First the grub, then morality

A lawyer’s proper job is to help his client obtain justice. Nothing else. Nothing less. But “justice” is an elusive, philosophical concept. Justice for one can not be achieved without a just society. A just society can not be achieved where the most basics needs are not met: food, clothing, shelter, education, and medical care. First comes food.

For without adequate food, clothing will not keep us warm. Without food, shelter will not protect us. Without food, we can not learn. Without food, no medicine will save us. Without food, we descend to the animal – fighting over scraps to stay alive. Theft. Prostitution. We become desperate. Drug abuse. Depression. We become too weak and too ill to learn or to work. Children’s growth and education are stunted. The cycle continues.

So how do we break the cycle? Easy: donate to our local food bank. Last year, food banks helped provide nourishment to 900,000 Canadians. That’s one in 35 people needing food assistance. Every one was vetted to ensure they were not cheating the system. About 40% of those getting food aid are children. Every dollar donated to a food bank buys close to three times the amount which we personally could buy with the same dollar – through bulk buying and matching grants.  Money doesn’t spoil.  It’s easy to store.  So donate money, not food.

How much and how to donate? Easy: one hour’s wage per month. Put it on a credit card as an automatic monthly charge. You’ll get points :). You’ll be doing good. And, you’ll be helping achieve justice for all. Justice for all, means justice for you.

Click here to find your local food bank
Or call me: (604) 635-1330. I will find the food bank closest to you.

Hunger
I come among the peoples like a shadow.
I sit down by each man’s side.
None sees me, but they look on one another,
And know that I am there.
My silence is like the silence of the tide
That buries the playground of children;
Like the deepening of frost in the slow night,
When birds are dead in the morning.
Armies trample, invade, destroy,
With guns roaring from earth and air.
I am more terrible than armies,
I am more feared than the cannon.
Kings and chancellors give commands;
I give no command to any;
But I am listened to more than kings
And more than passionate orators.
I unswear words, and undo deeds.
Naked things know me.
I am first and last to be felt of the living.
I am Hunger

Laurence Binyon