A few days ago my child was shown a video at school about a third world country and the struggles they face to survive. I was deeply moved. It’s hard not to feel pain when you watch a 5 year old walk an hour by themselves without shoes on just to get an education that they are so excited to receive.

I think about my own children, facing the pain of hunger, the desire to learn and the bleak future that those children face. The presentation was compliments of “change for change” which encourages children to bring in change to their classroom which they then pool together to buy families in third world countries a goat or other animal. The animals are used to boost the families income and change their life. If a family is given a goat they can sell the milk and use the money to send their children to school. Then when the goat has a baby the baby is given to another family to provide the same help. That initial change keeps on giving.

It’s a great idea. How better to help others by not only giving them a fish, but also teaching them to fish. It also teaches the children compassion, charity, and that even small amounts of money do add up. I was truly inspired at the thought of helping others.

But, I couldn’t help but think why aren’t we helping others here in America that are starving and lacking an education to better their lives.

It pains me to see anyone struggling here or in another county, but I feel like we are so close to the ones here that need help, some even in our own backyards that only sending money far away is like saying we don’t care about our own.

I don’t want to appear uncaring to the needs of others that are not American and I don’t want to cut off support to Countries that need it, I just want to see those that are hungry where we live fed too.

I once did a TV appearance where I showed how you can save major money by using coupons to “buy” food. I bought around $225 worth of food and only paid $2.15 (if I remember correctly). The news crew followed me through by grocery shopping trip and then followed me to the local food bank where I donated all the food. I included the food bank trip because people always assume that coupon shoppers buy food they don’t need and waste money doing so. I was able to prove that not only did I not waste money using coupons, but that even when I didn’t need the items I was buying someone else did. As we were unloading the car full of groceries people were lined up outside the local food bank waiting for the food. There were people here that were hungry and there was a way to feed them that costs very little in time and money.

I just wish we could play a video of the people struggling here in America… lining up at the food banks and unemployment offices… and teach our children how to help them too…