If you are reading this on a full stomach after having a nice breakfast, perhaps not too big, though, after a big meal the evening before; and knowing there is food in your cabinets and refrigerator — maybe even a second fridge or freezer in the garage — you are one of the lucky ones. You are one of the people who has to think about what it means to be food insecure.

Too many of your fellow local residents already know.

According to a report by the Appalachian Regional Commission, our region as a whole had an estimated 3.4 million food insecure residents (13% of the population) back in 2020. Central Appalachia, the region that begins at the southern border of Cabell County in West Virginia and the Ohio/Kentucky border for government purposes, has the highest rate in Appalachia at 17.5% — with child food insecurity at 21.2%. More than one-fifth of the children there can’t take for granted that they will be well-fed each day.

Here in North Central Appalachia, 13.4% of the population is food insecure. West Virginia has 13% food insecurity, Appalachian Ohio has 15%.

All those numbers, by the way, came before changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and a core year-over-year inflation rate in July of 3.1%. (Food inflation during that same period was 2.9%, while rent inflation was 3.7% and services inflation was 3.8%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Even with help, families who have to spend money on everything else they need to survive have less to spend on food.

But that was a lot of numbers, wasn’t it?

This isn’t about numbers. It’s about people — of all ages.

Children trying to learn in school have a harder time doing so if they are hungry — maybe even worried about whether they can sneak an extra weekend food bag home for other family members. Seniors, some of whom may be homebound, on a fixed income, and without a large support network, might have to make difficult choices about whether to eat or take the prescribed dose of medicine.

Don’t let me ruin your breakfast, though; or make you think twice before you have that second hot dog at the cookout you’re going to later. You can do something about this.

Hunger relief organizations across our region are doing all they can to fight the problem, and you can help them. Maybe you know about the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund in Athens County because you heard his Heisman acceptance speech or have seen it mentioned a time or two during NFL coverage.

They may not have a nationally known star quarterback speaking on their behalf, but there are groups doing the same thing in Washington and Wood counties, too.

Here at the newspapers, we work with a couple of them each fall to organize food drives, hoping to make a difference for Mid-Ohio Valley families.

First up this year will be the Roy Trembly Annual Fall Food Drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 at Walmart in Marietta. Walmart has been gracious enough to partner with The Marietta Times and the Marine Corps Veterans Association to help support the Gospel Mission Food Pantry in Marietta.

That one will also feature VetCenter mental health services, VA Healthcare enrollment opportunities, a free VA flu shot for all veterans and more.

Then, the annual Chick Crites Food Drive will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel parking lot. Donations for that event will benefit the Old Man Rivers and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 32 food pantries.

Bring us nonperishable, shelf-stable foods; other household necessities and toiletries; maybe even pet food (think about the decisions you would have to make if you had enough money to feed yourself, but not your beloved pets). Bring us money. Think about whether you’ve brought lots of boxes of cereal, but no shelf-stable milk. Think about coffee, spices, sugar … the kinds of things you might not even think about in your well-stocked kitchen but would feel like luxury items to someone else.

You’ve got time to plan for these two events, but, if you are able, don’t make these the only two opportunities to help. Fighting food insecurity isn’t just about filling bellies. It’s about setting us up — our whole region — for a brighter future because kids were able to concentrate at school, families felt supported, seniors faced less of a struggle and we all feel a little more like the kinds of people looking for ways to offer a hand up.

Don’t miss the chance.