7 Inspiring Ways You Can Fight Hunger This Upcoming Food Day
International Food Day is coming up on October 16th, and really, it’s never too early to start thinking of ways to help the hungry. Founded by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945, the idea behind Food Day is the “belief that the goal of freedom from want of food, suitable and adequate for the health and strength of all people, can be achieved.” Almost 70 years later, hunger still remains a major issue in the US and around the world- but the UN’s belief that hunger can end still holds true. But, before you can fight hunger, you also need to know the facts.
Did you know 870 million people do not have enough to eat- This means about 1 in 8 people go to bed hungry night after night.
In 2011, 19,000 children under the age of 5 died every day from hunger or diseases brought on by malnutrition. That’s the equivalent of 30 US schools full of children dying every single day.
In developing countries around the world, 1 in 5 people live on less than $1.25 a day.
In 2012, 15 percent of US households (17.6 million households) were food insecure.
And yet, the world produces enough food to feed 10 Billion people.
While there are many factors as to why hunger is still a prominent problem, like cyclical poverty, economic distribution, inequality, and the fact that a large bulk of food produced goes to animal feedlots, there is hope. There are 130 million fewer hungry people today than there were 20 years ago, and you have the privilege and opportunity to increase this number and be a part of the fight against poverty. Don’t know how? Here are 7 tips for you:
Give your time and resources to someone on the street
You can combat hunger by literally feeding someone. Pack an extra lunch or grab an extra bagel at breakfast and approach someone you feel safe talking to. Tell them your name and ask if they’d like something to eat- then actually share a meal with them. Poverty isn’t just about money, poverty also isolates people from community. By giving both your food and your time, you’re meeting a significant need and breaking down societal constraints-effectively helping break the cycle of poverty. Additionally, you can carry around this great resource called Street Smarts, a map of all the free meals in NYC. By providing someone with resources, they have the ability to continue to be fed when you’re not around anymore, leaving a lasting impact. Check out the map at http://streetsmartsnyc.org/ and you can email jonathan@streetsmartsnyc.org
If you want additional training and a group to go and do this with, you can come to a free event called Feed 500 where you’ll get a manual, a handful of Street Smart maps, and instruction on how to approach those in need.
Plant a Garden
When you grow your own food, you can be sure your food is organic for a fraction of the cost. You can either donate the money you save to the hunger charity of your choice or you could have the immense pleasure of pro viding a soup kitchen near you with fresh fruits and veggies. Either way, you’re helping feed someone else while making sure you’re taking care of yourself, too.
Want to see a garden benefit children? Donate to our Ground Up Campain, which has put over 230 gardens into school classrooms that help children learn about nutrition and grants kids the opportunity to take some veggies back home.
Host a Hunger Banquet
Turn one of your dinners into a party for a purpose! Guests will draw tickets to assign a high, middle, or lower class standing and each will have a meal that reflects their class. It’s a good way to open up conversation about poverty and you can have each person bring canned food to participate which can be donated. Check out more details at www.oxfamamerica.org/
Sponsor a Child
Organizations like World Vision, Unicef, and Children International have programs in place where your monthly donation of $10-35 can provide food for a child in need, so instead of spending all their money on food they can get an education and healthcare. The best part about sponsoring a child, though, is the connection you get to have with them by exchanging letters. I’ll bet that while the child gets a chance to have a full tummy, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a fuller life.
Participate in a Famine
The average child in a 3rd world country goes 30 hours without eating. Ever wonder what that would feel like? The 30 Hour Famine from World Vision challenges it’s participants to go hungry so kids don’t have to. The idea is that if you get 15 people to give you a dollar for every hour you fast, you’ll raise enough money to feed a child for a year. While originally designed as a group event is targeted for high school students, anyone can participate in a Famine for One. It’s a great way to empathize with those who are hungry while fighting it, and World Vision provides you with a wonderful curriculum with ideas on how to spend those 30 hours.
Ask Your Member of Congress to Take Action
Picture from www.politicspa.com
We have the right, privilege, and responsibility to call on our government to take action to help those who are hungry. By filling out this form through Feeding America, you can easily ask your member of Congress to visit a food bank and for them to push funding for programs that help those in need.
Spread Awareness
Unless someone actually is in a food insecure household, most people don’t think about hunger. People in middle and upper class families struggle to decide where they want to go to get lunch, not if they are going to have it. While you’re out there helping solve hunger, bring some friends along with you! By educating people on the issue and encouraging others to keep their eyes open for people in need, you’ll contribute to a movement and have a much bigger impact than you could’ve ever had by yourself.
Candace Cody
Source:
http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-holt-gimenez/world-hunger_b_1463429.html