Pope Francis last week addressed a World Health Organization’s International Conference on World Hunger and Nutrition urging conferees to “Feed the hungry, save life on the planet.” With uncharacteristic pessimism he challenged world leaders to “Take care of the earth so it does not respond with destruction.” This charismatic pope is a staunch defender of the poor and hungry of the world. Will his words be heeded?

Sadly, there is enough food in the world for everyone in the world to be properly nourished. It is a matter of distribution and the political will to make it happen. Do you dare bring this subject up at your holiday tables? Will you do something?

As the holiday season approaches, the topic of world hunger and malnutrition is not one many of us care to think about. But for many others — some right in our own community — it is a sad reality. Yes, even in our incredibly rich country there are those who deal every day with ‘food insecurity’.

Food insecurity is a fairly benign sounding phrase isn’t it. What does it mean? It means families, some here in our state of Maine, who go day to day not knowing if they will be able to provide proper nutrition for their families. Many depend on local food banks and other similar programs to supplement their ability to feed their families. In an alarming statistic determined by several state agencies one quarter, 25 percent, of the children in Maine do not receive proper nutrition.

The issue of world hunger has been the main focus of the national non-profit organization ‘Bread For The World’ (BFTW) for over 40 years. This national nondenominational faith based organization urges national leaders to support legislation related to hunger prevention such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), bills related to food distribution, and other hunger related issues. BFTW’s main ‘ministry’ is to conduct ‘offering of letters’ at area churches which are forwarded to Maine’s senators and Congressmen asking them to support such legislation.

According to the World Health Organization there are several subsets to the world hunger issue. There is malnutrition, caused by too little, too much or simply the wrong kinds of food. There is chronic hunger, the result of inadequate food intake over a long period. And there is also hidden hunger — lack of proper vitamin and mineral intake. Globally, according to WHO “two billion people suffer from deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin A, iron and zinc.” Chronic and hidden hunger combined have particularly negative and long term effects on early childhood development.

So, what can one person do, you might ask. The answer is simply ‘DO SOMETHING!’ Volunteer at a local food bank/soup kitchen, bring this subject up in your church and social groups, get informed, contact your elected representatives and let them know that you think 25 percent of our children in this state going hungry is NOT ACCCEPTABLE and ask them what they are planning to do about it. What is more important than our children’s future? Our children are the present AND our future.

Do you dare bring this subject up at your holiday tables? Will you do something?

Frank Wnek,

Rev. Marilyn Robb,

Rev. Dr. Karen L. Munsen

Bread For the World

Maine