Let Me Depress You...

Or perhaps, challenge you.

You already know I have this thing about kids being overlooked in society. You know I think way too many people look at their kids like some sort of living accessory or super intelligent pet. You know I have issues.

So here's the take away from the 10:PM news last night.

Gas prices are up. Duh. Food prices are up. Double duh. Food banks are getting empty. You knew it was going to happen.

Now, did you know this? In Wisconsin, the food banks feed around 86,000 kids each year. Yes, I said kids. That's roughly enough to fill Miller Park twice.

That's a lot of kids without a breakfast, lunch and dinner. These aren't kids looking for chips and soda for snacks 3 times a day. These are the kids who don't know it's normal to eat 2-3 meals a day. These are the kids that don't know a meal should have a variety of foods, like a protein, a carb and fruits or veggies. These are the kids not having glasses of milk or juice. They aren't eating fresh fruit or veggies. They most likely aren't eating any fruits or veggies.

86,000 kids. 86,000 kids with empty bellies. 86,000 kids going to bed, not with hopes and dreams, but with uncertainty and hunger pains.

Do you know what they will become? 86,000 young adults without trust. We're letting down the future adults.

Yes, I know. There are adults who are responsible for these kids. They should be getting jobs and taking care of their own. Yes, to an extent, you're right. But, haven't you ever needed help? Haven't you ever found yourself stretching the money as far as it could go? No, I don't mean so that you could still manage to grab a beer with the pals one weekend a month or get a manicure or whatever is your "thing". What I mean is, have you ever found yourself searching the house for all the loose change and praying it would be enough to buy one gallon of milk for the kids?

Here's my challenge to you. Could you, maybe for just one month, or a single week even, give something up? Could your family go without it's chips and soda and spend that $10 on tuna and peanut butter for some other kid somewhere? That other kid could be your kids classmate, friend or future spouse. Maybe you're not a chips and pop sort of family, I still bet there is something in your family's life you could give up for a single week or month and pass it along.