Food insecurity: the concept of not knowing where ones next meal will come from. Before this trip, I envisioned a food insecure person as a poor, skinny child living in a third world country. Working with Harvest of Hope has taught me otherwise. There are millions of people in this country. A large portion of these people are battling hunger; people just like you and I. Many have jobs, a spouse, and a steady income. However, that’s not always enough. This is really what hit me about hunger in America. Normal, everyday citizens who one day can support themselves and their families but the next week can’t seem to make it work. Being in Little Rock, getting my hands dirty picking food, and educating myself on hunger has opened my eyes on both how fortunate I am and how unfortunate others are. Knowing that I’m making a difference in a life that’s not so fortunate is a reward in itself, whether it’s my neighbor, my friend, or just a stranger in need.

~Brittney Collins Grace Episcopal Church, Traverse City