Marian Wright Edelman reported in her blog for the Huffington Post that almost one in four children in the U.S. don’t know when they will have their next meal. She further noted that Share Our Strength stated that 15% of all U.S. households suffer from food insecurity, which includes:
• Running out of food without having enough money to buy more
• Reducing the size or amount of meals due to lack of funds
• Not feeding children in the family due to lack of food
Moreover, almost 70% of these food-insecure families live above the poverty line. Edelman explains that food insecurity is particularly devastating for children, whose development depends on receiving substantial nutrition. While Obama has set a goal of ending child hunger by 2015, there is currently a Child Nutrition Bill stalled in Congress because it is funded by cuts in food stamps. Edelman writes:
“The President and Congress must find another way to pay for the bill other than food stamp cuts. It is all about choices – what do we value? Tell your member of Congress that hungry children need help but not by taking from one hand to give to another.”
In this holiday season, as many of us sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, it is important not to forget those who have no food in front of them and greatly need our support. Thank you Edelman for reminding us that the holidays are not just about being thankful, but about helping someone else get something to be thankful for.
To contact your congressional representative, click here.
Pingback: Suggestions for Congress to help children in poverty | Resilience Talking