An Offering of Letters

Every year I require my Journalism class to write a letter to the editor. Any editor.

But this year I had them do something different.

After hearing a representative from Bread for the World talk about how they needed people to write letters more than they needed donations, I gave students the option of writing to their representative about hunger. Eleven of twelve went for this alternative assignment.

You and I could donate ten cans to a food bank. Or we could write a legislator asking for tax incentives for grocery stores and restaurants that-- instead of donating--throw out tons of food. Literally. Giving cans is good. But helping secure incentives has the potential to make a huge difference. (Maybe you have a group you could do this with, too.)

Last night my students turned in their letters. Only instead of "handing them in," we passed a basket and each person placed his or her letter inside as an offering.

Here's a sampling of the kinds of stuff they wrote:

 . My mother struggled to put food on the table. She worked several jobs to ensure we never went to bed hungry. Yet, through the programs available to her, she was able to go back to school, finish her degree, and get a well-paying job.

 . I grew up in a rural town of 1,600 people. A crumbling cotton mill stands in the center of town reminding the people of its past and accurately reflecting the present. In school, I was one of the privileged kids who didn't have to worry about whether I would have more than the one meal a day provided in the small cafeteria. Too many others did.

. I work with residents of the local homeless shelter and each week I see people move in who cannot make ends meet because their income pushes them below the poverty line. No family should have to choose between housing and groceries. We need to do more.

I wonder if they realize they could change the world?