Last week, I attended a lovely little function in the Loop. Present were a number of lawyers involved in pro-bono policy development and advocacy on behalf of the poor. The highlight of the event was a speech by the woman, the myth, the legend, Carol Moseley Braun.

For what purpose was such a distinguished group of legal minds, public servants and scholars assembled, you may ask. The topic of discussion was the inability of the poor to access nutritious and quality foods for themselves and their families.

Toward the back of the room was an interesting display showing what a person on a food-stamp budget of $30 per week can buy. If they have access to a grocery store, they can get some sliced bread, a gallon of milk, cereal, fruits, and deli meats. Those individuals who live in so called food deserts – areas that do not have access to grocers unless one has a car- – do their shopping at convenience stores. The $30 weekly budget will buy you a few packs of ramen noodles, some microwave dinners, pop, and a pack of hot dogs. Essentially, it was my freshman-year dinner menu.

The students at the University understand what it is like to live in a food desert. We do not have a grocery around campus for miles. We often do our shopping at Walgreens and eat at one of the campus restaurants. If we do not have a car but half a day and a bit of sanity to spare, we take the bus to Meijer. So imagine having to do this on a budget of around $30 for the week to feed yourself and your family. At least the bus trips are free for us.

I felt a bit of unease, however, when I looked around the room. Assembled were some of the Chicago elite. These were highly educated, articulate, and frankly well-off people. They were well dressed and swirled their wine glasses just below their noses as they waited for their chance to enter the conversation. The room was alive with the clinking of glasses, conversation and laughter. Next to the display of the food-stamp baskets was a much larger table, the one that carried the catered food. There were prosciutto-wrapped spears of asparagus, herb-encrusted goat cheese, chicken satay and a range of other foods, all organic and locally sourced.

I do not doubt the sincerity of those that were assembled at the gathering. One could not, however, ignore the fact that while we were eating to our hearts content, there were thousands out there who are struggling to find food and shelter. But what could any of us do? Many of those gathered dedicated their lives to helping the poor, and yet so many of these problems persist. I decided to do what many of us do every day. I stopped thinking and went for more asparagus.

Othman is looking for a job. In the meantime, he asks you to pass the salt.