Most of us on this mailing list are fortunate enough to have enough money to pay for an internet connection and have enough left over to purchase a turkey whenever we want one. This hasn't always been so for our families. I imagine, like my grandparents when my grandfather blew himself up with a bucket of dynamite and then again during the Depression, for many of our ancestors life was much more a day to day emergency. If my grandparents hadn't been able to make their mortgage payments on the farm, would my parents and then I have been able to go to college? If you too feel glad to have plans for Thursday, and feel lucky to have survival skills in the family, you might want to check out the newsletter quoted in part below. The last paragraph links to the web site that allows you to help directly in the Second Harvest hunger relief efforts. Milwaukee's Second Harvest also has a huge warehouse accepting produce and frozen foods as donations from individuals as well as businesses. A happy Thanksgiving, Ashley America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest hunger-relief organization, with a national network of more than 200 food banks and food-rescue programs. *** Key Findings of Landmark Study "Hunger in America 2001" debunks many commonly held myths about hunger in the U.S. The number of people we serve has increased 9% since the release of our last study in 1997. Nearly 40% of surveyed households have one or more adults currently employed. Nearly half (47%) of the people we serve live in rural or suburban communities. And more than nine million children received emergency food assistance in 2001. You can learn more about who is hungry in the U.S. at http://www.secondharvest.org/whoshungry/hunger_study_intro.html *** The Story of Hunger Hits Newspapers Nationwide After "Hunger in America 2001" was released on Capitol Hill last Wednesday, newspapers across the country have reported about the hungry Americans who depend on emergency food assistance from the America's Second Harvest network. Newspapers such as the NY Times, as well as local and regional papers, such as the San Francisco Chronicle, are telling the story of hunger in American communities. Check out the headlines and get the full story at http://www.secondharvest.org/newsroom/hunger_news.html *** Holiday Cards That Make a Difference Consider sending holiday cards that help hungry Americans. When you buy America's Second Harvest holiday cards you can send greetings that let your friends and family know that you have made a gift in their honor. For all of you last minute shoppers, we are also offering an e-card that allows you to make that last minute gift in someone's honor and still get the card to their inbox in time for the holidays. To see a sample card, place an order, or send an e-card, visit http://www.secondharvest.org/holiday --