Hunger - Take a Bite Out of Hunger in America - A Virtual Food Drive!

At the beginning of November, I signed up and joined in Libby's Food's Virutal Canned Food campaign to assist Feeding America (formerly Second Harvest), setting what I thought was a modest goal of $2500 to raise in 30 days, and accept Libby's generous offer to match dollar for dollar up to the first $30,000.  In the ensuing 15 days my eyes have been fully opened and the reality of today's economic turmoil on our society has literally caused a neck twisting head-snap to occur.  Folks, take a moment and look around.  Seriously, look around, we do have Hunger in America.

On November 5, I wrote, Hunger: How is this possible in today's world and noted that well over 300 persons have read this piece; and many more have alluded to it in separate articles or blogs.  I've received a great number of emails and tweets where-in my many professional and virtual friends, colleagues and casual contacts have thanked me for increasing their awareness and expressed their thanks as well as their intent to give of their time, donate food, donate money directly to their local food bank or participate in my Virtual Canned Food Drive - all of these actions are exactly what I had hoped would occur.  I also was quite sobered when I encounter a vocal minority who believe my zealous efforts to raise $2500 was simply spam.  One individual went so far as to specifically note they cared not a bit about the topic of Hunger (the poor soul, may this person never experience what millions do daily).

As I noted above, I also have sensed just how hard the economic turmoil has effected so many.  A very large majority of communication to me has been along the lines of, "I want to help, but we are strapped this year." or "I haven't had work in five months, I keep my internet to find work, but I have given my time, I just can't give $1 to this campaign." or "Thank you for doing this, I've experienced hunger, I've been to the food bank."  So please, don't fret if you are unable to donate to the virtual drive - you must take care of you and your family before you take care of others.  Your thoughts, prayers and support to the effort are sufficient and deeply appreciated; we're glad to be there for you when you are in need and know the sentiment is reciprocated.

Nonetheless, I am going to ask those who are able, but who haven't found their way to the Libby's site to participate in the Virtual Canned Food Drive to do so, and to do so prior to 30 November. We've had 18 fine folks contribute, and we have 15 more days to raise the remaining 70% of the needed funds to reach our goal of $2500.  Should we be successful, with Libby's Food matching funds, we will have collectively placed 35,000 meals on the table of those who hunger in the United States.

If you have any doubt as to the seriousness of the current situation, read the following sobering details on Hunger in America from Feeding America's Child Hunger Facts:

• More than 9 million children are estimated to be served by Feeding America, over 2 million of which are ages 5 and under, representing nearly 13 percent of all children under age 18 in the United States and over 72 percent of all children in poverty.
• According to the USDA, an estimated 12.4 million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2007. 
• 8 states plus the District of Columbia have 20 percent or more of children under 18 living in food insecure households; the states of Texas (22.1 percent) and Mississippi (21.5 percent) have the highest rates of children in households without consistent access to food.
• The top five states with the highest rate of food insecure children under 18 are Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arizona, South Carolina and the District of Columbia.
• The top five states with the lowest rate of food insecure children under 18 are North Dakota, Virginia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.
• The top six states with the highest rate of food insecure children under 5 are Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, and New Mexico.
• The top five states with the lowest rate of food insecure children under 5 are Massachusetts, New Jersey, Hawaii, New York, and New Hampshire
• Proper nutrition is vital to the growth and development of children, particularly for low-income children. 62 percent of all client households with children under the age of 18 participated in a school lunch program, but only 13 percent participated in a summer feeding program that provides free food when school is out. 
• 51 percent of client households with children under the age of 3 participated in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). 
• Nearly 41 percent of emergency food providers in the Feeding America network reported "many more children in the summer" being served by their programs. 
• Emergency food assistance plays a vital role in the lives of low-income families. In 2002, more than half of the non-elderly families that accessed a food pantry at least once during the year had children under the age of 18.
• 14 million or approximately 19 percent of children in the U.S. live in poverty. The rate of poverty for children under 18 remains higher than those aged 18 to 64 and for those aged 65 and over.
• Research indicates that even mild under nutrition experienced by young children during critical periods of growth impacts the behavior of children, their school performance, and their overall cognitive development
• In fiscal year 2008, 49 percent of all SNAP participants were children.
• During the 2008 federal fiscal year, 18.5 million low-income children received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. Unfortunately, just 2.1 million of these same income-eligible children participated in the Summer Food Service Program that same year.

Hopefully the above will induce you to reach into your wallet and give locally or via the Virtual Canned Food Drive w/Libby's (upper left corner); donate your time; donate food.  Most importantly, please be alert for families and children in need and who are experiencing food insecurity and make them aware of the many programs available throughout the United States.

Thank you for your time,
All the best,
Christopher