It was Thanksgiving in 1946, and the celebration took place as far away as Germany, which was in ruins after World War II. The U.S. Women’s Army Corps, stationed in Frankfurt, hosted 30 “wide-eyed” German children for a turkey dinner. The Chicago Tribune reported that after the dinner, German kids were seen clutching oranges they were given to take home. Such food was rare indeed amid all the shortages in post-war Germany.
Thanksgiving can inspire the sharing of food with the hungry worldwide, rescuing starving children. In fact, it was Thanksgiving in 1947 that supported one of the greatest peace initiatives ever, the Marshall Plan, which rebuilt Europe from the ashes of World War II.
During Thanksgiving week in 1947, Americans donated to feed Europe via the Friendship Train, which made stops nationwide to collect food. So popular was this initiative that Americans soon realized they were going to need a bigger train.
The Hartford Courant reported, “One Friendship Train freight car wouldn’t be enough to express Hartford’s Thanksgiving help for Europe’s hungry.” Instead, at least several freight cars were needed to hold the food donations. This was a scene typical around the country, where food and cash donations soared, adding more cars to the Friendship Train.
Americans also took in “silent guests” at Thanksgiving and donated CARE food packages to feed the hungry overseas. The Silent Guest plan also provided food for the hungry at home. Catholic Relief Services also held a nationwide food drive during Thanksgiving week in 1947.
The Thanksgiving food drives were major supporters of the Marshall Plan, which began in early 1948. As George Marshall himself said, “Food is the very basis of all reconstruction.” This Thanksgiving, it’s important we remember this because many areas of the world are stuck in a vicious cycle of hunger and poverty.
America once fed a starving world. The need today is just as urgent
This year’s Thanksgiving, hunger is a crisis at home and abroad. Food prices are high in America, and food banks are overwhelmed with demand. Overseas wars have led to famine in Sudan and Gaza. Other countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, and Mali, are on the brink. The charity Mary’s Meals is raising awareness of hunger in Ethiopia. There are many nations with food shortages but yet there are not enough donations to feed the hungry.
The UN World Food Program warns “a staggering 318 million people face crisis levels of hunger or worse next year − more than double the figure recorded in 2019. However, declines in global humanitarian funding are forcing WFP to prioritize food assistance to roughly one-third of those in need.”
This Thanksgiving, we can unite in the fight against hunger by sharing food with those in need. You can donate to food banks and charities fighting hunger, including the World Food Program, UNICEF, Save the Children, Mary’s Meals, Catholic Relief Services, Edesia, Mercy Corps, Action Against Hunger, CARE, and others. You could tell your elected officials to support food aid programs. General Dwight Eisenhower did this on Thanksgiving Day in 1945, testifying before Congress, urging them to fund food aid for Europe.
We each can do something to help the hungry at Thanksgiving, and this year it is certainly urgent, given the number of emergencies and funding shortages. A combined effort can bring some relief to those suffering from hunger this Thanksgiving.
William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.” His writings have been published by the Washington Post, Newsweek, History News Network and many other news outlets.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: This Thanksgiving demands we share our table | Opinion
Reporting by William Lambers, Opinion contributor / Cincinnati Enquirer
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