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Sheldon Baker With more than 25 years of marketing experience, Sheldon has developed and managed a wide range of successful corporate marketing programs. As principal and senior partner with the Baker Dillon Group (BakerDillon.com), he has created nutraceutical industry brand development and marketing campaigns that have brought measurable results for clients and generated millions of dollars in revenues. He was the first to successfully introduce in the natural products industry, celebrity brand endorsement and nationwide consumer media exposure for a new ingredient. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Columbia College in Chicago, the premier marketing and arts educational institution in the United States and is past president of the Consultants Association (CANI-consultants.org). Sheldon can be contacted at sbaker@bakerdillon.com

The Hunger Battle is Always in Season

December 19, 2011 By Sheldon Baker Comments

Posted in Blog, Philanthropy

It’s always the Christmas season that draws the most public support for charities that address the issue of hunger. But the need is more pervasive than probably most people realize.

On the CBS-TV Evening News on Dec. 14, viewers watched a report about Slab City, located in a desolate part of Southern California, where people are without jobs, living in trailers and tents, have little food, and no running water or electricity. A recent Gallup poll found nearly one in five working Americans worried they wouldn’t be able to feed themselves or their families. The rate is three times higher than among workers in China.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found one in four Americans depends on federal food-assistance programs. Feeding America reports to serve 37 million people each year, a 46-percent increase from five years ago. This does not include many charities such as church-run food banks and soup kitchens that are not included in Feeding America’s count.

Assistance to food banks can come in many forms. Donating food or money. Volunteering at a local food bank. Expressing your concerns and opinions to your elected representatives. Or simply raising awareness of the issue to people in your own neighborhood. Last year, I was involved in a project that baked and donated 25 cakes to a local food kitchen.

If you’re reading this item, chances are food isn’t an issue. But for many, including your neighbor, a fellow parishioner, or the homeless guy with a sign standing in the roadway median, we have a problem.

So brother, if you can spare a dime, or a buck, a bag of food, or can bake and donate some cakes, there’s an action you can take somewhere in your community.

Here’s to a wonderful holiday season to you and your family.