Dining at our local eateries (Brent's, Pickles, Mimis, In & Out, McDonald's, Chen's Chinese restaurant near the DMV, Lupe's, Mandevilla, et al), I'm overjoyed seeing plates filled with delicious foods of many varieties.We live in a horn of plenty, while hunger stalks many foreign lands. We have our own share of hunger in our own land of plenty.

Tim Mullen, chair of the Democratic Club of the Conejo, announced at the last meeting that our local food bank, Manna, is running short. TV news reports have revealed shortages in our nation's food banks.

Nevertheless, when tragedy strikes, it behooves us not to avert our gaze. The earthquake tragedy in China and the typhoon which struck Myanmar cannot be ignored.

A recent photo of countless earthquake survivors squatting at a roadside for a daily bowl of rice, a day's ration crosses my mind.

Without ignoring the terrible need in our own land, assistance to the earthquake victims at this moment of need would be most appropriate. There by the grace of God go I.

The following agencies, listed in the May 7 L.A. Times, are accepting financial contributions to aid earthquake survivors in China: •Direct Relief Internationa27 S. La Patera Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93117 (805) 964-4767 www.directrelief.org •International Medical Corps 1919 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 400 Santa Monica, CA 90404 (800) 481-4462 www.imcworldwide.org Samuel Rosen Newbury Park