These days social media is overloaded with partisan posts assigning blame for the many ills plaguing our society. This has now reached a crescendo with the shutting down of the federal government.
However, in the world of food pantries and other types of aid organizations, we do not have the luxury of taking the time necessary to debate the merits of these viewpoints. All of our time is dedicated to serving our communities with the same dedication and zeal we always have, while also dealing with much greater demand than we saw prior to the shutdown.
Make no mistake, the current situation is not about political ideologies. It is about people. Real people who suddenly find themselves, due to no fault of their own, are unable to provide for their families after losing the source of income upon which they rely. This is the reality facing tens of thousands of our friends and neighbors throughout all of our communities and our entire country. This is real. What’s happening is not some AI-generated video clip you see on the internet. This is not someone else’s problem or someone else’s fault. This belongs to each and every one of us. These are our friends, our neighbors, our family and they are facing some incredibly serious challenges. It is our responsibility to step up and help them. Not tomorrow, not next week, not when we have a minute. Now.
So, if you have the means, please consider making a donation to a food pantry or a food bank or some other relief organization. This is not a pitch to support our organization specifically, but for all of us to dig deep and provide some type of support to any group working to help these families.
If you don’t have the financial resources to make a donation, consider volunteering. If neither of those options work for you, take a minute to contact your representatives and senators and let them know that you want this issue resolved. And when they tell you it’s the other party’s fault, tell them that answer is not acceptable and that they need to put away the political rhetoric (and convince their colleagues to do the same) and end this now. Don’t let them fool you; they can do it. They have done it many times before and can certainly do it again. People are suffering and that needs to come before their desire to get reelected.
You can find your representatives and get information on how to contact them here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials. You can also join the advocacy efforts of our food bank partner, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, by going here: //www.chicagosfoodbank.org/get-involved/advocacy
We all have our opinions and political beliefs and many of us feel very strongly about them. That passion and diversity of opinion is one of the things that makes being an American a great privilege. But our current situation is not about dogma or ideology, but about loving one another and caring for one another. The time has come for all of us to come together as human beings and bring forth the decency that we all have in our hearts. This is the time for us to prove to ourselves and the world that Americans, despite our differences, look out for one another and care for one another. It’s time to show that no matter our skin color, no matter who we love or what immigration status we possess, we are civilized people who love and care for one another in times of need. For us to make it through this, we are going to have to work together and put the needs of our friends and neighbors ahead of our own needs and our own opinions. We have done that before countless times and despite our current divisions, we need to do it again. We just have to want it. I do and I know that in your hearts, each and every one of you do as well. Let’s make it happen.
John Dumas
Chairman & administrative director Share Food Share Love Food Pantry
sharefoodsharelove.org
Brookfield