Louisiana Voice

About this time last year, when Joe Burrow became the second LSU player to win the Heisman Trophy, he gave an emotional acceptance speech during which he took the time to call attention to the needs of the more unfortunate among us, particularly those in his hometown of Athens, Ohio.

Americans responded to his appeal and contributions as nearly half-a-million dollars in donations poured into food banks in Athens and across the country.

And that was before anyone ever heard of a coronavirus pandemic. It was before people began losing their jobs because of the pandemic shutdown. It was before eviction notices started going out to those who couldn’t make rent or mortgage payments because of the massive layoffs, before parents started going hungry so their kids could eat.

Today, the need is far greater.

People are hurting. Congress, typically, is dragging its feet, unable to put together a stimulus package even though it for damn sure was able to get up off its collective backside long enough to push through a Supreme Court nominee.

But enough about the politics of a suffering nation. I want to talk about something far more important than some politician who couldn’t care less about the plight of average Americans unless they contribute to a reelection campaign.

I was in Rouses Market on Juban Road in Denham Springs earlier this week. Near the checkout I noticed stacks of filled paper bags. I walked over and saw that they were bags for the Food Bank. I picked one up and found it to be quite heavy. What the heck, I thought, I can afford a bag of food for someone. Judging by its weight, I figured it would be $10 or $15.

It was $5. Five bucks. I went back and got a second bag.

When I held my last fundraiser for LouisianaVoice, I made it a point to ask for contributions only from those who could afford it. Unlike certain televangelists, I would never ask anyone to take out a loan in order to support my plea for donations.

Now, I’m asking again – but not for me. I’m asking those of you who, like me, are fortunate enough to have not had your income stream interrupted, those who can afford it, to do it for your neighbor, for your relative, and yes, for a stranger you’ve never met and probably never will. And do it for yourself. Someone once said give ’til it hurts. I say give ’til it feels good.

And don’t do it just at Christmas. Every time you go to the store, pick up one of those bags and drop it in your cart. It’s five bucks, folks. Five bucks. You spend more than that on snacks or beer or a cute decoration. But people are hungry.

Put that snack back on the shelf. Forget that televangelist. Forget Donald Trump’s con game. Do something that actually helps the less fortunate among us. Purchase a food bag or make a donation directly to the Food Bank.

It’s five bucks.