
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 25, 1993                   TAG: 9311250353
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A32   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

THIS IS a day of thanksgiving mostly for family togetherness, which families are enjoying around the country today. But it is also a thanksgiving for the abundance most Americans enjoy, especially the abundance of food.

The overflowing bins of fresh produce, the fresh-baked breads, the packed meat counters, the rows and rows of food - boxed, canned, frozen - filling the grocery stores that dot every community in great numbers, all create a picture of plenitude.

Surely, there is no need for anyone to be hungry in the midst of so much.

Yet, there is hunger.

An untold number of Americans actually go hungry, despite our national affluence.

Worldwide, the picture is much worse. According to the U.N. Development Program, 1.3 billion people are too poor to afford an adequate diet, and the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization reports that 786 million people are chronically malnourished. That's one of every five people in the developing world.

Sorry. These aren't pleasant statistics to chew on as we share with our families the sumptuous meal that is the tradition for this day.

As we slice the moist meat from the turkey breast and sink our spoons into the hot-from-the-oven sweet potato casserole, melt butter on homemade rolls and ladle green beans onto the last clean spot on the dinner plate, who would mar the simple pleasures of this feast with thoughts of hunger outside our door?

And why should anyone? Many have tried to help allay the want. Americans, generous by nature, support more than 150,000 private feeding agencies that distribute $3 billion to $4 billion worth of food each year to hungry people in the United States, another $2 billion to private organizations providing relief overseas.

Community soup kitchens and food pantries will make special efforts today, delivering Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families and serving turkey and pumpkin pie to all who come to their doors.

Another $39 billion in taxpayers' money is spent annually by federal food programs for low-income citizens. And still many are underfed.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, hunger was reduced in the United States through food stamps and the supplemental food program for Women, Infants and Children. But through the 1980s, both taxes and social spending were cut, and hunger grew.

Don't let worry about hunger intrude on your Thanksgiving. Anyone able to enjoy the feast should not squander the privilege. Celebrate today, and give heartfelt thanks for your good fortune.

Then remember the faceless hungry the other days of the year.

by CNB