“He looked at the piles of food again, and it was like he was seeing it with new eyes. “This is wrong”, he thought, “Letting food rot while people die of hunger. It’s evil.”….
He breathed in the too-sweet smell of rotting food, “I can stop this evil.”― Margaret Peterson Haddix, Among the Enemy
Image via tillhecomes.org.
“Hunger is insolent, and will be fed.”
— Homer
I am Greek, by marriage only. Or so I’ve always thought. Recently, I discovered that half of my maternal ancestors were of Greek origin. Perhaps this explains my affinity for the country, the people, and the food. For me, Greek food equals abundance, a Mediterranean feast of savory and sweet delicacies that make you want to loosen your belt, and throw any notion of dieting out the window. After all, the Greek diet is one of the healthiest in the world. I swear by it. So, when I see the hunger and starvation that is spreading like an insidious virus throughout Greece, it makes me sick in my heart.
Nationwide, children are fainting from malnourishment and suffering chronic, painful bouts of hunger cramps. A nation of proud and feisty people are being brought to their knees. Not just the poorest of poor, or the working class… but, also the middle class. Yet another country that is seeing its middle class disappear below the poverty line.
The Greek Orthodox Church feeds approximately 55,000 people per day and the soup kitchens are at full capacity, distributing an estimated 7,000 meals to people… just in Athens alone.
If it is indeed true that there’s reason to celebrate because the recession in Europe is coming to an end, Greece certainly hasn’t been invited to the party.
With every severe economic crisis, extreme conditions inevitably breed extreme behaviors. Not surprisingly, violence, domestic abuse, theft, vandalism and prostitution are at an all-time high in Greece. However, on the other end of the spectrum, the outpouring of kindness and generosity from within Greece and from other countries has been heartwarming. Throughout the country, families are helping other families. In the Greek Expat communities around the world, there has been a wave of support for the mother country.
For more information on helping the hungry, homeless and jobless in Greece, please go to the Greek America Foundation‘s website and learn more about Project Hope for Greece.
Image via bookbar.gr.
Unless one’s heart is made of stone, most can agree that the reality of child hunger is a heartbreaking and very unpalatable pill to swallow.
Human existence is cyclical. We begin life as children who depend on parents or family members for our food, our living conditions, and our sense of well-being and worth.
As we move towards the last chapter of our lives, our health and frailty make it impossible to survive without depending on our children, family members, or community − for our food, our living conditions, and our sense of well-being and continued worth.
The golden years are supposed to be a time in life when we, who have worked so hard and who have taken care of so many, earn the right to kick back, relax and enjoy the company of loving family and friends, as they surround us with their affection and care.
Sadly, this is not everyone’s reality. Many seniors are left to cope alone. Many have to juggle with decisions like whether to eat or pay the utility bills, whether to eat or pay for medication, and whether to eat or pay the rent.
As I mentioned earlier, human existence is cyclical.
Unless one’s heart is made of stone, most can agree that the reality of senior hunger is a heartbreaking and very unpalatable pill to swallow.
I’ll leave you with some sobering statistics, cited by the folks at Feeding America. Next week, I will be taking a virtual hunger tour around the world because, as we all know, hunger has no geographic boundaries.
According to Feeding America,
“The number of older adults is projected to increase by 36% over the next decade and continue to rise in the following decade. In 2030 there will be 72.1 million older adults, almost twice as many as in 2008. Additionally, the senior population is becoming increasingly diverse. Between 2010 and 2030, the white population of 65 and plus is projected to increase by 59% compared with 160% of older minorities.”
“These changing demographics will have profound impacts on the demand for social services, especially the need for adequate and culturally appropriate nutrition services. Seniors may have unique nutritional needs and challenges that separate them from the rest of the population and must be considered.”
“In 2011, 4.8 million Americans over the age of 60 were food insecure. This constitutes 8.4% of all seniors. “
“The number of food insecure seniors is projected to increase by 50% when the youngest of the Baby Boom Generation reaches age 60 in 2025.”
From Aug 14-Sept 7, purchase a copy of Casualties of the (Recession) Depression, and for every $20 book purchased directly from my website, I will be donating $5 from the proceeds of each book sale to either: Feeding America (US), Action Against Hunger (Canada), or The World Food Programme (Global). The purchaser chooses one of the three.
Image (at the very top) via mycarforcharity.com.
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