SPECTRUM: Remember this father’s words: ‘You can’t teach a hungry child’

I don’t want to say anything about my age, but I was reading an article in AARP magazine that someone dropped at my house (I am blaming the Post Office) but it was a very striking statement buried in the article under “Your Life Father’s Day.”

It was titled “His voice has faded, but my father’s words live on.”

Written by Charles P. Pierce about his father, John Patrick Pierce who worked as a teacher.

The article talks about how he cannot remember his father’s voice and how it sounded, but his words continue to live. J.P. Pierce worked for 35 years in a so-called “inner city” high school. The students were poor working class minorities for the most part.

So, I will get to the part that struck home. It is something I have said many times when talking to potential donors, civic groups and anywhere someone will listen. Mr. Pierce was quoted by his son as saying, “You can’t teach a hungry child. It is not possible.” Let that sink in.

In many conversations, I have said something similar and I am not a teacher, but think about it. Little Johnnie is hungry and sees Susie’s apple on her desk at math class. All he can think about is how he can get that apple or get her to share it. How much math do you think he is learning? Now he is behind a lesson, maybe two or three. The downward spiral has begun. Form this small thing, being hungry, could lead to a life of crime and drugs because he cannot get a good job to support himself or a family in the future. I know this is an extreme example, but how many lives are affected from this one thing?

I remember my father telling about his experiences growing up on the farm. The men and farm hands ate first, because without their work there would be no food. Until dad was old enough to be considered a “hand” he didn’t get the “sweet” milk, all he got was the buttermilk. I’m not a big fan of buttermilk, but if that was all I had I would be glad of it!

Here in the land of plenty, it sometimes is not acknowledged that we, as the most prosperous, strong and healthy nation in the world, have children who go to bed hungry every night. Even if you don’t see eye to eye with your father or mother, we as a nation should hang our heads in shame because people go hungry.

“So what can I do?” you say. Well you start small. Your own neighborhood, then your city, borough, the state, nation and eventually the world. We can’t be overwhelmed with the idea of a drop in the bucket will not matter. If there are enough drops in the bucket, the bucket will at some point run over.

A little can go a long way. Please donate what you can to your favorite charity (hopefully ours) but whatever is given, is greatly appreciated and can make a difference in someone’s life that you may not ever know the effects that drop caused.

It’s tough in these financial times, but remember Mr. Pierce’s words even if we can’t hear him, “You can’t teach a hungry child.” Please share what you can.

Thanks for reading.

Eddie Ezelle is the Executive Director of the MatSu Food Bank.