Guest Post by Alex Handfinger: Thank You
December 1, 2010
The Child Hunger Corps is a national service program designed to increase the capacity and capability of food banks to execute programs targeted towards the alleviation of child hunger. The objective of the program is to increase the number of nutritious snacks and meals served to children in need in local communities across the country. The Child Hunger Corps initiative is sponsored by the ConAgra Foods Foundation.
The first round of six Corps members began their work in August. They will each serve two years at a Feeding America food bank. A new group of ten Corps members will be onboarded in August 2011. This post is by Alex Handfinger, Child Hunger Corps member at the Arkansas Foodbank Network.
Thanksgiving is, without fail, my favorite day of the year. Nothing quite compares to this rare occasion when my family finds itself whole again, relishing in each other’s kitchen company while preparing (and noshing on) a most gluttonous feast.
As a rookie food banker, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of the hypocrisy of overeating to the brink of near-explosion when, just the previous day, I had received a phone call from a concerned Boys and Girls Club Director searching desperately for ways to feed more to his 50 undernourished homeless children. What have I done to deserve such abundant food security, while these children (and so many others) don’t always know when their next meal will be, or where it will be coming from?
As my family went around the table, each member making known what they were thankful for, I realized that I am thankful for the accident of my birth and the opportunities it has presented. I need not feel guilty for these opportunities, but be always mindful of how truly privileged I am and take full advantage to help create these for others. I am extremely thankful for my friends and family, whom have instilled in me a passion for helping others. Thank you, Feeding America and the ConAgra Foods Foundation, for giving me this incredible opportunity to enact that passion. Thank you to all food bankers for inspiring me by truly sharing this passion and dedicating your whole selves towards doing more and doing it better.
Most importantly, thank you to all of those people that, despite facing some of the toughest economic times in the past century, work tirelessly to strengthen their communities and empower their neighbors. Thank you so much for welcoming me with open arms, trusting me enough to share your stories, and working with me in feeding our children.
This Thanksgiving was most certainly the best yet – and not just because I got to kick a soccer ball around with both of my siblings, or prepare and eat many of my favorite dishes all in the same day – but because I took the time to reflect on all of the things I am thankful for. As difficult as a rainy Monday morning after Thanksgiving should be, I came inspired by an appreciation for all that I’ve been given. More than anything, I guess I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, “Thank you.”
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Comments
I really enjoyed reading this blog, Alex. That is one of the great pleasures of working in the food banking industry. It keeps life in perspective. We are truly blessed…inspite of what we see as difficulties on a day-to-day basis. Somewhere there is someone who simply wants to know, “What am I going to eat today? Or, am I going to eat today?” I remember one day my husband and I were at the gas station on University and a lady walked up to the trash can beside our pump and started digging in it and pulled out a McDonald’s sack that was in it. She opened it and when she saw there was nothing left in it but trash she started to walk to the next one. I begged my husband to give her some cash because I didn’t have any in my purse. He did; and she went directly into the store to purchase something to eat. But, I couldn’t help but think, “This is somebody’s child.” Keep up the good work, the state of Arkansas needs you.
Posted by Pam Bailey | December 2, 2010 at 8:44 AM