As a teacher, it is easy to get frustrated when your class cannot seem to get their work done, when they are unfocused and underperforming. One day I bought these protein bars from a bulk food store, and they were terrible…I mean really terrible. Because I was silly and bought them in bulk, I had A LOT left over, A LOT that were going to go uneaten…at least by me. I brought them to work with me because schools have hundreds of people, and even my small school had a hundred people. There was bound to be someone who would like them. While teaching an English class a student was complaining of being hungry, so I busted out my horrible protein bars. To my surprise she took three, look at me with sad eyes and asked if she could have three more. I suggested she try one before she gets too carried away. She opened one package and took a bite. She agreed that they were not good but add, “I am just so hungry I could eat anything.” It was the way that she ate the protein bar that made me believe her, so I handed over three more. She immediately sat down and pounded down two of them, then asked for a drink from the water fountain. To the rest of the class I asked if they wanted any protein bars, and their hands shot up. I put the box on the table and told them, “If anyone wants one, come and get it.” To my surprise they wolf packed the box, grabbing the bars. I learned one VERY important lesson. Kids can’t learn if they are hungry…so I brought granola bars to work with me most days after that. Poverty, and hunger are NOT just third world problems, and until we can meet those needs, learning needs cannot not be adequately addressed.