Next week, Americans will celebrate one of our nation's oldest holidays, which began in 1676. For some, Thanksgiving Day provides a time of fellowship with family and friends while consuming exorbitant amounts of food. For others, it is just another federal holiday freeing us from the responsibility of school and work.
Unfortunately, a significant segment of our population will not have this opportunity because they are homeless and/or impoverished.
According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, approximately 700,000 people experience homelessness on any given night, about one in 20 Americans are or have been homeless, and these rates increase every year. Rates of homelessness tripled from 4 million Americans to 12 million during 1981-1989, and from 1990-1999, this figure in turn doubled to affect over 24 million people.
The prevalence of poverty in our society is another reality that plagues our nation, and not only third world countries, as many believe. More than 35 million Americans live below the poverty level and of this number 14 million are younger than 12 years old. Children account for over 39 percent of the poor and 26 percent of the total U.S. population, making them the most impoverished age group in America.
In 1997, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that 96 billion pounds of food was wasted, as a result of human error and mismanagement, which consisted of over a quarter of all the eligible foods available for human consumption that year. Of that 96 billion lost, fruits, vegetables, milk and grain products accounted for over 64 million pounds of food wasted. Overall, the lost was valued at $31 billion and could have fed roughly 49 million people.
By now you're probably wondering, "What's the point?" Well, these statistics are only meant to sensitize us to some of the ailing social conditions in our society which are easily overshadowed during the holiday season.
This Thanksgiving, we should all be more a little more thankful of the blessings of family, food and shelter because some of our own fellow citizens are not afforded these necessities. We should be more conscientious of the amount of food we waste and be more committed to helping the less fortunate whether by donating our goods or time.
This holiday is not just another day to eat, sleep and be merry. For the real essence of Thanksgiving Day lies in the word itself -- thanks and giving.
Write to Tolu at taolowomeye@bsu.edu
&&2"I+â-Ç11.20.02DNEditorial&&2SORT+â-ä2AUDT
+â-ä"
+â-Ñ
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
