A model city

photo via smallplanet.org

This time of year, most of us are surrounded by food.  We give and receive food as gifts, we cook huge meals for family and friends, and overeating is a part of the holiday tradition.  The sad truth is that 800 million people worldwide go hungry everyday.  I can't even wrap my head around that number.   

Wait, this is a positive blog, right?  I was listening to NPR on my drive home from work yesterday, and I heard an interview with Frances Moore Lappe.  She described the anti-hunger campain in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.  They believe that healthy food is a right of citizenship, whether you are wealthy or poor.  Using a very small portion of their city budget, they have developed programs to work with farmers, vendors and schools to bring high quality food to everyone.  The results have been pretty amazing; infant death rates were decreased by 50% over a 6 month period.  Here's a link an article in Yes Magazine about Belo Horizonte.  http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/food-for-everyone/the-city-that-ended-hunger

Although most of us don't have to power to bring about change of this magnitude, please do something positive for the less fortunate citizens of your town.  Donate to your local food bank, soup kitchen or shelter.  Get your kids involved and you'll not only be doing good for others, but teaching your children important values.