February 21 2024

Notes by Om Shreejay

We had 2 new First Friends Rita and Nitya lead class today.

Last week, we talked about desires and how not to give in to temptations. 

We talked about our favorite snack/food, how often we get it, and where we get it. How would you feel if you didn’t get your favorite food or going further, didn’t get to eat dinner at all? 

This is the reality for 1 in 6 kids in the US – who are affected by hunger. We watched a video where we learned that 68 million people around the world have been displaced by violence and conflict and lack food to eat – this is 1 person every 2 seconds! These people rely on humanitarian food assistance to stay alive. Conflict is the single largest driver of hunger in the world today. Nearly 3 million children die every year due to malnourishment. Poverty and hunger go hand in hand. The typical American family spends less than 10% of their income on food, whereas in developing countries this is closer to 40%.  

To end hunger, we must make peace a priority. There is enough food to feed more than everyone in the world. Organizations like the World Food Program help by serving as the last line of defense between hunger and starvation, especially for children. 

We reflected on this video and felt sad for children who did not have access to food, something that we take for granted. We felt the need to help those in need and what we can do about it. 

We listened to a passage about a child whose mom didn’t eat before her children finished and had what was left over. A school program provided free breakfast and lunch which reduced the burden for his mom and helped her plan to have food for the weekend. The child was grateful to the people who made this possible.

We reflected on why the child’s mom didn’t eat until they had finished, which showed how much she cared for them and put her child’s needs before her own.   

We reflected on the importance of the free lunch and breakfast program at school and what would happen if this was not available. It would increase the burden on the mother to work multiple jobs. 

This made us aware of the importance of donations and giving back to the community, especially to food pantries/ food banks and in times of need (summer). 

Activity: 

We played a game called Freerice.com. It is a game that you can play with your friends. For every question you get right, 10 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations World Food Program where they will donate it to the people in need. We played the game, answered some trivia, and donated some rice. 

Over 224 billion grains of rice have been donated since the game was made! We can make a difference by playing this free rice game, by taking actions with empathy – by putting ourselves in others’ shoes, by being grateful for what we have.

First Friend Rita shared an initiative called “Effort for Equality” being led by Chinmaya Mission Cleveland/Niagara – to level the playing field. We can donate to our local food pantry. Our goal is to reach 10,800 pounds of food donations by March 8. 

RAW:

Talk to your parents/friends/neighbors to donate food, and share your food donation numbers with First Friends Rita, Dwija and Anvita.  

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