Food Insecurity in U.S. Is Growing – Here's How to Help
With so many crises swirling around us, the problem of food insecurity in this country hasn't received the attention it deserves. Record unemployment and school closings (which mean children have less access to free breakfast and lunch programs) have caused increased demand at food banks. As you know, poor access to food has serious consequences for mental and physical health, especially for kids. Talk to your children about this troubling issue and, if you're in a position to do so, help neighbors experiencing tight times.
– Jenny Friedman, Executive Director
ACTION
Here are five ways you and your family can assist those struggling with food insecurity. Choose one or more, then take action. Some ideas require as little as 5 minutes a day, proving how simple it can be to make a difference for others.
Adopt a Food Pantry. Learn where your nearest food pantry is located, then support it as part of your regular routine. Each week when you shop, pick up one or two extra nonperishable items, and place them in a decorated bag or box at home. When it's full, make a delivery.
Time spent: 10 minutes to decorate the container; 20 minutes every few months to deliver the food.
Collect coins for people who are hungry. Spend a month on the issue of hunger with our Help the Hungry calendar. Hang the calendar in a prominent spot, and place an empty bowl at your table to remind everyone of those who go without nutritious food each day. Then follow the instructions on the calendar, and at the end of the 30 days, donate the coins you collected to a hunger relief organization.
Time spent: 5 minutes/day for one month.
Advocate. Reach out to your elected leaders – especially local representatives – and say you expect them to support people who are experiencing food insecurity. Use our kid-friendly template to pledge how your family will make a difference, and ask what your representatives plan to do to address this critical problem
Time spent: 15 minutes.
Thank food bank heroes. The national food bank Feeding America is asking folks to thank food pantry staff and volunteers, who have been working hard to meet the needs of those experiencing hunger. Use this simple virtual thank you note .
Time spent: 5 minutes
Fundraise. Hold a digital food drive, collecting dollars instead of cans for your local food pantry. Or fundraise for Feeding America. The New York Food Bank came up with other ideas you can tailor to your own location. Check them out at "Spread Love: A Kids + Teens Guide to Supporting Food Banks COVID-19 Response."
Time spent: A few hours.
TALK
Talk with your family about hunger and food insecurity using these questions as a guide:
Let's sit together and read about hunger and food insecurity here. Are you surprised by any of these facts? If so, which ones?
What might be some reasons people have trouble finding enough nutritious food to eat every day?
Have you ever felt hungry for a long time? How does your body feel when you've missed a snack, or when a meal arrives on the table later than usual? Do you feel tired? Crabby? Is it hard to focus on other things?
Do you think it's important to keep donating food to our local food pantry and not just do it one time? Why or why not?
BOOKS
Among our list of suggested picture and chapter books, these two titles are especially helpful in understanding hunger and food insecurity. We've included reflection questions to spark deeper conversations with your children about these issues.
Maddi's Fridge by Lois Brandt (ages 4-8). This book is both a joyful story of friendship and an emotional tale of hidden need. Children will be inspired to learn more --- and do more--- about local issues of hunger after hearing about Sofia's kind actions.
Why does Maddi ask Sophia not to tell anyone how empty her fridge is? How would you feel if you were in that situation?
Is it important to keep your promises? Is there ever a time when a promise is dangerous to keep?
Have you ever had to skip a snack or a meal because you forgot to bring one or because there wasn't a snack at home to bring? How did your body feel?
The last page of this book says, "The more we talk about empty refrigerators, the fewer there will be." Why is this true? How can you help spread the message?
The Lunch Thief by Anne C. Bromley (ages 6-8). This classic, published in 2010, has just been re-released as a paperback. When Rafael catches the new kid stealing lunches, he decides to listen to his mom's advice and respond with words and empathy. What he learns about Kevin makes him wonder how he can help, and even befriend, this thief.
In the beginning, the boys are making judgments about one another. Can you remember what they said? Can you remember a time when you felt judged or when you judged someone unfairly?
Rafael's mom says "fighting is for cowards" and "use your mouth before your fists." What do these two reminders mean to you?
How does Rafael decide to stop the lunch thief? Can you think of other ways he might have solved the problem?
Rafael learns that Kevin has been through a lot since wildfires swept through his town. What would you be feeling, thinking, or worrying about if you were in Kevin's situation?
INSPIRATION
"I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits."
--- Martin Luther King, Jr., Christian minister and activist