Introduction
In the United States, 1 in 5 kids is living with hunger. That’s 13 million children. But why are we seeing such a huge jump from just one year ago? And what can we do to help?
We’ll examine hunger and food insecurity in the United States. By examining data, you will learn how advocacy and food programs can help reduce childhood hunger. Best of all? We’ll share ways that you can make a meaningful impact.
What is the Difference Between Hunger and Food Insecurity?
Let’s face it, hunger can’t be measured. Hunger is the experience of not having enough to eat. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does measure “food insecurity.”
Food insecurity exists when households don’t have enough food to go around. Did you grow up like I did, where Mom or Dad skipped meals to make sure you ate enough? Or maybe your family was faced with the tough choice between eating or keeping the lights on. Both are examples of food insecurity.
Annually, the USDA reports on food insecurity across the United States. According to the report, Household Food Security in the United States in 2022, 13 million children are experiencing food insecurity.
When children have enough to eat, they can reach their full potential – which is why it is so important all kids get three healthy meals a day.
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What Changed with Childhood Hunger?
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our world was turned topsy-turvy. Millions of us faced hardships like unemployment, hospital bills, and, yes, food insecurity.
I still remember all too well making trips to my local grocery store every few days to pick over the bare shelves, trying to find what I could to support my family. No doubt, you had similar experiences.
However, during 2021, we saw record lows in food insecurity in families with children.
Amazingly, across this country we came together to care for children and take care of one another. Different programs were enacted to make sure those who might be struggling were getting better access to resources like extended SNAP benefits, expanded child tax credits and free school meals.
Unfortunately, that’s all ended and we’re seeing the sobering impact – childhood hunger levels are rising. Thankfully, there is always hope.
Visiting Albert Einstein Highschool
Firsthand I have seen how meal programs change lives. Before the start of the pandemic, I traveled to Washington, DC to visit No Kid Hungry, one of our partners in the Your Purchase Feeds Program.
No Kid Hungry is a national campaign run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. After 25 years of successfully investing in local nonprofits and helping find the best approaches to eradicating poverty and hunger, Share Our Strength launched No Kid Hungry in 2010.
While navigating the complex world of child meal programs in the U.S., I came to learn that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Different funding streams influence how, when, and what types of meals various programs serve. Plus, every school is different, and the needs of the students can vary tremendously.
Part of my visit brought me to Albert Einstein High School, in Kensington, Maryland. I would see, firsthand, what an afterschool meal program looked like in action.
I met with the Principal of Albert Einstein High School, Dr. Christine Handy. She, and members of her staff, walked us through the school’s history of meal programs.
“There are a variety of hurdles to overcome,” explained Dr. Handy. “The USDA At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program provides meals in locations where at least fifty-percent of kids are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.”
The meal distribution unfolds swiftly. Students arrived and queued as they waited to collect their food. Nearly every day, students can obtain a nutritious meal after school. I learned about the impact of this meal program. Many students wouldn’t have acesss to another meal until the next day without a supper program.
How to Help
“We know how to end child hunger in this country,” says Lisa Davis, Senior Vice President of Share Our Strength and its No Kid Hungry campaign. “We were making progress before the pandemic started, and once it hit, we mitigated what could have been a massive and long-lasting hunger crisis because of smart investments in critical government programs. All of that progress has been eroded since those investments have been rolled back. Kids and families deserve better.”
Today, No Kid Hungry is working to make sure every child gets three meals a day by advocating for these programs and helping communities get the resources they need to feed children.
You can do your part, too.
Shop with Brands that Give
You already know that Shop LC provides a meal to a child in need for every item sold. Since 2017, our one-for-one program, Your Purchase Feeds, has provided over 45 million meals. And not only is No Kid Hungry a member of our program, but we’ve gone a step further.
We are offering an exclusive No Kid Hungry Collection. Featuring their iconic apple core logo, each purchase provides 10 dollars to support No Kid Hungry! When you break it down, one dollar can help provide 10 meals to kids.
Stand Up for Kids
If you’re ready to do more, we encourage you to write your representatives in Congress. Your voice does matter. Urge your legislators to support families and kids by protecting the policies and programs we know work.
More Ways to Help
There are many ways to help, from advocacy to education. Visit No Kid Hungry for more ways to help kids.
Conclusion
“The bottom line: policy matters,” says Davis. “When our nation invests in nutrition programs like SNAP, school and summer meals, and programs that help get grocery and Child Tax Credit benefits into the hands of families with the lowest incomes and the highest needs, hunger and hardship recede. But these benefits do so much more than fill an empty stomach. When kids are nourished, they’re healthier, better able to learn and more likely to escape the cycle of poverty. And stronger, smarter kids means a stronger, smarter nation.”
Though childhood hunger is once again on the rise, we can make a difference. Meal and nutrition programs create a tangible impact on childhood hunger. Most importantly, we can all make a difference through advocacy and education.
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