It is a sad thought — school children going hungry over the Christmas break. Painful though it may be to contemplate, the truth is that many local kids won't have enough to eat over the holidays simply because school is no longer in session.
Without cafeterias providing them with breakfast and lunch, these children will very likely experience the one thing that no American should ever have to confront: not having enough food.
We were glad to see the community do what it can to answer this problem by participating in the annual Peanut Butter and Crackers drive, which concluded Wednesday by collecting boxes of saltines and jars of peanut butter for local school-age children. The drive raised more than 250 items which were delivered to a local insurance agency and dropped off at the food pantry for distribution.
It's good to know that so many people remembered those less fortunate and did something about it, though we are hardly surprised. Magnolia residents obviously have a heart for giving, whether it is through CCAPS or the Magnolia Junior Charity League or the United Way — there is a wealth of generosity here that always takes into account those in need of a hand.
We commend any organization or individual who makes charitable giving part of their holiday tradition, but we also encourage those same organizations and individuals to continue giving throughout the year. Needs don’t disappear in May or July; hunger and homelessness are a reality for far too many people year-round. We can, and should, make ourselves feel better (and other people happier) by giving as much as we can during the Christmas season, but any child who spends so much as a weekend hungry is a problem in need of our attention.
Christmas is a time of giving, and charities, of course, deserve any contributions they receive, especially while we are in the mood to give. But don't forget that societal ills trouble us 12 months out of the year, not simply one. If you have given, please continue to do so — it’s the spirit that benefits us all.