Is it just me…or is this year just rocketing by?!  (Time compresses with age, you know!)  Thanksgiving is just days away…and that means Christmas, Hanukkah and the final slide into the new year aren’t far behind!  

And while I always look forward to the traditional parties, gift-giving and church services….I can’t help but focus on the food!   Seriously…. I’ve been backing off on the carbs and adding a few more sets to my swim workout for more than a week.   I want to be down a couple of pounds when I smother my pumpkin pie with so much whipped cream…it disappears!

But sadly…. while most of us will be over-indulging in the coming weeks….. an estimated 480 thousand people are in danger of going hungry across the county.   According to the San Diego Food Bank, the number of those in need is growing…but the supply of food is not meeting the demand.  In fact, today…the Food Bank has just seven weeks of food left in its supply. 

You can blame the struggling economy.  “We’re getting into more difficult months with the recession getting worse,” says Jennifer Perkins of the San Diego Food Bank. “We’re going to need to serve more and more families in San Diego.”

And while the thought of our neighbors going hungry is troubling in the short term…..when kids and families don’t get the nutrition they need….there can be serious long-term consequences.    We’ve all heard the startling statistics about diabetes.   Type 2 diabetes…the most common form of the disease is directly attributable to poor nutrition (and lack of exercise).   “Once only a concern for older adults,” according to Larissa Johnson with the Network for a Healthy California, “the problem is now epidemic among children because of diet. “ 

Johnson says the San Diego Food Bank is a critically important source of supplemental nutrition.  And don’t think the only source of that nutrition is fresh foods.   “The Food Bank provides many healthy food choices such as whole grains, beans and rice,” says Johnson. “Their inventory of frozen and canned foods are alsoa tremendous source of nutrition.”    But those supplies are dwindling.

Fortunately….. some in the community are stepping up.  Just in time for the holidays,  the San Diego Chargers are hosting a Food Drive at Qualcomm Stadium during this Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.   Anyone is welcome to bring canned goods and other non-perishable items to the stadium and drop them in the Food Bank’s red barrels.  (By the way…those barrels will be staffed should you want to donate money instead!)

The Hilton family of Hotels is kicking off it 1st International “Hunger at Home” Tasting Gala to benefit the Food Bank Friday night, Nov. 21 at the Hilton Torrey Pines.  santp-hungerathome@hilton.com  The Hilton’s Ewell Sterner and his committee have a passion for the children in our community.   “181 thousand children go hungry in San Diego County,” says Sterner.  “That’s not acceptable.”

This holiday season, the economy may be dwn…but no one should go hungry.   We all can afford to make a small donation of food or money to help feed our neighbors in need.  Join with the Chargers…the Hilton Family of Hotels and all our community partners as we work to make sure NO ONE GOES HUNGRY IN SAN DIEGO!