Page 18 - Living Aloha Magazine January February 2017 Issue

by Krista Joan Donaldson
the Children’s Hunger Feast

The grand meal was billed to all The spread of food was immense. “Enjoy your feast!” said the
48 third and fourth grade students Students were directed to sit at teachers. The kids at the tables
as a “breakfast feast.” Parent the spots where they found the avoided eye contact with their
volunteers arrived before school symbol that correlated to the salivating peers seated on the
with food donations and to help one they drew from the hat - two ground, and bolted to the buffet.
prepare and serve a mountain areas side by side on the not- Once loaded up, they hunkered in
of delectable morning delights. super-clean floor and one area at their comfy tables exchanging
Parents had been warned the meal around the tables usually used joyous exclamations and zeroed-
would come “with a twist” but at lunch. “Eww. We have to sit on in on vigorous grinding of their
students, back to school after a the ground!?!” was the general steaming, copious food.
fulfilling Thanksgiving break, were vibe from the students trying to The kids on the ground moaned
fully prepared to gorge on all their get comfortable on the cement. and slumped and looked at their
favorite breakfast treats. Finally, children settled into their oatmeal with blatant disgust.
Students were directed to line designated places. As a healthy adult who was
up in their classroom according Students sitting at the tables were raised on oatmeal, their murmur
to one of three symbols they invited to eat what they wanted surprised me: “Is this normal?”
randomly drew from a hat. The from the buffet. Others, grouped “What is this stuff even? Gross.”
excited chit-chatting and belly- in one area on the ground, were “I think its oatmeal. Is oatmeal a
patting vibes filled the air of handed a dinner-sized plate vegetable?” It didn’t take long for
anticipation as the entire third with one scoop of plain oatmeal. a few tears to break out among
and fourth grade migrated to Students in the other section on them. “What if we don’t want
the eating area where they could the ground were given the same our breakfast? Do we have to
finally survey their blessings. serving of plain oats plus one eat it?” desperate children asked
piece of fruit. their teachers. Finally, one child

18 INSPIRATION Living Aloha | JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2017