Food (In) Security

I have a tendency to get behind on my blog--oddly enough, cooking everyday kinda gets in the way. Just as I was loaded with pics and recipes, epic wins and tragic disasters, ready to share on here, I caught one of many segments on the news about the escalating numbers of refugees in Europe desperately trying to escape violence and war.

This wasn't the first time I heard about it, my Finnish neighbors had given us a firsthand account of their experiences surrounding this issue in their homeland. But this time was much different. You see these hoards of people, in droves upon droves traveling to foreign lands on foot, or piled in a tiny boat with nothing more than a backpack, some of them don't even have that. They have no home, no money, sometimes no family, and no reliable food source. But me? I'm over here, taking pictures of food like a jackass! Like an art project, and so many people have nothing much less anything to eat. I didn't feel so much like blogging. I just felt like an asshole.

After doing some research, I found a plethora of charity organizations that are helping to combat hunger among those that are the most food insecure, including many of the refugees. There's a couple charities that are highly respected by the general public that I would rather not give to because I don't agree with their actions, politics, or the gargantuan salary they pay their CEO.  I'm not particularly endorsing one or the other, just encouraging you to do the same type of research to make sure your heart is in agreement with what the charity of your choice is doing.

I wish I could feel like I was doing more, doing my part for my fellow human beings, but the trick is that if we all do something, even if that just means volunteering for Meals on Wheels, donating time to a soup kitchen, or dropping off non-perishables at your local food bank, we can make a difference.

Cooking for others is one of my favorite things to do--not only are you bringing enjoyment and fulfillment to those you know and love, but the fact that you are nourishing another's body, keeping them alive--it leaves me both honored and empowered.