How do you solve hunger? Start with one.

If you can't relate to Terry Pittman's struggle, which is chronicled in the cover story of today's Tribune, take a moment to step into her shoes.

How would it feel to look into a nearly bare kitchen cupboard and realize there's not enough food to feed your family for the rest of the week?

How would it feel to swallow your pride and ask the government or a church for money because you can't afford all of the groceries you need?

How would it feel to hear a child cry because she's hungry?

More than 13 million American households are in Pittman's situation. None of them has enough money to put healthy meals on the table every meal, every day.

The problem goes beyond annoying hunger pangs. Poor nutrition is linked to a number of long-term health problems, including heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers.

In children, poor nutrition also is linked to delays in brain development, poor attention span and poor academic achievement.

It is an enormous problem, and the situation almost seems overwhelming. So where do you begin to feed more than 13 million families?

You begin with one family.

This holiday season, each of us can make a difference in the lives of someone in our community without spending an extra dime.

If you have someone on your holiday gift list who is hard to buy for or just seems to have everything already, consider making a donation to the Weld Food Bank in that person's name.

Any donation of $10 or more can be donated in honor of someone else this month. The food bank will send that person a greeting card with a message that says a donation has been made in that person's name.

In the 2004-05 fiscal year, the Weld Food Bank served about 40,000 low-income people in our community, and more than 5.6 million pounds of food were distributed.

And for every dollar donated, the food bank was able to distribute $17 worth of food.

So a donation of any amount would truly be the gift that keeps on giving.

DONATION CARDS

To make a donation to the Weld Food Bank as a gift to someone on your gift list, contact Melisa Esposti at 356-2199, Ext. 304, or e-mail her at melisa@weldfoodbank.org.

For more information about the food bank or to donate online or apply to be a volunteer, go to www.weldfoodbank.org.

FOR HELP

If you or someone you know can't seem to make ends meet and can't afford the necessary food to live a healthy life, contact one of these agencies for help:

* UNITEDWAY211, dial 211 from anywhere in Weld County. This line is a one-stop resource that connects people with the services they need, both governmental and organizational resources. Many of the Weld County churches that provide food boxes are included in the 211 database as well.

* WELDFOODBANK, 356-2199. The mission of the Weld Food Bank is to help alleviate hunger and reduce food waste by providing an efficient centralized system for collecting, storing and distributing food with community cooperation.

* SHARECOLORADO, (800) 933-7427. This statewide program is a food and community network open to anyone. It offers several food packages for about half the retail cost. Food is distributed monthly from sites throughout Weld.

* MEALS ON WHEELS, 353-9738. This agency helps anyone in need of hot, home delivered meals.