Blogging at its Best

In our world of fast foods,

slow foods,

whole foods

and non-foods,

it's easy to forget the many among us without enough food. Our nation's economic difficulties have left far too many people with no choice but to rely on their local food bank. The food banks in turn are stretched to their limits because of the increased need.

• In 2008, 17.1 million households were food insecure, an increase from 13.0 million households in 2007.

• Feeding America is annually providing food to 37 million Americans, including 14 million children. This is an increase of 46 percent over 2006.

• The number of children the Feeding America network serves has increased by 50 percent since 2006.

• 68 percent of pantries, 42 percent of soup kitchens, and 15 percent of emergency shelters rely solely on volunteers and have no paid staff.

• Every dollar donated to Feeding America helps provide 9 pounds of food and grocery products to men, women and children facing hunger in our country.

Today is the second annual April Food Day, founded to unite bloggers in the fight against hunger by Meg of Pigtown Design and Chris of Easy & Elegant Life. If you are in a position to aid in this fight and wish to learn how, click on the April Food Day and Feeding America logos here on this post or CLICK HERE to go directly to the Feeding America/April Food Day donations page. You may also CLICK HERE to locate a food bank in your own community that needs your help.

On this blog, I talk about the comforts and luxuries of life as I see them. I have always known, and have even written about, the comfort good food can bring, especially when shared with friends and family. However, I have never looked upon food, the ordinary ingredients of our everyday meals, as a luxury. Sure, I've had to choose a lesser cut of meat now and then or the cereal that's on sale this week instead of the box I really want, but there's always been enough, (usually far more than enough), and, thankfully, I can't imagine my life any other way. Organizations like Feeding America make my reality—where having food on my table is a given, never a luxury—a reality for those who don't live with the comfort of such security. Thanks, Meg and Chris, for giving us this opportunity. And thank you, my generous readers, for allowing me to pass it on.