The Last Word
A current client of the Caledon Food Support Program weighs in on Hunger Awareness Week
Necessity is the Mother of Invention
By Anne, current client of the Food Support Program
May 10, 2012
It has been so encouraging reading the experiences of the various participants in this challenge.
Can you imagine doing this week in and week out for an extended period of time and with children?
It feels great to have someone listen and understand the challenges facing those that are attempting to overcome the obstacles in their lives, whatever they might be, and doing it with something like food security hanging over your head at every turn. For many of us, we are alone in this battle and do not want to constantly dwell on the fact that we are unable to properly feed ourselves. Your sense of self-worth is diminished and like one of the participants expressed, there truly is a sense of social isolation. Really, in this day and age and in this seemingly wealthy community, who would think that there are families that don’t have enough to eat?! I would love to go grocery shopping one day when I don’t have to “stick” to my $35.00 for the MONTH (which includes items such as toilet paper, laundry detergent, toiletries, and other non-edible yet expensive and necessary purchases)…what a treat it would be to purchase whatever I needed! Stocking up on pantry items is a struggle but it also provides some of those options for creating a meal that is both enjoyable and nutritious.
We are inundated with ads for Swiss Chalet, McDonald’s, Pizza etc. on a daily basis…I hate to admit it, but, since I am unable to afford the luxury of indulging even periodically, I have a strange craving for these items. It’s gotten to the point that I have “re-created” these treats at home (sometimes it’s even better than the “real” thing!). I recently volunteered to be an extra in a TV show shoot locally because they were going to feed us… it’s strange how being hungry can motivate you to do something that you would otherwise not do.
You know, I don’t want to wax poetic, but I am unable to get my hair done anywhere except in my own home (I’m not bad at it either!) or take a vacation or go for a drive in the country or visit friends that live out of town or a multitude of other activities that once I too used to take for granted. Yet I am thankful for my home and relative health and caring people that I come into contact with. I want to be able to give back in some small way…whatever that might be.
This certainly has been an exercise for all of us to learn from. I know I have. It’s a vicious circle that begins with taking care of yourself from a nutritional and emotional standpoint in order to be able to take care of your other needs in life such as job security and family.
I wish all of you the best going forward and hope that this project has changed lives in our community for the better.
The Food Box Challenge is all about raising awareness. Caledon Community Services has set a target of 5,000 visits to the daily blog all participants are posting on the CCS Food Box Challenge website. Please take a moment and give it a look.
