Hunger in America: How we can help

1. FOOD ISSUE PROJECT
Hunger in America: How it impacts
children and families today. What
can we do to help?
By: Haley Burgess

2. A CALL
FOR
ACTION
 According to The World Counts, a child dies from
hunger every 10 seconds, taking responsibility for
the death of 3.1 million children a year (2020).
 As an advocate for child hunger, and the long
lasting affects it can have, there needs to be a
change in the way families are able to receive
nutritious food.
 Programs such as SNAP should make it easier for
families with young children to qualify and receive
these benefits.
 As a community, food drives and shelters should
be stocked with food to help these parents and
children get the food they need, especially during
these difficult times we are living in.

3. HUNGER IN THE UNITED STATES:
THE FACTS
“Every year millions of Americans are impacted by hunger and food
insecurity. Experiencing food insecurity at a young age can lead to lasting
health concerns” (“DoSomething.org”).
About 40 million people struggle with hunger in the U.S.
1 out of every 6 children do not know where their next meal is coming
from.
“22 million children in America rely on free or reduced-price lunch they
receive at school, but as many as 3 million children still aren’t getting the
breakfast they need”(“DoSomething.org”).
Children who experience food insecurity are at a higher risk of developing
health related issues, struggling with anxiety or depression, and affecting
the ability to learn in school and sports.

4. HUNGER’S LONG-TERM IMPACT
ON CHILDREN
“Starting in the womb, pregnant women who are food insecure puts a
risk of their children being born underweight, causing health
complications”(“moveforhunger,org”).
Children without access to enough nutritious food during the first few
years of their life are more likely to develop at a slower rate, and have
may have difficulty learning.
As these children progress through life, they become more susceptible
to illness because of their weak immune systems, and tend to be
hospitalized more frequently.
“People who have faced food insecurity or poverty during childhood
have more difficult time with short-term memory, and are likely to give
up when presented difficult tasks” (“moveforhunger,org”).

5. THE WORLD’S VIEWPOINT ON HUNGER
Some believe that high food prices
have contributed to the hunger and
food insecurity rate across the U.S.
High unemployment and poverty
has also been tied with hunger and
food insecurity.
 Many who need help don’t
qualify for federal aid through
programs such as SNAP, and
the Woman, Infants and
Children program (Galvin,2019).
 Health care organizations can
also leverage partnerships with
local food banks and other
community groups to target
food insecurity (Galvin, 2019).

6. CURRENT ISSUES
RELATED TO
HUNGER
 During this period of time, and the hard hit COVID-
19 has put on the world, people living in hunger
and poverty are likely to suffer the most.
 Some believe that congress should boost SNAP
maximum benefits by 15% and suspend all
rulemaking that would limit access to SNAP to
ensure the vulnerable has access to the resources
they need (“Hunger and the Coronavirus”, 2020).
 COVID-19 may prove especially deadly for people
suffering from chronic or acute hunger or
malnourishment.
 It is also believed that COVID-19 may cause breaks
in food supply chains, food shortages, and the
increase of food prices.

7. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
o From my own point of view, I have personally gone into a food shelter and seen
the physical and mental toll that hunger can have on children and families.
Especially in times like this, families are struggling to make ends meet, and put
food on the table, with such little money.
o I believe that in order for the problem of hunger and food insecurity to change,
that programs such as SNAP, and others need to adjust their eligibility numbers to
an amount that is higher than it currently is.
o For example, according to the Massachusetts Government, for a family of 4
people, the max monthly income to be eligible for food stamps is $4,292. For
those whole are living in a place such as Boston and are paying for rent,
mortgage, monthly bills, and other necessities, the max benefit they will receive is
$646 (Freshebt.com).

8. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE CONT.
o With the world in a pandemic, and thousands of people out of work I think that
these numbers should be higher, giving people the opportunity to get the food they
need.
Other ways that we can help include:
• Donating to food drives
• Volunteering a food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens
• Advocate and help spread the word to others
o I have also came across membership-based retailers like Thrive Market who are
now matching every paid membership with a free membership to low income
families who are struggling to buy food during this pandemic. Sponsoring these
brands is another way that we can help others who are in need.

9. REFERENCES
“COVID-19 and the 5 Major Threats It Poses to Global Food Security.” World Food Program USA, www.wfpusa.org/articles/covid-19-and-global-food-
security/. Accessed 15 April, 2020.
“11 Facts About Hunger In The U.S.” DoSomething.org, 18 April 2019,
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-hunger-us. Accessed 15
April, 2020.
Galvin, Gaby. “Food Insecurity in America Tied to Prices, Poverty.” U.S News, 01 May 2019,
https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-05-01/
food-insecurity-in-america-tied-to-food-prices-poverty. Accessed 15 April, 2020.
“Hunger and the Coronavirus.” Bread for the World, 16 Apr. 2020, www.bread.org/hunger-and-coronavirus. Accessed 16 April 2020.
“The Fresh Guide to EBT in Massachusetts.” Freshebt.com, 1 Oct. 2019, https://www.freshebt.com/state/massachusetts/food- stamps-eligibility-income- limits/
limits/#income-limit. Accessed 16 April, 2020.
“The Lasting Impact of Food Insecurity on Children.” Move For Hunger, 06 March 2017,
https://www.moveforhunger.org/just-hunger-lasting-impact-food-insecurity-children.
Accessed 15 April, 2020.
The World Counts, www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/people-and-poverty/hunger-and-obesity/how-many-people-die-from- hunger-each-year. Accessed 15
April, 2020.