Today is World Blog Action Day and it’s all about food. I am sure that many of my blogging colleagues will write about the challenges of feeding the hungry people of the world. We are all aware of the crisis worldwide – especially in third world countries where each day is a struggle to get enough food.
But I am taking the cause a little closer to home. Right here in the flourishing US of A we have those among us that are not sure how they will feed their families. During this difficult economic time, we find people out of work, losing their homes and also being hungry in our own American backyards.
Food for all....
According to Feeding America, hunger is a major concern for many Americans:
- In 2010, 48.8 million Americans, or 14.5 percent of households, were food insecure
- In 2009, 8.0 percent of seniors living alone (925,000 households) were food insecure
- Food insecurity exists in every county in America
- In 2010, 4.8 percent of all U.S. households (5.6 million households) accessed emergency food from a food pantry one or two times during the year.
- In 2010, 59.2 percent of food-insecure households participated in at least one of the three major Federal food assistance programs –Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamp Program), The National School Lunch Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Source: FeedingAmerica.org
These statistics may startle some because we are often lost in our own set of problems. But sometimes we have to look outside of the box that is our own world and look at the plight of others.
You might ask yourself, “What can I do?”
Look in your community. Across America t here are efforts to feed those in stress. In my community we have an annual Thanksgiving week dinner that is open to all. Team Feed Flagler is comprised of government, civic and religious leaders that have come together to host an annual Community Thanksgiving Celebration offering food and fellowship to all in our area, but it goes further than that. In addition to preparing the dinner and feeding the community, food boxes are prepared and are distributed to those that have a need. Both monetary donations and food donations are being taken now. For my local readers, here is a list of drop-off points for non-perishable food donations:
- Flagler County Government Services Building
- Palm Coast City Hall
- Flagler County Chamber of Commerce
- Palm Coast Community Center
- PNC Banks in Palm Coast (until 11/5)
- Town of Beverly Beach Town Hall
- Staffed fire stations countywide
But this dinner fills a need just once a year. The rest of the year the food banks in our area are constantly providing food assistance to those that need it. Our list of food banks includes 14 churches and other locations that are continually accepting donations and distributing food to those that need it. Check out the food banks in your area and try to donate, not just at Thanksgiving time, but throughout the year. People are hungry every day of the year across the nation and the world. If you can help, please do. Visit any of these sites to see how you can help not only in your community, but across the nation and the world.
World BankWorld Food ProgrammeFeeding America
Related articles
- Supplies Dwindle as more Volusia/Flagler residents rely on food banks (Daytona Beach News Journal)
- BLOG ACTION DAY 2011: Right Next Door – Your Hungry Neighbor (intentionalworkplace.com)
- USDA Report Outlines Food Insecurity in America (rcsfoodbank.wordpress.com)
- Who’s going hungry (lifeinc.today.com)
- The Economics of Food Insecurity in the United States (thejournalofeconomic.wordpress.com)
- Nearly 49 million Americans face hunger regularly (summitcountyvoice.com)
- What Is Food Insecurity? (lukeford.net)
