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Food Insecurity In Our Own Backyard

Ever catch yourself saying “I’m starving!” but it’s really only been a few hours since your last meal?

It’s easy to take food for granted, but there are millions of families in America who experience food insecurity every day.

Food insecurity is defined as a “lack of access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times.” Families who don’t have enough to eat are forced to resort to eating poor quality food, lacking essential nutrients for proper development and mental health.

If the idea of hungry people in the US seems foreign to you, these alarming statistics from Feeding America may help you think differently:

  • In 2011, 50.2 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 33.5 million adults and 16.7 million children.
  • In 2011, 14.9 percent of households (17.9 million households) were food insecure.
  • In 2011, 5.7 percent of households (6.8 million households) experienced very low food security.
  • In 2011, households with children reported food insecurity at a significantly higher rate than those without children, 20.6 percent compared to 12.2 percent.
  • In 2011, 8.8 percent of seniors living alone (1 million households) were food insecure.

Sadly, the numbers aren’t getting better… they’re getting worse. In America, the land of plenty, this just shouldn’t be!

This Holiday Season, we’re hosting a food drive on behalf of Loaves and Fishes of the Fox Valley to provide support for hungry families here in our own back yard.

Loaves and Fishes provides community meals twice a week every Monday and Wednesday, serving from 5:30 – 6:30 pm and, when extra food is available, they give non-perishable goods to their guests, but right now they are experiencing a significant shortage.

When you bring in 2-non-perishable food items to donate, between now and Dec. 31, we’ll take $1 off your purchase!

Loaves & Fishes is in need of the following:

  • Peanut butter
  • Jelly
  • Canned chicken breast
  • Soups
  • Cereals
  • Canned vegetables
  • Canned pasta sauce
  • Pasta
  • Canned juice
Anything non-perishable is needed and they especially appreciate the large #10 canned goods. (Think healthy and nourishing!)
We’d love to hear how you and your family (or your community) are making a difference this Holiday Season.
Some “Food” For Thought
  • “The generous man is blessed. For he gives of his bread to the poor.”– Old Testament, Proverbs 22:9
  • “I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.” — Helen Keller
  • “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Norman MacEwan
Additional Resources

Physical and Mental Health – The potential consequences of food insecurity regarding physical and mental healthhttp://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/physical-and-mental-health.aspx

 

Impact of Hungerhttp://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger.aspx