DECATUR — The Food Pantry in Decatur has recently been experiencing a low flow of funds to purchase food items and we are in need of funds to maintain this worthwhile program for the people of the 72722 zip code.

Food is purchased for 18 cents per pound at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. The average cost per trip to get the food is $250. Our monthly average is $1,000.

The pantry has over 110 families signed up to receive the food supplement we are able to provide them. Most have little to no income or are already living on assistance such as Social Security, disability or food stamps.

As we all know, jobs are hard to come by in this day and time and that means hungry people. If you don't know what it is like to be hungry, just try one day of no food. Yes, your belly will hurt.You will feel weak and, most of all, you will get scared wondering where your next meal will come from.

If you have ever seen a child going hungry, then you can see the pain and fear in their eyes. Walk in their shoes for one day and see how you feel then.

Stop and think if you have ever been hungry. Think how you felt and see if you would have liked to have a place you could go to in your community to get food to help in those hard times. In today’s world there are a lot of hungry people out there.

We as the Christians In Action group are felt led to do what we can to help our fellow citizens in the 72722 zip code to eat good, healthy food. We do pray that those who don't need the pantry anymore will let those who do be given food.

The Pantry is there to give a helping hand up, not out. If we can help get peopleover that bad time, that is all the blessings and thanks we need.

What we need from the people in the community is to help by dropping their spare change in the buckets we have out in the businesses in Decatur, such as the bank, cafe, beauty shop, general store and others. If you see one of the buckets -they look like paint buckets - drop in your change.

Remember 18 cents buys one pound of food. That can help feed some kids or the elderly. If you want to donate directly to the pantry, send it to the Decatur Methodist Church, Decatur, AR 72722. Checks should be made out to CIA (Christians In Action).

Thank you and God bless you. Remember, this is an ongoing program until the day people are not hungry any more or people stop helping. Dave Cook Decatur

Opinion, Pages 5 on 06/09/2010