Jim Meagher
Oct. 16 is an important day because…
More than 150 countries are joining together to call our attention and action to an eventual elimination of world-wide hunger. Every year we produce far more food than we can consume. The excess is wasted. Over one-third of the global land mass is used for agricultural production. What is the problem? Its distribution. We aren’t able to get sufficient food to those who are in need of it. It either isn’t available or, if it is, it can’t be acquired because of cost or access. The result is that for every four persons in the world, one is food insecure. Nearly 15% of the children and approximately 12% of the population in Maricopa County were food insecure last year. Contrast that situation with the following one.
My experience is that it takes around $250 at the supermarket to purchase adequate groceries for one week for two persons. That total will include ample healthy food but won’t include alcoholic beverages, prime cuts of beef or fresh wild-caught seafood.
Lastly, for $250, Matthews Crossing Food Bank who we support here in Sun Lakes through Reach Out Sun Lakes and our wonderful partner organizations can turn the numbers on their nose!. This is how the problem of the distribution of food is reduced. Matthews Crossing will serve 1,250 meals for $250 at a cost of around .25 cents per meal. Yes. You read it correctly. Bulk purchases, government subsidies, partnerships with local grocers, large amounts of volunteer hours etc. allow them to acquire food donated by people like you. The net result is that fewer people in our part of the valley are hungry. In the United States our distribution problem is not the lack of food. It is the cost of food! I’m sure you know all about that.
Please join the growing number of people who are helping Matthews Crossing Food Bank solve the food distribution problem. From the numbers above you can quickly compute the impact you can have with the exchange of a hot dog and a beer at a baseball game for a gift to Matthews Crossing. Your food donations can be left in the marked container in front of the lobby office at Sun Lakes Country Club. Financial donations can be made at: matthewscrossing.org or mailed to Matthews Crossing, 1368 N. Arizona Ave, Chandler, AZ 85225. Please call or text me: Jim Meagher at 630-346-1966 with questions or if you are interested in volunteering.