$3.78

Imagine you experience hunger and food insecurity. What am I asking you to imagine? I'm asking you to imagine that you're running out of food and you can't buy more food. Not because you don't have time to go to the store, but because you don't have the money to go to the store. You don't have the option of grabbing something to eat at a cafe or a fast food restaurant. You won't be able to eat until you receive credit on your EBT card (this has replaced paper food stamps) or until you are allowed to get food at a food pantry (eat pantry has a policy about how often one may get food). What would you do? Educating individuals how to better spend the money they do have is part of the answer, but it's not the whole answer.

During class on Tuesday I asked a student if she was familiar with this particular grocery store. She replied no, that she did not go to the grocery store because she could not afford it. In Operation Frontline classes each student is give a challenge to prepare a healthy meal with food from 4 of the 5 food groups for under $10. If they meet this challenge they receive a $10 gift card to the grocery store to purchase that food. This particular student managed to spend only $6.22. I encouraged her to go back fro more. She wanted to save the extra money and use it another time. Imagine guarding that $3.78 so you could make an extra trip to the grocery store. In this moment I realized that I still considered being able to shop at a grocery store as a right. It's not a right for many, it's a privilege - one that I won't be taking for granted any time soon.

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You

Here's a look at life in the office. The Capital Area Food Bank recently acquired a Flip Camera. Next week we'll be bringing the camera to the classroom so that you can get a closer look of the fun we have while cooking. Stay tuned!

January 19th Make it a Day On!

January is a month of change, not only for the nation with inauguration of the 44^th president, but for Operation Frontline DC as well. Becky Handforth is preparing to travel to Ecuador to volunteer for about 4 months. After her time in Ecuador, Becky is planning to attend graduate school studying public health with a focus in international nutrition. We wish Becky good luck in her new adventure!

Share Our Strength has launched a brand new campaign to raise funds to help end childhood hunger. "Operation No Kid Hungry" responds to President-elect Obama's call to action to end childhood hunger by 2015.

1.Donate by text. Share Our Strength has partnered with AT&T to offer two great ways that you can support and participate in "Operation No Kid Hungry":

Text "SHARE" to 20222 on your mobile device to donate $5. AT&T will match all text donations up to $100,000. Help us meet this challenge grant! Find out more here.

2.Hold a food drive:

Beginning January 19th, a national day of community service, help feed those in need by holding your own community food drive. Contact Molly McGlinchy (mcglinchym@cfoodbank.org) at the Capital Area Food Bank to organize a food drive. Additional information can be found here about the Capital Area Food Bank’s most wanted food items.

3. Donate food:

Extinguish Hunger Fire House Food Drive
Serve DC, with the Mayor’s office, is hosting a city-wide food drive from Saturday, January 17 through Monday, January 19 that benefits the Capital Area Food Bank. Donors may drop off non-perishable food to any fire station in the District on those days from 10a – 2p.

For more information about "Operation No Kid Hungry" and how you can help end childhood hunger, visit Share Our Strength's website: http://strength.org.