Today is World Food Day, an annual occasion where hundreds of events and outreach activities around the world promote worldwide awareness of hunger. This year, that cause seems especially relevant in the U.S., with critical safety net programs like SNAP experiencing significant cuts and changes.
Hunger by the numbers
Some stats that show how widespread the problem of food insecurity is in our country:
- 47 million people live in food-insecure households
- 1 in 5 children live in households without enough to eat
- over 50 million people rely on food banks and food pantries each year
- Arkansas is the state with the highest rate of food insecurity, with almost 19% of households experiencing food insecurity
How you can help
There are a variety of things you can do to help — including the typical action steps like contacting your representatives to let them know this issue is important to you, and to urge them to protect programs like SNAP.
Another way to help is by supporting organizations that are dedicated to fighting hunger. You can volunteer your time, make a donation, or even just spread the word to raise awareness of the important work they are doing.
These are some of the organizations that are working to help feed the hungry — whether in their local communities or across the country.
Dating back to the 1960s, Feeding America is now part of a nationwide network of food banks, food pantries, and meal programs – including more than 200 food banks and 60,000 meal programs. They coordinate food donations through partnerships with farmers, manufacturers, retailers and government agencies and provide significant funding to support network members’ training, refrigeration, transportation and technology investments. They are also very active in advocacy efforts to support anti-hunger initiatives.
No Kid Hungry is a national campaign run by a nonprofit organization called Share Our Strength. They take a three-pronged approach to preventing childhood hunger by ensuring kids have food at school, at home, and during the summer. They provide grants to schools, advocate for strong school meals programs, coordinate programs to distribute meals in summer, and work to protect programs like SNAP and WIC. You can help in a variety of ways, including donating, fundraising, attending events, and getting involved in advocacy efforts.
Move for Hunger is a national nonprofit organization that focuses on a creative way to obtain food that would otherwise go to waste. They give people a way to donate food when they relocate. Meaning, the perfectly good food that gets removed from refrigerators, freezers, cabinets, and other parts of the home during a move — and often ends up in dumpsters or trash cans. When someone is getting ready to move, a Move for Hunger crew can pack up and remove any usable food items and then donate them to a local food pantry. They work with a network of more than 1,200 moving companies, 2,900 apartment communities, relocation management companies, real estate agencies, and others. They are always looking for volunteers or businesses that want to join the network.
Another organization focused on preventing food from going to waste, Food Recovery Network is a student-driven movement. College students collect surplus food from their campuses and then donate it to local food pantries. The organization partners with businesses that donate leftover food from events or regular operations, too. They also run a program that distributes fresh produce to elementary schools. The organization is active in advocacy efforts, as well, and helps college students develop advocacy skills and learn effective ways to connect with policy leaders and lawmakers.
Musically Fed also recovers food that would otherwise go to waste, and from a surprising source. They collect unused food from backstage spreads at concerts and other events and donate it to shelter and food pantries. They work with artists, promoters, management, and venues nationwide. If you happen to know of any businesses or artists in your area that host events where there may be extra food, you may be able to help coordinate donations. They are always seeking volunteers and donations, and also have an Amazon wish list for needed items like pans, gloves, and kitchen supplies.
Social media groups
Social media is a modern hub for grassroots efforts for all types of advocacy and community organizing, including helping those who need food. I belong to several “neighbors helping neighbors” type of Facebook groups in my area, where individuals in need can ask for help or those who have extra food (or other necessities) can offer it for free to anyone who needs it. Searching your preferred social media platform for your city’s name along with terms like “donate” or “help neighbors” is a good place to start.
Pets need food, too
One more thing: when families go hungry, their pets often do, too — so check to see if there are any organizations in your area that help provide pet food to families that need it. If so, you may be able to help through something as simple as dropping off a bag of pet food or donating any extra pet food or supplies you don’t need.