Those of us in a certain age group will remember the classic tune “Summertime,” most memorably performed in the 60s by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. But, thanks to YouTube, even those who have never heard of the song can listen to Armstrong’s trumpet plaintively wailing the opening notes, followed by Ella’s mahogany vocals singing the opening line, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.”
George Gershwin wrote these words in 1934, in the middle of the Great Depression, as the opening aria for his opera "Porgy and Bess." While our current economic struggles may not be as dire as back then, the summer of 2022 is still anything but a time of easy living for many families.
In July, the U.S. Department of Labor reported an annual inflation rate of 9.1% through June. Here at BHH, this hike in the cost-of-living can be seen in the increased demand for all our services. Simply put, more people now need our help to make ends meet. At the same time, predictably, we are experiencing higher costs in providing that help.
Summer is already a season of higher need for food banks and pantries, with fewer food donations made and many regular volunteers unavailable to pitch in as much of their time. So, even more so this year than most, we’re thankful for a supportive community that keeps finding ways to help us meet these growing needs. Providing financial contributions, volunteering, or conducting a food drive are all ways that you can make a big difference.
Despite current challenges, we still have things to look forward to – and celebrate. On Aug. 28, after a two-year hiatus, we will host our Bowling for Bread event at the recently renovated Bowlero bowling alley to benefit local kids. On Sept. 10, we will once again be partnering with FAU Athletics to promote a “Tackle Hunger” food drive at their home football game that day. And in June, we welcomed a new member to our Board of Directors: Zoe Lanham, Vice President of the Addison. We are fortunate to be gaining her experience and talents, which will further help us to carry out our mission.
Written as a lullaby, the first verse of “Summertime” closes with the lyric, “So hush little baby, don’t you cry.” We hope we can continue to be a source of comfort and solace to those in our community who need to hear and experience those soothing words. Meanwhile, we are grateful that we can count on you to help us fulfill that role.
