It’s unbelievably tragic but true: 18 of our world’s children die as a consequence of hunger every minute of every hour of every day.

While this devastation is equivalent to the bombing of Hiroshima every three days, it is also true more people have died as a consequence of hunger in the past six years than have been killed in all the wars, revolutions and murders in the past 150 years.

Cynics and skeptics alike tell us “everyone knows people will always starve.” The fact of the matter is that at one time in human history everyone “knew” the world was flat, that man would never fly and that slavery was an economic necessity.

Everyone also “knew” polio and smallpox would always be with us, and that no one would ever set foot on the moon! These indeed were the circumstances…until courageous people challenged old beliefs.

NIU students in the residence halls can challenge the belief that hunger will always be with us by becoming part of Skip-A-Meal.

This one-of-a-kind program has contributed awareness and action to the issue for the past four years, prompted the praise of such people as John Denver and Valerie Harper.

Won’t you please join us in making a difference? Our 20-day petition drive began Oct. 28 and will end Nov. 16.

If you sign up, you will be agreeing to donate the raw food cost of four of your Tuesday dinners: Jan. 29, Feb. 19, March 26 and April 23. Sign up with your floor president.

The money raised from this program will then be divided with 50 percent helping out locally and 50 percent being used nationally and internationally.

Rebecca Anthony

Kimberly Graff

NIU Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness