Food is something that lots of us take for granted. We have it so easily that we don’t worry about it. We might complain about the prices, about the quality, but worrying about how to get food for the next meal is not the reality for most people reading this post. But it is the reality for millions of people in our world today.

Famine

According to the latest Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistics, there are 925 million hungry people in the world and 98 percent of them are in developing countries. Almost 1 billion people!

In the Horn of Africa alone, a region that is experiencing the worst drought of the last 60 years, 13 million people are in desperate need for food. Thirty thousand children died in the first 3 months of the drought. It is beyond tragic.

The good news is that you can make a difference in those people’s lives. Let me say it again: YOU can make a difference. And it’s easier than you might think.

For example, if you can spare two minutes of your time, access One Campaign site and sign this petition. That will help One Campaign make sure the world leaders keep their commitment in the fight against famine.

You can also sign this petition from EndingHunger.org with the same objective: convince the world leaders to take action.

For as little as US$38,00 a month you can change a child’s life and future. Or you can give a one time gift for even less. At the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), one dollar can feed 4 children for a day. Only one dollar!

You can also browse the web and search for organizations that are fighting famine and poverty all over the world.

If you have no idea where to start, you can check the following web sites:

Don’t limit yourself to this list. Check your local community and the web for an organization that you identify with, that you can trust.

Maybe you don’t have time or money to give, but you have your influence. Spread the word. If you can’t help directly, you may know someone that can. Let everyone know!

Helping those in need is so important that Jesus made it clear of what he expects from us:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40)

If you want to take action, if you want to make a difference, join me now in this prayer:

Lord Almighty, I thank You that food is not my primary concern now. That You have provided for all my needs.

So I ask You to use me to provide for other people’s needs. Show me what You want me to do and how to do it.

What You’ve given me, be it money, time, talents, I offer them as tools that You can use to help those in need.

I want to make a difference. So help me do it.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Remember, YOU can make a difference. Let God speak to your heart and show you how you can take action. And do it.

This post is my contribution to Blog Action Day 2011, an annual event that unites the world’s bloggers with the goal of sparking discussion and collective action. This year, it takes place on World Food Day, October 16, and centers around the topic of food.