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Editorial: Let's help ensure no one goes hungry At the most basic level, people in our community should not be hungry. They really shouldn't be hungry anywhere. Food is a fundamental need, and the responsibility of making sure everyone has enough to eat is something that, as humans, we all share. This holds true even more so in a city of such culture, fine cuisine, affluent lifestyles and general quality of life - it's especially incumbent upon us to feed our residents. The Ashland Emergency Food Bank is not a savior to people. It can't take the downtrodden and set them on the road to a better life. It doesn't get people off of drugs, or help them turn from a life of crime. It doesn't find needed housing for a family living in its station wagon. It simply provides, once a month, basic groceries to anyone from Ashland and Talent who wants them. We think that's good enough. It's more than most of us do. With little doubt, it's a welcome respite from hunger pains and troubles to many people each month. More than 5,000 have filled grocery sacks from the food bank's shelves. "Because no one should go hungry," President Joan Dean's card says. One essential problem remains: Those shelves resemble Old Mother Hubbard's. Three storage units that usually store food in reserve are almost empty. The food bank is using cash donations to buy food to bridge the gap until the bank's September food drive helps restock the shelves. As a community, we can do better. Those shelves should not ever be empty. Many of us will do our part during the September food drive. But many more may wish to do a little extra all year long. Add one shopping bag a month to your grocery list, and donate it to the food bank. Then, an abundance of food will line the shelves, and more people will find the simple respite from troubling times by being able to make a decent dinner. Because, we agree, no one should go hungry. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -