Handout seekers often are hungry
Most of us here in America, the most affluent country on planet Earth, by and large tend to overlook hunger and poverty among us, even though it surrounds us every day. When we think of people suffering from hunger, we usually think of the pictures we see of people living in India or Africa.
Well, guess what, good people. Hunger in America is real. And not everyone we encounter on the street or with a sign asking for money for food is asking for that money to buy liquor, or drugs. Not everyone asking for money is out there trying to con the public. Many of them are hungry and need to eat.
Oh, there are con artists out there, and there are those out there who are simply looking for money to help them get their next drink or drug fix. But for many, it is a request made entirely in earnest to get food.
Many people right here in the Land of Plenty frequently have to skip meals due to a lack of an adequate supply of food, or don't have anything to eat for an entire day.
Thankfully, there are individuals and organizations working every day to address the hunger problem in our country. They provide food and assistance to many of those in need. But even they can't meet the demands of all of those who need their help. Hunger is still a reality for way too many Americans.
The hunger problem in this country involves more than the lack of food. There are many contributing factors. One is that unskilled and uneducated people can't get good-paying jobs and are thus unable to make the money necessary to buy food for themselves and their families.
And how about the low wages earned by many working Americans? By the time the bills are paid, there is very little left for food. Let us not forget one of the biggest contributing factors for many Americans is the loss of a job.
You may ask, what can we as individuals do to help solve the problem of hunger in America?
Well, we can start with our support. Those of us already supporting food programs must continue to do so. Those of us who are not must start.
We must make contributions to our local food banks and soup kitchens. We must support the many homeless shelters in our communities. We must support food programs sponsored by our schools, churches, community centers and our jobs.
Most of all, we must be more sensitive to the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves. To those who may not be enjoying the American Dream.
So the next time someone approaches you with a request for money to buy food because they are hungry, don't automatically think it's a con. The reality is, they may truly be hungry, because hunger here in America is a reality.
This opinion column is written by Kalamazoo poet, writer and radio commentator Buddy Hannah. He is former director and board president for the Black Arts and Cultural Center in downtown Kalamazoo.