No joke: Feed thy neighbor
T his being April Fool’s Day, we’re a long way from the winter holidays. Spring has arrived, sort of, and if the weather still chills the fingers at least more than half of the day is brightened by daylight. The birds are chirping and the crocuses are up.
Relax a moment with those pleasant thoughts and then think about sharing that good feeling. Think about making a donation to the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center in New London.
Because this is no joke: People, including children, are going hungry around here. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, filled with the spirit of the season, we are moved to be generous, but a day without enough to eat can happen any time of year when a household can’t afford groceries.
The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut issued an appeal this week, gratefully acknowledging the holiday gifts but asking for help to make sure the food center is amply stocked. According to the United Way, 85 member agencies “shop” at the food center weekly for the emergency free food programs they operate. They provide no-cost meals, snacks and food supplies to those in need here in New London County.
The United Way, headquartered in Gales Ferry, estimates that 12.7 percent of our neighbors — and 18.5 percent of children in the area — live with “food insecurity.” That’s close to 35,000 people. About 20,000 get help each month from the United Way member food programs.
If you are Jewish, this is a mitzvah. If you’re Christian, it’s Lent: One of the traditional observances is to give alms, and there is no type of alms-giving more critical than feeding the hungry. If you are Muslim, and you do your charitable giving during the holy month of Ramadan, keep the hungry in mind then, because there will always be a need.
You don’t need to have an official religion to know that feeding thy neighbor is the right thing to do. To do it right here, go to www.uwsect.org.
Happy spring.
The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut issued an appeal this week, gratefully acknowledging the holiday gifts but asking for help to make sure the food center is amply stocked.