After establishing the Robert Mondavi winery in Napa Valley, Robert Mondavi returned to Lodi, California where he established Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi winery. Last year, the winery began supporting America’s Second Harvest, a large organization that fights hunger in America. In keeping with Robert Mondavi’s generosity, Woodbridge will again support America’s Second Harvest this year from October 1 to December 31, 2008. The winery plans to match donations of up to $50,000.

In addition, Woodbridge plans to have a charity auction on eBay between November 13 and November 23. Specialty packages are being designed that included “celebrity encounters, culinary experiences, vacation getaways, spa and golf retreats, unique gift items and dinners in top restaurants around the country.”

The mission statement of America’s Second Harvest “is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.” According their website, More than 35 million Americans are food insecure, hungry or at risk of hunger.” America’s Second Harvest helps children, seniors, families, homeless, newly unemployed, disabled, mentally ill, working poor and victims of disaster.

As I went through the website, I kept thinking of the nightly news that frequently focuses on other poor areas of the world particularly third world countries. How is it that we can be so blind to the poor in our midst? Do we truly believe that there are no hungry in America? What is behind closed doors – people too ill, too young or too embarrassed to ask for a helping hand? Alternatively, is it just easier to say, “People should help themselves?” How many of us would say that to those who are hungry in third world countries?

Cheers!