A call to arms

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — As our community faces a crisis in how to feed people because of the
government shutdown that means SNAP benefits  are suspended throughout November, I find myself thinking about what it means to be a neighbor.
Not in the casual sense of living on the same street, but in the deeper sense of sharing responsibility for each other’s wellbeing.

Jesus states that the second most important commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). Right now, millions of
Americans are staring down a terrifying question: How will I feed my family in a few days? For those of us who’ve never had to ask that question, it’s hard to grasp the weight of it. But I’m asking us all
to try.

Behind every statistic about food assistance is a real person with a real story. It’s the grandmother who raises three grandchildren on her
own and now lives on a fixed income, stretching her monthly benefits to the last day, carefully planning each meal around what’s on sale.
It’s the single parent working two jobs—one during the day, one at night—who still can’t bridge the gap between rent and groceries.

It’s the veteran who served our country honorably and now finds himself choosing between medications and meals. It’s the college student trying to better herself while working part-time, often studying on an empty stomach. It’s the family that was doing fine until a medical emergency wiped out their savings in a single afternoon.

These aren’t faceless recipients of government assistance. They’re not statistics or policy talking points. They’re the people who bag our
groceries and greet us with tired smiles. They’re the children who sit beside our kids in classrooms, sometimes the only ones who never have
money for field trips. They’re the folks we see in waiting rooms, at bus stops, in line at the pharmacy. They work hard—many of them
harder than most of us can imagine—and they’re still struggling. And now, through absolutely no fault of their own, they face an impossible
November.

The political dysfunction that created this crisis is inexcusable. Our representatives have failed in their most basic duty: keeping the government functioning. But while we should be angry about that failure, we can’t let that anger paralyze us or become an excuse for inaction. Because when I look around this community, I see something
our elected officials seem to have forgotten: we’re capable of taking care of each other.

Here’s what I know about the people in this town, this county, this state: when crisis strikes, we don’t turn away. We turn toward each other. We’ve done it before—after hurricanes, after floods, after
economic downturns. We’ve proven time and again that our compassion is stronger than any political gridlock.

So I’m asking every single person reading this to do
something—anything—to help our neighbors get through November. The need is urgent, and the ways to help are countless.

If you can give, please donate to your local food bank or community pantry. They’re already overwhelmed, and they need our support now
more than ever. Money is helpful, but so are non-perishable foods, especially protein-rich items like peanut butter, canned tuna, canned milk, and beans.

If you have time, volunteer. Food banks need people to sort donations, pack boxes, and distribute food. Community kitchens need cooks and servers. Even a few hours can make a tremendous difference.

If you have influence—whether you’re a faith leader, educator, business owner, or just someone with a strong network—use your voice. Amplify the needs of local food banks. Demand that our representatives end this crisis immediately. Help spread the word about where people can find help.

If you’re a neighbor, simply check in. Knock on doors.  Cook a meal or invite those you know may be hungry to meal. Let people know they’re
not alone.

This isn’t charity in the way we’ve been taught to think about it—something that diminishes the person receiving it. This is community. This is what human beings do for each other. We all stumble. We all face circumstances beyond our control. We all need hands to steady us sometimes. There is absolutely no shame in accepting help during a crisis that was forced upon you by people who should have known better.

This government shutdown represents a catastrophic failure of leadership and responsibility. But our response to it doesn’t have to be a failure. In fact, it can be the opposite—a powerful demonstration of what community truly means. Fighting against hunger goes beyond left wing and right wing. It’s a right or a wrong thing.

In the coming weeks, every one of us has a choice to make. We can look away and tell ourselves it’s someone else’s problem. We can get lost in arguments about who’s to blame. Or we can look out for one another.

We can recognize that when our neighbors are struggling to eat, we all suffer. We can choose to be the kind of community that doesn’t let its members go hungry, regardless of what’s happening in Washington.

I know which choice we’ll make. I’ve seen this community’s heart before, and it’s bigger than any political failure. I’ve seen what we’re capable of when we decide that taking care of each other matters more than anything else.

Let’s prove once again that when government fails its people, people will not fail each other. Let’s make sure that everyone in our community has food on their table this November. And let’s do it together.

Sincerely,
Wesley Storz
Vicksburg, Ms