By Tahlia Cummings

One of the hardships in the world that always pains me is seeing people go hungry. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 795 million people across the globe suffered from chronic undernourishment between 2014-2016¹. And with approximately 1.3 billion tons of food lost or wasted² each year, it hurts my heart to know that millions of people go without consistent and nutritious food.

To help make a difference, I made a commitment to reduce my wastefulness and help those in need more frequently. Since December 2016, I have spent one weekend a month cooking extra food during my weekly meal preparation. Adding extra amounts of ingredients rarely impacts my budget, but makes an enormous difference to someone receiving a hot meal that day. Once finished, I package up meals and deliver them to my neighbors – particularly those who have large families, are supporting an elderly family member, or have lost a job.

As we move into the holiday season, I encourage you to share the delicious meals you prepare. Make a basket for a relative in need, bring leftovers to share with co-workers, sponsor a holiday meal for a local family, or even invite your neighbors over to join you for supper.