How often do we hear “I’m starving!” as soon as the kiddos reach the car each afternoon?  I’m looking at our food budget and wondering what it’s like for my friends who have teenagers to feed.  We do our best to explain the ‘talk to your tummy’ method of gauging hunger but it seems our Littles tummies are always talking and saying (what else) “I’m starving!”

So we tried a new tactic. Last week we took our brood to the Oxfam Hunger Banquet hosted by the Vineyard Committee on Hunger at  MVRHS.   I had never attended one of these events but I’m all about a ‘teachable moment’ and the VCOH is such an amazing group.

The Hunger Banquet was free of charge though a donation was very appreciated.   As we entered the high school cafeteria, we chose our lot in life by sticking our hand in a fishbowl full of short biographies.  For the evening I became a 50 year old Cambodian man who must move to avoid the civil unrest in my country.  The piece of land upon which I am currently living is surrounded by landmines therefore I cannot work the land for food.   Needless to say my lot is one of the 60% of the world.  Thankfully our whole family drew the lot of third world  (otherwise where is the lesson?).

As we huddled on the floor, we introduced ourselves to others as also hungry and without a lot of options.  Some of our new friends had a dairy cow or llamas who gave them food and a small income.  These people were not interested in joining the revolution my husband was trying to begin for fear of losing their few resources.

The middle-income folks represented just 25% of the worlds population, earning between $900-11,000 a year.  They live on the brink between eating and starving every day but we looked to them as our inspiration.  These people sat at tables and had a small portion of protein with their meal.

Let’s talk about the lucky 15% who sat at lovely clean tables with white linens and flowers atop.  The menu was sumptuous:  fresh baby greens with blue cheese and pinenuts, sushi from the Net Result, chicken piccata, rice pilaf, fresh veggies, bread and butter and sparkling cider.  Let’s not forget the chocolate mousse cake from LeGrenier for dessert!

Back to the huddle masses:  our meal consisted of 1/2 cup rice and 1/2 cup ‘questionable’ water.  The women and girls were served last, and yes, if they ran out, oh well.  Our water was questionable, as promised; run though the black bean cans of the middle income to look dirty.  The generous industrialized countries handed down bread and butter to pockets of the hungry which we divided and handed around to one another.

It occured to me a better mother would have given her portion to her children.  I confess the thought didn’t occur to me until after I licked the eco-friendly bowl clean and drank everyone’s water.  Here’s another confession: out of guilt (and fear of someone calling child services) we distributed emergency relief upon our return home.

In all an amazing evening!  We had Momma’s teaching evening,  met a few new friends and I’m pretty confident I won’t hear ‘I’m starving!’ for at least another week.