Published in the fall 2011 issue of MyLIFE magazine
The reality: One in five children live in situations in which caregivers struggle to afford food, and 6 million seniors go hungry.
Eggs and yogurt with juice for breakfast. A tuna sandwich on whole wheat bread with lettuce and tomato for lunch. A green salad with a helping of lasagna for dinner. Perhaps an apple to snack on while watching a NASCAR race on television or popcorn for a treat at the movies. When this or a similar menu is available to people daily, it’s a picture of food security.
The picture of food insecurity is more difficult to view. To be clinical, picture X-rays of empty stomachs. Through the eyes of the compassionate, food insecurity can sometimes be seen on the faces of people. When those faces are of children or seniors—groups who are sometimes thought of as the bookends of society—awareness of their plight should rise like a checkered flag or a theater curtain.
The current statistics from the U.S. government report that one in five children live in situations where caregivers struggle to afford food. As for senior citizens, AARP reports that more than 6 million Americans over the age of 60 go hungry. While the problem of hunger has been suffered by humanity for ages, with the present state of joblessness and poor economic conditions, food insecurity among these two groups is indeed rising.
But so is the passion to find a solution.
Two men, from very different backgrounds, have undertaken hunger as a cause. Let the curtains go up on actor Jeff Bridges. Lift the checkered flag for racecar driver Jeff Gordon.
In 1983, Bridges established the End Hunger Network, which is dedicated to feeding hungry children around the world. In November 2010, the network teamed with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign on a mission to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry platform is built on four principals:
• The creation of state public-private partnerships to allow children to access the food they need.
• To feed kids in the places they reside, in their schools and where they play.
• To teach all family members about the benefits of eating healthy foods.
• And finally, to make awareness of hunger a priority.
Bridges posted a short video on YouTube (youtube.com/watch?v=2RUYkzJio24) as a public service announcement that helps put a picture of childhood hunger. He said, “Joining the movement to end childhood hunger is the most significant thing I have ever done. I can only imagine what it would be like to not be able to feed my own kids. It would break my heart.”
Jeff Gordon feels similarly about our elders. “More than 6 million seniors make the heartbreaking decision between a nutritious meal and other necessities every day. By combining the power and generosity of the NASCAR community with such a deserving cause, we can make a difference in this country and solve this problem.” He holds “Drive to End Hunger” events at racetracks all over the country to raise money and awareness.
In an age where technology makes it easier than ever to take action, the websites that both of these men are behind feature ways for anyone to help. In a banner that appears on the bottom of your computer screen when you go to the Drive to End Hunger website (drivetoendhunger.org), you can click on a link to donate or volunteer. If you want to volunteer, you’ll see opportunities available in your own ZIP code. Perhaps you can make time to prepare and deliver a food box to a family. If you wish to donate money, you’ll learn how much just $30 per month can help. For race fans, several videos showing Drive to End Hunger events are available for quick viewing on Gordon’s website.
At the No Kid Hungry website (nokidhungry.org), as of press time, more than 56,000 people had signed up to take a pledge of awareness of child hunger. A grocery bag graphic offers links to spread the word, act or donate. There are many options to fit any wallet or any amount of time.
For example, if you have the desire to become an activist, you can start a movement to enable your local farmer’s market to take food stamp credit cards through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) machines in trade for fresh, local products. This helps support local farms, inspires people to cook together in home kitchens (which might diminish a taste for less healthy fast-food options) and puts nutritious foods into hungry bodies. Perhaps you’re a student and have only five minutes to offer. You could help by putting a badge for the No Kid Hungry cause on your Facebook page. There is no excuse not to find a way to help.
Food is a basic human need. People who are hungry or malnourished must overcome hunger in order to gain a quality of life that includes the ability to learn, to be active and even to rest. Being well-nourished may also inspire a person to want to help others get their needs met. It is usually better to give than to receive, but in the case of food, humans must first receive it.
SHOCKING STATISTICS
According to figures released in September by the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 1.4 million Arizonans are in households earning less than the federal poverty level—about 21.4 percent.
Mississippi had the highest share of residents living below the poverty level, at 22.7 percent, followed by Arizona, Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Georgia and New Mexico.
