According to Wikipedia, “San Juan County has the highest per capita income in the state of Washington.”

According to Truila, San Juan County has the highest median home value in the state.

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it ironic that despite these statistics San Juan Island has 1,100 individuals, or about one-seventh of the population, dependent on our local food bank?

If 150 people can gather at The Grange to protest Catholic Bishops making health care decisions; and, scores of individuals  are agitated about Homeland Security coming to town, why aren’t we outraged that local children, and their parents, are going hungry?

Albert Einstein once said, “An empty stomach is not a good political advisor.”

Maybe before we take on the Catholic church or the U.S. government, we need to feed our citizens.

People in our community have a history of impassioned action when the cause impacts them. Hunger among the working poor on San Juan Island is a serious issue.

First, let’s get our heads out of the sand and admit that the situation is serious. Then, let’s put those heads together, and work cooperatively to look for a solution.

Mike Buettell/San Juan Island