As a blogger correspondent for ConAgra I’ve learned more about child hunger than I knew before, and enough to realize this is a problem that needs to be beaten, as well as one that is very much right in our own back yards.
Did you know that in 2009, 17.2 million children under the age of 18 are living in food insecure households compared to 16.7 million in 2008? That means that nearly one in four children in the United States (23.2%) live in food insecure households. A staggering 20% or more of the child population in 30 states (and District of Columbia) are living in food insecure households, with the states of Arkansas (28.5%), DC (27.2%) and Arizona (27.1%) having the highest rates of children in households without consistent access to food.
I’ll be visiting an area food bank in the near future. I mentioned this to my older son TJ the other day, while one of his friends was over. I was not quite prepared for the way the conversation went, or how close to home the subject hit.
I mentioned to the boys that an average of 1 in 4 children didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. When asked what I meant, I explained that it meant that parents had to choose between paying for food and paying for rent, utilities or medical care, and that in many cases the parents gave up their own meals so that their children could eat. My son’s friend joined in the conversation and said that his mother had given up meals just so they could eat. I kept the conversation going without dwelling on what he’d said, not wanting the boy to feel self-conscious or embarrassed. I’m sure the boy doesn’t fully understand how hunger effects learning, productivity and health, or that a child who is unequipped to learn because of hunger and poverty is more likely to be poor as an adult.
Have a discussion with your children and see where it goes. You may be surprised at how close to home the problem is.
Remember, there are several ways you can fight child hunger.
Go Grocery Shopping – From March through May 2011, ConAgra Foods will embark on its largest branded initiative to fight child hunger in the United States. Consumers can purchase select ConAgra Foods brands and, when they enter their code online, the company will donate one meal to Feeding America – up to 2.5 million meals this during the time period.* Visit www.childhungerendshere.com and enter the eight-digit purchase code found on specially marked packages. Participating brands include: Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice, Fresh Mixers, Kid Cuisine, Marie Callender’s and Peter Pan. Every code entered is another meal that ConAgra Foods will enable Feeding America to secure through local food banks. Codes on specially marked packages can be redeemed through August 2011.
Text to Donate – Consumers can make a financial contribution to Feeding America through a mobile giving campaign. Simply text “FEEDKIDS” to 50555 to make a $10 donation directly to Feeding America through June 30, 2011.
Watch the Special – On March 19 in select markets**, “Child Hunger Ends Here: A Special Report,” a 30-minute special hosted by Al Roker with Natalie Morales, will premiere on NBC highlighting the personal stories of families struggling with hunger and showcasing how Americans can work together to tackle this issue. Check local listings for viewing times. During the special, viewers can also participate in an online event that will shed additional light on the child hunger issue. By following #ChildHungerEndsHere on Twitter during the broadcast, participants can ask questions from an expert panel, as well as learn about ways to get involved. In addition, a series of PSAs will run in select markets highlighting key child hunger issues and the text to donate program.
Spread the Word – Individuals can get more information on the child hunger issue by following ConAgra Foods on Facebook and Twitter. When you become a fan at facebook.com/ConAgraFoods, you can see how your donations are making a difference and share your own photos and stories. You can also follow the issue and get the latest information at twitter.com/ConAgraFoods.
This post is part of a sponsored partnership with ConAgra Foods as part of the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign. As always, my opinions are my own.