On 9/11, honor those lost by helping to save lives of those less fortunate
You never forget 9/11 and where you were the day terrorists attacked America and killed nearly 3,000 people in 2001. Everyone was shocked.
Even for those of us who were not in New York, Pennsylvania or DC on 9/11, it still weighs heavily on our minds each anniversary. Giving is a helpful theme that everyone could carry on each 9/11 anniversary. We can't undo the tragic events of that day, but we can help others by giving, and we can help save many lives in the process.
Charitable giving can help us all continue the process of healing from 9/11. I remember what former president Herbert Hoover said in 1946 when addressing the nation after World War II. Hoover was serving as a food ambassador for President Harry Truman, and trying and prevent famine from engulfing much of the globe. Speaking about the need to save those starving from post-war famine, Hoover said: “If every source of supplies will do its utmost, we can pull the world through this most dangerous crisis. The saving of these human lives is far more than an economic necessity to the recovery of the world. It is more than the only path to order, to stability and to peace. Such action marks the return of the lamp of compassion to the earth. And that is a part of the moral and spiritual reconstruction of the world.”
We had just seen the worst brutality in world history during the war, and many lives were lost. We had to counter such evil with good. After the war we had a chance to save those who might starve to death amid the ruins, and Hoover encouraged Americans to take action to save lives from famine.
America responded with the greatest outpouring of generosity the world had ever seen. Hundreds of millions of people in Europe and Asia were saved from starvation from the post war food shortages.
This Sept. 11, we are witnessing the world's biggest hunger emergency since Hoover made his speech after World War II. In Somalia, millions are starving to death because of repeated drought. The UN is close to declaring famine. Likewise in Afghanistan, drought has put millions more on the verge of starvation.
In civil war-torn Yemen, children are suffering severe malnutrition after years of civil war. These and so many other countries need food so lives can be saved. The UN World Food Program says “the number of those facing acute food insecurity has soared - from 135 million to 345 million - since 2019. A total of 50 million people in 45 countries are teetering on the edge of famine." Funding right now is so low that many relief missions are being forced to suspend or scale back programs because there is not enough supply. Yet, food aid is needed more than ever. Donations are urgently needed.
The severe flooding in Pakistan has added to the hunger crisis, destroying large amounts of agriculture and livestock.The war in Ukraine, with Russia’s brutal invasion, has worsened all these hunger emergencies. In a world where there is so much suffering from conflict and climate change, we need to be humanitarians and peacemakers. You can help by donating to charities like the World Food Program, Save the Children, CARE, Mercy Corps, Catholic Relief Services and so many others.
We can save many lives on 9/11 just by giving. But also we can each set an example for peace. For only a world at peace with charity can we eliminate terrorism and other evils. The lamp of compassion must shine bright.
William Lambers is the author of the Road to Peace. He also partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book Ending World Hunger.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Giving to hunger programs is one way to honor lives lost on 9-11
