Guest post by Reggie Young: The Holidays are HOT in Houston!
December 23, 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 Reggie Young, Child Hunger Corps member at the Houston Food Bank.
Here in Houston it is often difficult to tell that it is winter. The temperature remains rather warm and you can still see people wearing shorts and sandals outside. My fireplace does not get much action and the hot cocoa is still in the pantry. However, when I look at television and see the snow of the northern and eastern parts of the country, I do not find myself too envious. Although I would like a few more cold days to wear my winter clothes, I do enjoy our warm green holidays and could never imagine shoveling snow.
Here at the Houston Food Bank, the lack of holiday weather has not tainted the food bankers’ holiday spirit. My supervisor is no exception. She has decorated the office with Christmas trees, ornaments, and little Santa’s. Whatever decoration could not be put up with tape or tacks, she managed to affix with the help of her trusty superglue bottle. Her determination to decorate the End Hunger building illuminates how important this season is to all Houstonians. People are willing to give of themselves in order to make the holidays special for others.
The gift of giving is truly important to me as well. During my lifetime I have been given a lot and understand the positive impact it can have. I feel it is necessary to show people that you care for them, and giving provides a unique opportunity to do so.
The great thing about giving is that it can come in a variety of forms. You can give with your hands, with gifts, or with your time. Each avenue opens up more opportunities for everyone to be involved in the giving process. Yet, no matter how a person decides to give, I believe it should always come from the heart.
One thing that is for certain is that our giving should not be limited to the holidays. As mentioned before, Houston really does not have a winter. Instead, it remains consistently warm throughout the year. Similarly, hunger does not have a particular season.
During the year, there are always hungry families that need the help of others to obtain food. However, some people only seem to notice this immense problem during the winter months. I’m sure all hunger-relief organizations appreciate the extra support they receive during the holidays. Yet, the holiday spirit is embedded in the spirit of giving and it should never be confined to a particular season.
Happy Holidays!
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HFB loves Reg!!!!!!!
Posted by Wendy | December 28, 2010 at 10:23 AM