I remember being in a village called Toma. We where handing out grain in this village. It was very hot that day and the team worked really hard. After the distribution was finished the local pastor invited us into the church and gave us cold cokes to drink. These were the best cokes I have ever tasted. I was told later that those cold cokes that the church bought for us would equal about a months worth of salary for most of the people in that village.
As we sat and enjoyed our cold drinks I began to feel overwhelmed by their kindness and sacrifice. After we where done we packed up and left the church, as we where leaving I noticed that there were people on their hands and knees picking up individual kernels of corn to try and fill a bowl with. These where people that had so little that they were picking up what others had dropped so they could eat. I looked over to my right and a saw a boy picking up some of the corn on the ground and I knew at that moment just how serious the problem of hunger really is.
The understanding of that no matter how much food we handed out that day it would be gone soon. There has to be a lasting solution there has to be something we could invest into that not only produces food for people but also allows people to work for themselves in a way that gives them dignity. I will never forget the feeling of absolute helplessness as we drove away while people where still picking up grain from the ground.
I believe the village of Toma has had a lot to do with me deciding to spend my self on behalf of the poor. What are you spending your self on? If you’re interested in contributing to the relief efforts of GOH in villages like Toma, use the form below to donate grain. For other ways to get involved, check out our Get Involved Page.
– Chris Coakley, Executive Director GOH
