Lend a Helping Hand

The success of OCS’s end-of-year Charity Marketplace highlights a truth: one person, no matter how small, can make a difference in the world. This year’s marketplace raised over $4,750 to help local charities including the Pasadena Humane Society, Danny’s Farm, Habitat for Humanity, and Union Station. Our childrens’ efforts brought us an exceptionally enthusiastic and fun-filled day and, by any measure, brought pride to the community we all live in.

But our helping hands, and those of our children, can extend far beyond the school’s borders. Consider this: In the developing world, investing in agriculture is twice as effective in reducing poverty as other forms of investment. Right now 963 million people worldwide face hunger every day, and many of those hungry live in countries where agriculture is the predominant employer. It is also far more likely for poor children to be underfed than adults since their caloric needs for healthy growth are often underestimated.

At the recent G8 meeting in Italy, the U.S. has affirmed its commitment to increase agricultural investment, especially in Africa, as an anti-poverty measure. This is great news for poor farmers and their families, who too often have relied on food sent from the United States and other western countries to help address their hunger. Instead, they’ll now receive tools, seed, fertilizer, money for infrastructure and irrigation, technology and training to improve their own farms and feed themselves.

In our small way, one by one, we can help. To find out more about what you and your family can do, check out ONE at www.one.org/us/actnow