Giving of ourselves to those in need

More and more of our friends and neighbors are hurting. More are jobless. And hungry. And homeless.

Those of us who are blessed not to be needy right alongside them need to be right alongside them helping them get through these continuing challenging times.

Officialdom declared the recession over some months ago, but the numbers of those still in need continue to grow, especially in Illinois, as social service agencies that try to help no longer can rely on financial aid from state government.

A Daily Herald story last week put numbers on the hungry and their needs. Jarrod Daab, the senior development officer for the Northern Illinois Food Bank which handles counties around Cook, said the bank helped 37,400 people a week four years ago. Now, it's helping more than 61,000 people a week. Many of those 61,000 are new or different people each week. One in eight people in the 13-county Northern Illinois region around Cook County need food. One in eight. That means there likely is someone who is really and truly hungry who lives on your block. Or who goes to your church. Or who plays with your child.

More of us are responding. Three years ago, the food bank passed out 22 million pounds of food, but this year, workers and volunteers will distribute 40 million pounds. That's wonderful, but we know some of us can do more and do better.

$1 buys eight pounds of food. Surely, many, many people reading this can spare $1.

Others with other needs also can use a hand from those of us who are making it.

Children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and homeless people, especially, are suffering because the state's politicians aren't meeting financial obligations. Scores of not-for-profit service agencies have had to close or trim services and staff, only adding to the cycle of those who need help. A group called Illinois Partners for Human Service surveyed agencies recently and found more than half of nearly 300 that responded have growing waiting lists, while nearly a quarter have cut some services entirely.

Karen Beyer, executive director of the nonprofit Ecker Center for Mental Health in Elgin, put it this way: “Illinois residents who need help have been on the chopping block at budget time for many years. Now we can see the results: fewer children in child care; fewer after-school programs for teens; less help for people to get and keep jobs; and less assistance for those with mental illness or developmental disabilities and the elderly.”

Now, as many of us scurry about buying gifts for relatives who might not want or need them, shouldn't we also make time to give to our local food pantries, homeless shelters and community service agencies? Move them to the top of our lists. For, truly, it is in that kind of giving that we all receive.