation and support of the Food Bank.  This is a photo of (from left) Hester, Hank (the Food Bank Director) and Kris.  We were honored to attend today, and we are always pleased to support the Austin Empty Bowl Project.

So let's get down to brass tacks.  The people at the luncheon have no idea what it must be like to be hungry.  We enjoyed a nice lunch of grilled chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, a lovely dessert, and a cool beverage.  THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT.  I think a better use of the Food Banks funds would have been to feed us what someone that is not secure in knowing where their next meal is coming from eats for lunch on a typical day.  Maybe nothing.  Maybe a cheese sandwich.  I know that 1 in 4 children in the Austin area go hungry on a daily basis, and their care-givers are not confident in where they will be able to find food to feed them.  Thirty percent of the population in the greater Austin area have food insecurities.  When money runs out at the end of the month, their dollar will go further if they buy unhealthy crap food.  Crappy food is cheaper than nutritious food. 

There is too much waste in our society.  We could feed everyone that is hungry if we could just contribute good (but uneaten) foods to worthwhile causes.  Retail establishments could feed hundreds (if not thousands) of hungry people if only they were not being afraid of being sued.  In the past several years, as I toured the banquet cycles, I have witnessed perfectly good food being unceremoniously disposed of because of ordinances and health department standards that prohibit its' distribution.

We need to fix this. 

You are now free to resume your evening.

Deeds, Actions,Changes, HUNGER, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!