Picking a way to ease hunger

Many local residents, rightly troubled by the cruel irony of hunger in this prosperous nation, give their money to alleviate that suffering. Some even give their physical toil, gathering crops so that poor people can consume fresh produce.

Such generosity was on display in the summer swelter last week as volunteers picked tomatoes at Boone Hall Plantation. As reported in this newspaper, they came up with 328 pounds — worth about $350 — for donation to Goose Creek's Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, which distributed them to low-income families and senior citizens. Church Deacon Mel Whack, after participating in the picking, told our reporter: "It's really a blessing. A lot of these older people would never get fresh vegetables."

Now, thanks to Mount Pleasant-based Fields to Families, a non-profit organization that works with area farmers, farmers' markets and folks with excess produce in home gardens, a lot of low-income Lowcountry people of all ages are getting fresh vegetables.

Jacki Baer, director of Fields to Families and a master gardener with the Charleston County Clemson Extension Service, has been a driving force in reducing the waste of leftover food crops in our area. As she put it: "It just killed me to think this produce would be turned under. There is such a need out there."

That need has been met for many this year by Fields to Families' collection of more than 20,000 pounds of fresh vegetables for worthy recipients, including soup kitchens, shelters and food pantries.

If you want to help by joining the crop-picking effort, or with cash, call 881-6798, or check the Web site at www.fieldstofamilies.org. After all, in our land of plenty, we should share nature's bounty.