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Feeding the poor or helping the poor in general is a task that needs much thought and consideration. A solid game plan is needed in order to construct such a challenging endeavor. First we must have a greater understanding of the condition in general before we can even come up with a formidable game plan. Feeding the poor without providing opportunities and education is like cleaning the floor when the sink is overflowing; ignoring the root of the problem, that being the sink. For practicality purposes, I am going to keep my answers brief; however, each answer could and should be expounded on in the future.

The first step is to understand the sociological and psychological reasons why there are poor people and the ways in which we can correct this problem at its origin. Some research indicates that between 20 and 40 percent of all homeless people have common psychological disorders that are in fact more prevalent within the homeless community. Just feeding these people is not the answer, but a quick fix. I would estimate that its closer to 99 percent if we include depression as one of the disorders. More non-profit treatment centers need to be erected that are specifically designed to treat these patients. There also needs to be a particular group established that goes around gathering these people and bringing them in for proper care. Though we will never be able to save everyone, some of the less debilitating disorders can be reversed in a small percentage of the estimated 40 percent, as well as those who are just down on their luck.

If you take a walk down New York City streets on any day of the week, or go hang out at the in Washington D.C.'s Union Station, you will see that this problem has gotten out of hand. Is this really such a hard problem to contain? It is as if our "great" nation has forgotten, or more realistically, ignores the homeless situation. All American's need to be protected and they must not be forgotten during their greatest time of need. But when we mention the poor, we are not just talking about the homeless population. With our struggling economy, many are bound to live paycheck-to-paycheck. Any variance from that, such as missing one check or loss of a job, could throw those families into a whirlwind that they might not be able to recover from.

According to the US Census Bureau, 35.9 million people live below the poverty line in America; including 12.9 million children. With these types of numbers, it's not as easy as having a food drive,

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