Disclaimer:  For those of you who follow my blog, you know I stepped down from my soap box when I hung up my Pet Peeve Tuesday paws.  However, this topic is very important, so, please bare with me one more time.

We went to the big, blue warehouse store over the weekend to pick-up a box of diapers, a pizza (for dinner), and some drinks.

We've always had a card for this place, but I actually haven't been there very much lately.  Mainly because it's not a quick trip and I hate having to take both kids with me.

As a working mom of two little kids, I generally have the same routine.  Get up, shuffle the kids off to daycare, go to work.  Then leave work, pick up kids from daycare, run and errand or two, take kids home.  Make dinner, begin nightly rituals, put kids to bed, blog, IM, and Twitter until I go to bed.  (If you're wondering where the cleaning and housekeeping is in all this, you're not alone; I wonder too)!

Weekends are very similar except that instead of going to daycare and work I like to do family activities like going to the park, visiting family and friends or going to a museum/festival etc.  I must confess, Saturdays mornings are usually spent cleaning and doing laundry (much to my chagrin).

So, I don't spend a lot of time shopping.  Ok, actually, I don't spend any time shopping.  Except for the grocery store, I probably actually go "shopping," never, really.  It's just not an activity I enjoy doing with two small kids.

Anyway, when we walked into the warehouse place, I had a mission.  Go straight to where the items are that we needed and get out!  However, Hubby was with us and even though he won't admit it, he likes to window shop.  So, while I'm hustling, Hubby sees the isle with the cool snow gear (snowboards and skis).  Next thing you know, we're in this isle looking at the super huge treadmill and the other items around it.

And then.  There it was.  It was a mini scooter.  F-o-r  k-i-d-s.  I think it even said it was for kids.  It was the cutest thing you've ever seen.  It was purple, small, and brand spankin'-new! 

As BG ran over to get on the scooter, spurred on by Hubby, I was suddenly struck by the superfluence of it all!

The warehouse place sells practical items in mass quantities, yes.  But it also sells large ticket items that are NOT practical.  You've been there, haven't you?  You've seen the 4 foot moon bounce that is hanging from the ceiling that you and I can buy for our backyards?  You've seen the ridiculously big ticket fill-in-what-you've-seen-here item.

Are any of these things necessary?!  In particular in today's economy? 

There are people in the world who are starving!  And I don't mean the children in Ethiopia that our parents taunted us with... I mean children in our own neighborhoods (yes, yours too!) who can't afford to buy lunch at school on a daily basis.  Whose parents work 3-4 jobs just to make ends meet.

My friend's daughter goes to school with a girl who cannot afford to buy lunch.  My friend packs two lunches for her daughter to take to school.  This may very well be the only meal this girl gets all day.

Hunger is very real.  Please, don't discount its existence.

If you don't believe that it can be happening in your neck of the woods, click here, type in your zip code into the food bank locator on the bottom right.  There you will see hunger statistic for your area.  I guarantee you'll be surprised.  I was surprised about mine!

Want to know how you can help?

[Feeding America is an organization dedicated to making] a difference in the fight against hunger in our country. Together, we advocate on behalf of 35 million hungry Americans by supporting federal, state, and local legislation that addresses the many factors that contribute to food insecurity in our nation.

Our goal is to support policies that help solve America’s growing hunger crisis, while raising public awareness about the issue of hunger in our country. Click here to learn more about the issues that affect millions of food insecure Americans every day. Our advocates are active in cities and towns across the United States, working to make a real difference in the lives of their neighbors and all Americans who are at risk of hunger.

Want to do more?  Click here and take action!  Become an advocate.  Write a letter, tell a friend, ask Congress to take action (see the site for more information). 

Are you on Twitter?  Join us for Girl's Night Out Twitter party at #GNO tomorrow night (Tuesday night) at 6pm Pacific.

In the past few weeks, America has proven that it's citizens are capable of making a difference.  I realize it may be unrealistic to think that we can eradicate hunger, but I'll bet if we ban together, we sure could make a huge dent!

Thanks for reading this far.  Go forth and make a difference, today!