So often, people take the food available to them for granted.

I am guilty of this too.

All I have to do is drive to the store and pick out what things I want to eat and put a little plastic card into a computerized checkout machine, and then I get to eat.

But many people cannot drive to the store to get their food.

Some people have to use public transportation to get to a store, or others may have to walk. Others yet have to buy small proportions at a time because they live paycheck-to-paycheck, and some have to rely on food kitchens and the like to get any food.

November marks the beginning of EIU Hunger Action Month, which the Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteerism is putting on.

With the start of the month should come the thought to all of our minds of how to help those who do not have a constant food supply get one.

Like I said, I have not always thought about how I can help others who are in need, but I need to do that more, and so should everyone.

One of the most common things everyone says about life is that everyone is entitled to equal rights, food, shelter and the list goes on.

But what about the millions of people in the U.S. who do not know where their next meal will come from?

I know that is a cliche question thrown around, but it is true.

A lot of us can plan for our meals tonight or this week or even for some days next week.

That is why hunger action month is something we all need to participate in.

Trying to understand the struggle of not being able to constantly have food available is impossible for most of us.

We are all told to help our neighbors and help those in need, but most of us do not do this, much less think of doing it.

November is the perfect month to make that change and help others who need it.

Donating food is a great thing to do, and helping out at food kitchens is great, too.

November is the month with what is arguably the most food-centered holiday of them all: Thanksgiving.

The lore of Thanksgiving is about dinner, and the type of dinner we eat on Thanksgiving is such a conversation piece: Ham or turkey, corn or mashed potatoes?

But we should not forget about those who do not think about what they will eat on just Thanksgiving, but also the other 364 days in the year.

Dillan Schorfheide is a senior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-2812 or at dtschorfheide@eiu.edu.