Now that I am so keenly tuned in to all things Social Age related, I am stunned by the amazing things that people are doing on a daily basis to show that humankind is beginning to show its softer, gentler self.

This week in Oregon is Hunger Awareness Week. Inspired by a similar initiative in Philadelphia last year, Oregonians are being asked to live on the stamp food equivalent of $3 per day or $21 per person, per week — the amount the state’s average food stamp recipient has to spend weekly on groceries.

When I heard this, I was amazed. I know people who spend more than $21 a week at Starbucks alone! (not me! — I don’t like coffee). I can’t imagine what it would be like to live on $3 a day.

Oregonians signed up for the challenge, including Governor Ted Kulongoski.

According to USA Today, Kulongoski, accompanied to do his shopping for the week by reporters and food stamp recipient Christina Sigman-Davenport, headed straight for the organic bananas in the produce aisle, only to have Sigman-Davenport steer him toward the cheaper non-organic variety. The report continues that the governor “pined wistfully for canned Progresso soups, but at $1.53 apiece, they would have blown the budget. He settled instead for three packages of Cup O’Noodles for 33 cents apiece”.

The Food Stamp Challenge in Oregon, and its predecessor in Philly, is focused on raising awareness about hunger and the good and the bad about The Food Stamps program.

Food Stamps have long been a delicate issue, but one traditionally reserved for those involved in anti-poverty and anti-hunger movements. According to the Catholic Standard and Times, the US government currently gives out $31 billion in Food Stamps every year, but the 3% increase annually is not keeping pace with the rising cost of food. With recent Bush administration proposals for cuts in the program, there has been a groundswell of support to help those who cannot afford to eat. And these people aren’t necessarily the usual suspects. For instance, the governor’s shopping companion Sigman-Davenport is a mother of three who works for the Oregon Department of Human Services. Her family went on food stamps this past fall after her husband lost his job.

How is it possible that in a country of such plenty, there is also such scarcity? Well I’m not here to be a commentator on social justice in our country. What I will do, though, is observe the societal trend toward interconnectedness, concern and desire to help — even if it means giving up some personal comforts (including organic bananas) for a while.

The Social Age is about not standing still waiting for the world to change, but changing the world through our own thoughts, deeds and actions. Governor Kulongoski’s involvement brings state and nationwide exposure to the true difficulties of getting by as part of the “have nots” in this country. For the working poor in particular, who aren’t eligible for additional types of government aid, the small safety net provided by Food Stamps might be actually causing more harm than good. A Food Stamp diet is traditionally full of low-cost, highly processed, high carb foods because these stretch the dollar the farthest. With this poor diet, comes poor health, obesity and ultimately, higher medical costs for all of us. So wouldn’t it make social AND economic sense to increase the Food Stamp allocation so as to receive the long-term cost savings?

Anyway, I pontificate on socio-economics and I am woefully under-qualified to do so. My only point is that I think it is phenomenal that legions of people are taking on The Food Stamp Challenge, to show their interest, to show that they empathize and to show that they want to help their fellow countrymen and women.