" Feed our Children"

I was reminded of some tough years and struggle during my childhood last Friday.
I participated in the WDOK Radio telethon to help feed Northeast Ohio poor families.
As I spoke live on the radio program with Trapper Jack and his team, I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion as I relived the pain of being hungry at school some days.
I told listeners how my Mom; who worked two jobs at times, instructed me to eat as much as I could during the "free" lunch program at school because she wasn't sure what we'd be able to have for dinner.
After finishing my radio call, I went on the air at 6pm and read our local story about how the recession has meant an increase in applications for the free lunch program in suburban schools. Cleveland already provides free meals.
I was in somewhat of a trance, thinking about how hard my Mom worked and still she seemed to come up short each month. I thought about all the folks in my small Missouri town who used to donate food and our family was the beneficiary at times.
Its Sunday night and I'm still thinking about WDOK and all of the other wonderful efforts and programs in our area to help feed hungry.