a hunger-free america - usa today

8/8/2019 A Hunger-Free America - USA Today

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A HUNGR-FR AMRICA

One in six Americans struggles with hunger including one in our children. Thats more than

49 million Americans who are not sure where they will fnd their next meal. As the nations largest

domestic hunger relie organization, Feeding America and our network o more than 200

member ood banks helps provide ood to those in need to not only survive but to thrive.

This September, during Hunger Action Month, we invite you to take action against

hunger, one o our nations most pressing issues. Visit us at feedingamerica.org.

*According to the United States Department o Agriculture Economic Research Service, November 2009.

We believe in a hunger-free america.

Take An Active ole in Eliminating HungerLETS WORK TOGETHER

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Where to volunteerink with yourlocal foo bank

ack-to-school ealspack sart lunchesan afterschool snacks

baas vowning chilhoohunger by 2015

photocourtesyofFeedingAmerica.

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ionofFeedingAmerica.


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CHALLNGsThe problems ofhunger and food insecurity are far more widespread in our countrythan many realize, and their damage is significant for children and for adults, for our na-

tions health and educational systems and outcomes, for our nations productivity, and forthe economy as a whole and our fiscal well-being.

liminating hunger in the U.s.

The latest o cial datafrom the CensusBureau and the U.S.

Department of Agri-culture are for 2008,and they tell us that49 million people

were living in households facingfood insecuritythe governmentphrase for families struggling withhunger.More than 16.7 million werechildren.

Solving this problem is essentialbecause the damage is so great.Ma-ternal under nutrition increases the

risk of certain birth defects and con-tributes to low infant birthweight.Food insecurity among very youngchildren can cause stunted growth,iron deciency anemia and delayedcognitive development. Food in-security harms childrens physi-cal growth and immune systems,causes weakened resistance to infec-tion,and in both early childhood andthe school years means that childrenlag their peers and learn less, and

these learning decits cumulate.

Everyone suffersFood insecurity during the adult

years means lower productivity,higher rates of hospitalization,andpoorer health. And adult hunger

also harms children.Often parentsdo everything they can to protecttheir children from hunger: the chil-

dren eat rst, and get enough toeat (though it may be lling but notan adequate, healthy diet becauseof resource constraints). But theparents go hungry to protect thechildren. The resulting stress anddepression harm not only the par-ents but the childrens health andprociency.

What all this comes down to isthat hunger and food insecurity notonly are unnecessary in our wealthy

nation,but they are vastly counter-productive to our nations goals.

An unnecessary probleThe good news is that we know what

works to solve hunger in Ameri-ca: a strong economy with sharedprosperity and rising wages for all;and common sense governmentsupports for children,working ageadults, and seniors who dont haveenough income for a healthy diet.

Those supports include the na-tions nutrition programsschoollunch and breakfast; the Women,Infants, and Children (WIC) pro-gram; nutrition in summer and af-terschool programs for children,andin child care; and food stamps (re-

cently renamed SNAP for the Sup-plemental Nutrition Assistance Pro-gram).These programs already are

boosting the health,early develop-ment,and productivity of millions of

Americans.But they need to do more.Often

schools, cities, states, and the fed-eral government dont take the ac-tions needed to reach eligible peo-ple.Only two-thirds of those eligibleactually receive SNAP/food stamps.Only 47 percent of eligible low-in-come children get school breakfast.

And benets in these programs of-

ten are not enough for purchasinghealthy food.

Achievable goalsIf we make sure that there is moreoutreach and less red tape,millionsmore hungry people can get the

benets they so desperately need.And if the already strong programsare made more eective by mak-ing benets adequate to meet thedaily needs of hungry people,we can

eliminate this unnecessary scourgeof hunger in the U.S.

President Obama has pledgedto end childhood hunger and dra-matically reduce adult hunger by2015. These are goals we can andmust acheive.

We serve over oneillion eals every

ay

Aidingsenior hungerearn how mealsn Wheels Asso-ciation of Aericahels the elerlywho cant leavetheir hoes.

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A huGER-FREE AMERICA1ST EDITI, SEPTEMBER 2010

Country manager: Jon [email protected] manager: Jackie mcderott

[email protected]

Responsible for tis isse:Publisher: Geraline [email protected] eveloper: uciana [email protected]: missy [email protected]: Stehen ray, KevinConcannon, Vicki scarra, Jo AnnJenkins, George mcGovern, margaretmcKenna, Kraig aasz, lizabeth

pivonka, ancy ice, ho eilly,Juy origuez, illy Shore,Sally Wayka, Ji Weill

istributed within:SA dA, Seteber 2010

his section was create by meialanetan i not involve SA dA or itsitorial deartents.

What all thiscoes own to isthat hunger anfoo insecurity notonly are unneces-sary in our wealthynation, but theyare vastly counter-rouctiveto our nations

goals.

Jaes . WeillPresident, Food Researcand Action Center

_ _ . :

Breaking stereotypes p. 10a stdents benet from foodstamps and coose to eat ealty.


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Donating nutritious meals. Fighting senior hunger. Ensuring kids

always have access to the healthy food they need to grow and learn.Our Foundation is working in local communities to create opportunitiesso people can live better. To learn more visit walmart.com/fightinghunger

Feeding families.

One community at a time.


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Food pantrie are feedingthe hungry by the million

INsPIRATION

Question: Where can wego if we are foo insecure?Answer: our local foo

antry will welcoe you!

Thanks to the economic

downturn, the nations foodpantries have seen a surge innew clientsoften ones you

wouldnt typically think youdsee shopping for free groceries.

According to Feeding Amer-ica, 36 percent of householdsserved by their network of food

banks have at least one adult working. But as salaries areslashed and costs of living goup, a single salary is often not

enough.I was back in school work-

ing toward my RN, and myhusbands job couldnt fullysupport our family of six, re-members Christina Hansen,

whose family relied for a whileon groceries from the Luther-an Food Pantry in Lancaster,

Ohio. The staples t hey receivedthere helped stretch their bud-get to cover other necessities.But Hansen got more thanfood during her visits. They

became my biggest supportersand coaches, encouraging me

to recognize that things weregoing to get bett er, she says.

Just as the faces of the cli-ents have changed, food pan-tries are changing too. At theHouse of Neighborly Servicein Loveland, Colorado, their

food baskets are designed bynutritionists and they evenoffer completely gluten-free

baskets for those with celiacdisease. At Emergency Fam-ily Assistance Association in

Boulder, Colorado, local farm-ers often drop off fresh, organ-ic produce.

Food pantries rely on vol-unteersmore than 700,000according to Feeding Ameri-cato help their clients. Andsometimes, the volunteers andclients are one in the same.Im looking forward to get-ting back on my feet so that Ican volunteer, says Erin Chan-

nel, who has used the resourc-es at the Gladden Food Pantryin Columbus, Ohio to feed him-self and his two daughters. I

want to give back to those whohelped me.

Taking a stand Take a look around you. Today,

odds are that one in six individualsyou meet arent getting enough toeat. Somewhere in your own com-munity is a parent that willingly sac-rices a meal so that his or her child

can have a decent breakfast.In yourown town a senior citizen has cho-sen to pay the electricity bill insteadof heading to the grocery store.Theyare a part of the ever-growing ranksof families turning to Americas food

banksa stark reality that shouldnot be ridiculed,especially when itcomes to the 17 million children whostruggle with hunger each year. Instead, we must respond with

the compassion, steadfast resolve,

and solidarity that have always fu-eled our great nation.Adequate in-

vestment in food and nutrition pro-grams is absolutely vital to food

banks and the hungry Americansthey serve.We must make no furtherdelay as the stance against domestichunger is ours to make.

DT MISS!

SaLLy WadyKa

[email protected]

VLUNTEEA pantry volunteerpicks up a foodorder at mid-hioFoodbank.Photo: JohN hoLLiGer

EAT FESH. Increasing the nutritional value of the food that mid-hio Food-bank supplies for partner agencies is an iportant priority. New in 2010 is a2,000 sq. ft. garden aintained by Foodbank volunteers. Photo: JohN hoLLiGer

As cooks of reiuquality, all natural sous,

chilis an chowers an asa collection of assionate

fooies, we at Kettle Cuisineare energize by feeingeole. his inclues anunwavering eication toheling eliinate hunger

by suorting Foo anks

an Foo pantries with ourroucts, our tie an a

share of our rofits. We hoethat you too will join the fight

against hunger.

www.kettlecuisine.cm

877-302-SoUP

Vicki B. EscarraPresident and CE,

Feeding AmericaVLUNTEEYU TImE

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Its about helping 49 million

o our neighbors, riends,

mothers, grandathers,

children and others

struggling with hunger

gain dignity

get strong

reach goals

hit a home run

be respected

eel good

laugh more

build confdence

dream big things

workhard

sleep well

jump rope

do better in school

smile a lot

be happy

stay together

make riends

read books

learn new things

grow taller

and live a better lie

with a brighter uture.

U.S. Foodservice is proud to be a longstanding partner of Feeding America to improve

lives and strengthen communities. Please join us by donating at www.feedingamerica.org.

For every $1 you donate, Feeding America and its network of food banks help provide

7 meals to men, women and children facing hunger. Together, we canmake a difference.

U.S. Foodservice is one of Americas leading foodservice distributors offering national brands and high quality

private label items ranging from meats to produce to frozen foods to more than 250,000 restaurants, hospitals,

schools, hotels and other customers. Discover more at www.usfoodservice.com.

Its about more than justfood.


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Question: How anychilren will go to be hungrytonight?Answer: early one in four

Aerican chilren ont haveenough to eat.

When you think of hunger andmalnutrition, chances are itconjures up images of starvingchildren in third world countries.But sadly, even in a country as

wealthy as our own, more than17 million children dont haveenough to eat. To address theissue, President Obama has set agoal for the United States to endchildhood hunger by 2015. It willtake the support of numerous

organizations to make that goala reality. The Food Research and

Action Center (FRAC) has laid outseveral key strategies in supportof Obamas pledgeincluding

bolstering current governmentnutrition programs and increas-ing support for low-incomefamilies to ensure they are able to

provide nutritious food for theirchildren.

Healthy, hunger-free kids A recent vote in the US Senatepassed Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids

Act. Not only does this legisla-

tion help provide more funds forhealthy school meals, but it alsoincludes provisions for getting

better foods into schools, mak-ing school cafeteria choices morenutritious and removing the junkfood vending machines fromschool grounds. This will help feedall of our children betterwhich

will, in turn, help them learn bet-ter and reach their full potential.

Feeding kidsoutside of schoolLots of children get free lunchesduring the school day, but manyof those same children are lack-ing food at breakfast, dinner,

weekends, and school vacations.The Sodexo Foundationwhichsupports many hunger-related

effortsstarted 22 nationwideBackpack Food programs tohelp address this need. Duringthe 2008/2009 school year, theprograms distributed take-homefood to more than 1,500 childrenevery week.

Sometimes, the simplest so-lutions can have the biggest im-pact. Share Our Strengths No KidHungry campaign has focusedsome of their eorts on market-ing and outreach to ensure thatfamilies who qualify for mealprograms know how to get in-

volved. We did robo calls, bus ad-vertisements, and notices in kidsbackpacks to parents to let themknow how to nd a summer meal

site for their kids, says Patri-cia Nicklin, managing director ofShare Our Strength. The result

was an 11 percent increase in par-ticipation.

GOV. VOWS TO ENDCHILD HUNGER BY 2015

SaLLy WadyKa

[email protected]

FILLING STmACHSShare ur Strength FounderBilly Shore and NationalSpokesperson for Share urStrengths No Kid Hungry Ca-paign, Actor Jeff Bridges, at asuer eals site in California.Photo: MiChaeL roBertSoN

What role do Federalnutrition prograslikeSNAP, WIC, school ealsplay in the fight againsthunger?

USDAs 15 nutrition assistanceprograms, which serve one infour Americans in the course ofa year, are the focus of the Fed-

eral eort to ght hunger andimprove nutrition in the UnitedStates. Our programs are the rstline of the defense against hun-ger as they provide millions of in-dividuals, children and familiesaccess to nutritious food.

What key things need tohappen in order to eetPresident baas goal toend hunger by 2015?

Ending childhood hunger by2015 is notably an ambitiousgoal that can be achieved. First,

we must vigorously implementall of our 15 Federal nutritionassistance programs in everycommunity across the coun-try. Achieving this goal requiresthat Federal, state and local gov-ernments, elected o cials, com-munity leaders, schools, citizen

volunteers, businesses, faith

and community-based organi-zations and agricultural produc-ers commit to t his goal and worktogether with persistence andcreativity.

Research and our experi-ence tell us that the fundamen-tal cause of domestic food inse-curity and hunger is principally

household poverty. While US-DA programs provide a safetynet that improves access to foodto those with critical needs, ad-dressing the causes of childhoodhunger requires a broad strategyto improve economic opportuni-ties, increase incomes and bol-ster other safety net programs. The Obama Administration

has worked with Congress on anaggressive program of actions toaddress poverty through a broadexpansion of economic oppor-tunity. The American Recoveryand Reinvestment Act of 2009made long-term investmentsin nutrition assistance to pro-mote vibrant neighborhoods andcommunities. The Administra-tion seeks to build on these ef-forts with groundbreaking im-

provements in the Child Nutri-tion Programs, which Congressis scheduled to reauthorize this

year. Strong program reformscan help to combat child hun-ger, reduce obesity, improve thehealth and nutrition of childrenacross the Nation, and enhanceprogram performance.

Kevin Concannon, uSDA underSecretary for Food, trition, andConsmer Services

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f the any challenges

we face, one issue issolvable: ending childhoodhunger in Aerica. One in four U.S.children is now

on food stamps and 62 percent ofpublic school teachers use theirown money to feed kids at school.

These kids arent hungry be-cause we lack food.They are hun-gry because they lack access tofood programs. Every time we in-crease access to school breakfast,

summer meals and SNAP / food

stamps,we bring resources to hun-gry kids.

President Obama wants to endchildhood hunger by 2015. ShareOur Strength,working with gover-nors,corporate partners and thou-sands of volunteers, believes we

can achieve that goal.

Billy Shore

Exective Directorand Fonder, Sarer Strengt

WITE TCNGESS

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Todays school districts are faced with more challenges

to teach, more students who need food, and less money

to address these important issues. Fortunately, E S Foods

brings you realistic, cost effective solutions for feeding

more students breakfast, which can have a direct impact

on educational outcomes. By implementing a classroom

or alternate site breakfast program, your district can use

your existing food service team and increase the number

of breakfasts served each day. With nutritious, balanced

breakfasts available to every student, your school could see

better test scores, improved student behavior

and an increased eagerness to learn.

Contact E S Foods at 516.682.5494 or

visit esfoods.com today to learn about

feeding more kids.

We need to fill their stomachs

before we can feed their minds.

It is a cruel dilea that inthe United States hungerexists side-by-side with anational obesity epideic,especially aong children.There has never beena greater need to helpindividuals and failieslearn about accessing andchoosing healthful foodoptions.

Doing this requires dierent typesof consumer nutrition educationthan have been tried before.

Nutrition education doesnt meanhanding someone a nutrition bro-chure; it means providing people

with expert guidance that is per-sonalized, practical and aordable.Our countrys food and nutrition ex-pertsregistered dietitians who are

members of the American Dietetic Associationare successfully cre-ating new approaches to nutritioneducation that empower people to

make positive behavior changes.

Students speak upThe ADA Foundations HealthySchools Program, a partnership

with American Council for Fitnessand Nutrition and PE4life, teamsschoolchildren with registereddietitians (called RD Coaches) toshow kids how food,nutrition andphysical activity can be both fun

and educational.Statistics from pi-lot programs in Kansas City, Mo.,and Des Moines, Iowa, show stu-dents are eating more fruits and

vegetables,snacking healthier andincorporating more activity intotheir days.

Because of the atmosphere oftrust created by these one-on-onerelationships, students share in-formation about their home life

foods that are available (if any),theirfamilies economic situation andtheir parents attitudes toward nu-trition and healthful eating.This al-lows RD Coaches to help studentsidentify practical solutions to theirsituations.

Registered dietitians are also in-volved with school and urban gar-dening,teaching kids how food isproduced,how to stretch dollars by

growing their own and how to en-joy new foods.One RD said noth-ing is more satisfying than seeinga students eyes light up when heor she tastes a new vegetable for

the rst time. These are the suc-cesses that symbolize 21st-centurynutrition education, creating andsolidifying lifelong healthy eating

behaviors.

Chooing healthful food option

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The School Breakfast and SchoolLunch Programs oer a true lifelineto many of our nations children.Our

number one objective at school is ed-ucation,and we must utilize what-ever tools that aid that outcome,something as simple as a healthyschool breakfast prepares a childfor performance today,and lifelongachievement. Research shows par-ticipation in school breakfast pro-grams improves behavior,attention,recall,and test performance.Particu-larly in low income areas,classroom

breakfast ensures all children re-ceive a nutritious meal,without thestigma of identifying a hungry child

who must go to the cafeteria.Thecost is too small and the outcomestoo great to not maximize the use ofschool breakfast as a tool to preparechildren for learning.We can all help

by demanding that if your schoolhas many low income children,

breakfast be served at their desks,intheir classroom.

FoRMR SNaToR goRg MgoVRN

Judith C.odriguez,Ph, , FAA,LNPresident2010-2011,

American DieteticAssociation

BREAkFAST AT SCh

ENCUAGEHEALTHY EATING

HABITS

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Schools play a criticalrole in helping parentsteach children abouthealthy eating habits.After all, children dontstop learning when theystep fro the classroointo the lunchroo!

School meals have come a long way, and they continue to im-prove by offering more whole

grains, fruits and vegetablesand low-fat dairy products. Kidfavorites are often baked in-stead of fried, and even pizzahas gotten a makeovermanyschools prepare pizzas with

whole grain crusts, low-fatcheese and low-sodium sauce.School nutrition directors havealso encouraged food com-

panies to make pre-preparedschool foods healthier, like ce-real that is lower in sugar andhigher in fiber.

Tips to try at hoeParents who take an interestin their childrens eating hab-its at school and at home canpromote a lifetime of healthychoices. Try joining your stu-dents for lunch or making time

to talk with them about the foodthey choose at school. When re-

viewing the cafeteria menu with your children, encouragethem to try new menu items.

And remember: sampling newfoods, especially fruits and veg-etables, at home can make chil-dren more willing to try thesefoods at school.

Be in the knowDont be shy about asking schoolnutrition sta about menu items,meal preparation methods, wait-ing time in line and so on. Youcan also get involved in updating

your school districts Local Well-

ness Policies, which determinewhat foods can be sold in vendingmachines and a-la-carte lines.

Take an interet in your child chool meal

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NaNy R, M.d, Rd, Ld, SNS

School utrition Association presient

[email protected]

Its dinner time in America. But for 1 in 4 children, youd never know it.

Dinner time is when families gather to share their day and create memories. But for nearly 17 million children,

dinner time can be the cruelest part of the day. Right here in the United States, almost 1 in 4 kids dont know

when they will have their next meal. You can help surround kids with the nutritious food they need to thrive.

Pledge to make No Kid Hungry a reality. See how at NoKidHungry.org .

A sart lunch

Federal nutritionstan-dards reqire scool lnces tolimit fat, satrated fat and por-tion size, and contain protein,calcim and oter critical vita-mins and ntrients. Schools receive little more

tan $1 to prcase ingredientsfor eac scool lnc. As yormember of Congress for morefnds for scool meals andfederal ntrition standards for

foods sold in vending macinesand a-la-carte lines. Get ore facts abot

ealty scool meals by visiting.TrayTal.org.

DID u kw?

PhT: RICk BRAD/SCh uTRITI ASSCIATI


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Eat fruits and vegtables!

Want to know a secret to goodhealth? Choices are endless inthe world of fruits and vege-tables! They come in a varietyof colors, avors, and forms:fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or100 percent juice. Filling half

your plate, both meals andsnacks, with fruits and veg-etables provides needed vita-mins, minerals, ber, and otherhealth promoting compounds

unique to fruits and vegeta-bles. Fruits and vegetables aretruly one of your best disease-ghting weapons. They aid in

weight control and help reducethe risk of heart disease, high

blood pressure, stroke, Type 2diabetes, and some cancers.

LzaBTH PVoNKa, PH.d., R.d.presient an C,

prouce for etter Health Founation

INsPIRATION

esearch has shownthat when you sit down toa eal at hoe together,the nutritional quality ofyour eals goes up, says

Tara Gidus, , a dieti-cian based in rlando,Florida.

And if you receive SNAP benets(formerly called Food Stamps),

you can use them to bolster thenutrition in your familys diet.Now we can walk into a store,and instead of looking for thecheapest alternatives, we canlook for the healthiest choices

for ourselves and our baby, saysBreandan ODonnell, a law stu-dent in Ohio. He and his wife,

who are expecting a baby thisfall, started receiving SNAP ben-

ets after they both went back tolaw school.

Setting the tablefor a successful dayBreakfast really is the mostimportant meal of the day, andit aects an individuals successat work, in school, energy levels,and ability to focus. Gidus sug-gests these simple, inexpensive,and nutritious options:

Eggs:A cheap protein power-house. Pair the eggs with a sliceof whole wheat toast and a pieceof fruit or glass of juice. ateal: Skip the pricy, pre-

avored single serving packetsand enhance the basic oats your-self by adding some raisins, freshfruit, a dollop of yogurt or somenuts. Pancakes: On weekends,

make breakfast a family aairand get everyone ipping ap-jacks. Add some berries to the

batter or top with bananas andchopped nuts.

Sarter afternoon snacksForget typical snack foods likechips, cookies and pretzels, saysGidus. They have very little nu-tritional value, are expensive and

can be high in calories. Instead,feed your stomachs with realfood to bridge the gap betweenlunch and dinner. Good optionsinclude: half a turkey sandwichon whole wheat bread, a handfulof trail mix (with nuts, dried fruitand whole grain cereal), or yogurt

with fruit.

No thank! to fat food

SaLLy WadyKa

[email protected]

mAKE mEALTImE A FAmILY

AFFAI

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It may be easier to drive thru the fast food restaurant at mealtime,but thats not the healthiestor even necessarily the cheapest

way to feed your family.

DID u kw?


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INsPIRATION

A trip to the grocery store these

days presents Aericans with atwo-pronged challenge: how to eathealthy and eat on a budget.

Across America, there is a growing focuson the need for healthy living,but this in-creased focus comes at a time when manyare struggling with limited budgets, and

worry they must choose between eatingsmart and eating aordably.

Thankfully there is one choice consum-ers can make that oer both.Frozen foods,

be they fruits or vegetables,family entrees,pizzas, dairy products and dessertsyes,even dessertsoer an easy way for Ameri-cans to eat smart and spend smart.

Are frozen foods healthy?In a word,yes.The U.S. Food and Drug Ad-ministration concluded that frozen fruitsand vegetables are nutritionally equiva-lent,or in some cases superior,to their freshcounterparts.Frozen fruits and vegetablesare picked at their ripest,helping preserve

freshness, and are left in their growing

environment longer,thus ensuring maxi-mum nutrient uptake from the soil.

Are frozen foods affordable?Aside from lower prices,the extended stor-age life of frozen foods helps stretch tight

budgets.Longer-lasting products make eco-nomic sense,as they are far likely to be eat-en,instead of thrown away due to spoilage.

To top it o, frozen foods help familiesmanage busy schedules.Almost 87 percentof consumers who purchase frozen food

highlight convenience as one of the prima-ry factors that motivated their purchase.

So,the next time youre trying to jugglesmart eating and smart spending,visit thefrozen food aisle.

AFFI is the national trade association thatpromotes and represents the interests of all seg-ments of the frozen food industry.

A cool path to better health

KRag R. NaaSz

presient an C, Aerican Frozen Foo nstitute

[email protected]

F PGAmSBreandan and Carlamichelle onnell, thirdyear students at aytonlaw and expecting a baby,are grateful for the stateof hios food assistanceprogra.Photo: Private


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How can I feed y faily on atight budget?

When money is tight,saving moneys ongroceries is critical.Here are a few tips:1) Buy in bulk.If you dont have the freez-er space,think about splitting with an-other family; 2) Use scraps and leftovers;3) Buy local from farmers markets and/or

join a local community-supported agri-culture co-op where you can get cheaperseasonal goods; 4) Cook seasonablyfoodin season is cheaper; and 5) Go heavy on

vegetables and cut back on meat.

Why has your industry takena ore proactive approach toalleviating hunger ?Helping older individuals live longer,healthier, and more fullling livesatevery stage of the aging process is the pri-mary focus of the Harrahs Foundation.

Ensuring older individuals maintainoptimal health, proper nutrition andavoid social isolation has been the cor-nerstone of our giving since our incep-tion of our Foundation and extremelyimportant to our employees.

Where can I volunteer?Before you begin looking for a volunteeropportunity,determine what type of vol-unteering you want to do. Are you good

with children or older individuals? Doyou care about the environment? Check

the local newspaper for organizationsthat need short or long term help,talk

with your employer about special pro-grams they support, have a discussion

with your friends and see what volun-teering they may do on their own.

Question: Who are theforgotten faces in the battleagainst hunger?Answer: he elerly are

often overlooke when itcoes to this issue, but sev-eral grous are working harto change that.

While hungry children tug onour nations collective heart-strings, an increasing number ofseniors are also coping with foodinsecurity. According the AARP,up to six million Americans overage 60 dont have enough to eat.Part of the problem, says BrianHoand, director of economicjustice at AARP, is that many ofthose in need arent getting thehelp theyre entitled to. One of

our goals is increasing the num-ber of seniors using SNAP [Sup-plemental Nutrition AssistanceProgram] to purchase nutrition-al food, he says. As of now, seven

million older Americans are eli-gible for SNAP [formerly knownas Food Stamps], yet only aboutone-third of them are receiving

benets.

Healthy food withoutleaving hoe

One program aims to ensurethat seniors who cant leavetheir homes or have troublecooking for themselves, arentleft without nutritious food. We

serve over one million mealsevery day in seniors homes orat community centers, saysMichael Flynn, director of com-munications, Meals on Wheels

Association of America. Bydelivering to those who arehomebound we are enabling

seniors to stay in their homesand remain independent.

Keeping seniors fed requiresmany handsand wallets.Meals on Wheels relies on an

army of over a million volun-teers, plus donations and grantsfrom individuals and corpora-tions. Walmart is one companythat has stepped up to the chal-lenge. The Walmart Foundationsaw an opportunity to help thethousands of people who were

on waiting lists to receive Mealson Wheels. A $750,000 grant in2008 was devoted to doing justthat. And in 2009, another $2.2million was earmarked to helpprovide microwaves, refrig-erators and transportation. Ithink its a sad statement thatseniorswhove contributedso much to societyare goinghungry, says Margaret A. McK-enna, president of the Walmart

Foundation. A lot of people for-get about this issue, but its ourhope that more attention will

be paid to it.

INsPIRATION

SaLLy WadyKa

[email protected]

Aiding enior hunger

An astonising six millionseniors are going ngry inte u.S. today, and nearly 40percent of Americans aged

65+ live on less tan $21,000per year. Te recession asslammed millions of olderAmericans into near-pover-ty, as conted-on retirementfnds ave srn or disap-peared.

help is available, bt most se-niors arent sing it. Jst one-tird of older people eligible forSAP, te federal governments

food assistance program, re-ceive benets. ter age gropsparticipate at rogly ticetat rate. wy do so fe seniors ap-

ply? Many dont no it exists, orare too embarrassed or prod to

as for elpeven tog teirtaxes spport it. To redce n-ger among seniors, e need toincrease teir participation in

SAP. Tat means raising teiraareness and, even more im-portant, redcing te stigma ofasing for elp.

FACTS

Jo aNN JNKNS

presient AAp Founation

Tho eillyExective Director,

harras Fondation

advocating for proven public policies

to end hunger in Americawww.frac.org

DT MISS

SaLLy WadyKa

[email protected]

Jo aNN JNKNS

presient, AAp Founation

PhTS: MwAA, IDSA BES GARRETT


13/16

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE FACE OF

SENIOR HUNGER?She may look fine. But in fact, she's hungry. Research underwritten by the

Harrahs Foundation has shown that many of the men and women most in

need of meal services aren't sick, destitute or living in remote areas. Mostly,

they're our neighbors. And they need our help. That's why, since 2002, the

Harrah's Foundation has contributed millions of dollars in direct support and

food delivery vehicles to organizations across the nation that provide meals

to older individuals. We invite you to join us

by donating generously to your local food

pantry or meal delivery programs.

Learn more at www.harrahsfoundation.com.


14/16


PANL OF XPRTs

Those interested in assisting

with local Child Nutrition Pro-grams can contact their schooldistricts main oce, or the StateDepartment of Health or Educa-tion or Agriculture, which moni-tor local programs on behalf the

United States Department of Agri-culture. See http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/contacts/statedirectory.htm for more information.

Failies should know thatthey are not alone in their strug-gle to put food on the table. Thereare more than 49 million people atrisk of hunger in the U.S., includ-ing 17 million children.In addition to the federally fund-ed Nutrition Assistance Programs,there are many charitable and

religious organizations that canhelp. Local food banks are a won-derful resource to not only pro-

vide food but to connect to otherresources in the community.

ont be afraid to use all theresources available to you. Forchildren, make sure they are en-rolled in the free or reduced pricemeal program during the school

year, they participate in after-school feeding programs, and takeadvantage of the Summer Food-service Program. If any of these

Child Nutrition Programs are notavailable, contact your state agen-cy to nd the nearest available re-source.

There are at least three keythings that you can do no matter

where you live or work: donatemoney and food; volunteer at alocal food bank or soup kitchen,and advocate through letting yourelected representatives know that

this is an issue of concern to you.Fortunately, there are many won-derful organizations that helppeople at risk of hunger. You cannd many of these resources on

www.helpSTOPhunger.org.

If you need help to feed yourfamilyask.In the dicult econo-my, food banks are being accessedmore than ever. Walmart has sig-nicantly increased its grants tohunger relief organizations and in-creased our donations of healthyfoodwere now the largest do-nor of food in the U.S.Healthy food

can cost the same or less than fastfood and our Foundation is sup-porting organizations like ShareOur Strength that teach familieson a budget to shop for and preparehealthy meals.

There are great websites thathelp match volunteers withnonprofit organizations. Al-so, many workplacesinclud-ing Walmartwill give funds tomatch the hours their employees

volunteer. Our website, Walmart.

com/ghtinghunger, will connecta potential volunteer with a hun-ger relief organization by ZIP code,and were encouraging our associ-ates and customers to volunteer.

Question 3:Where can thoseinterested in volun-teering get started?What resources are

available to them?

Question 1:What is the mostimportant tip youcan give readers on abudget who need tofeed their family?

George mcGovernFormer u.S Senator fromSot Daota, 1972 Demo-cratic Presidential Candidate

and no a orld ambassa-dor on isses of nger.

Stephen J. BradyPresidentSodexo Fondation

margaret mcKennaPresidentwalmart Fondation

Childhood hungers lifelongeects on children are devastat-ing. As a former educator, I cantell you that a simple change,

such as ensuring children havereceived a nutritious breakfastat the start of school, preparesthem for learning and achieve-ment. A hungry child cannotlearn, and an unschooled childsstruggles will continue intoadulthood.

As a world leader in Quality ofDaily Life Solutions, we serve nu-tritious meals to millions of peopleeveryday in public school districts,

private and independent schools,colleges, and university campusacross the nation. Unfortunately,for many young children covered

by the federal nutrition program,their school meal is their only mealof the day. This tragic reality has aterrible cost since malnourishedchildren are absent from schoolmore often,have an impaired abil-ity to learn and suer more illness.

We see this issue rst hand and be-

lieve that we can impact the quali-ty of life for our nations children byworking to end hunger.

ont be afraid to ask for help!Budgets bend only so far, andsometimes they break. Local food

banks and pantries can help, ascan SNAP, the governments pro-gram to help low-income people

buy healthy food. To see if youreeligible, go to www.aarp.org/snap.SNAP is easy to useyour benets

come on a special debit card thatmost grocery stores accept.

For ways to ake a dierencego to aarp.org/hunger. Or call yourlocal food bank to see what theyneed. Some need volunteers withspecial skills, such as accountingor information technology. If youcant donate your time, donate

your money, and try to get othersto do the same. Hunger is a solv-able problembut only if each ofus helps solve it.

Jo Ann JenkinsPresident

AARP Fondation

Hunger at any age is uncon-scionable, yet hunger among old-er adults is often overlooked. Ourmission is to serve vulnerable,

low-income people 50-plus, in-cluding those who may not know

where their next meal is comingfrom. We are shining a light onthis problem because of the broadscope and devastating impact ofhunger among seniors.

Grocery stores have a respon-sibility to our customers. And asthe nations largest grocer, wesee how families are struggling,

and we feel a responsibility tohelp. Weve committed $2 billionto hunger relief eorts through2015 to ensure those who need ex-tra help are getting the resourcesthey need. Hunger is a problemthat can be solved and we must

work collaborativelytogetherwe can reach a day where no in-dividual in this country has to gohungry.

Question 2:Why has yourindustry decided to

take and even moreproactive approachto alleviating hungerin our country?


15/16

Thank you to our partners who support

our vision for a hunger-free America.

The StarrFoundation

The LincyFoundation

TheWalton Family

Foundation

Leadership Partners

Mission Partners

W ith one in six Americans lacking steadyaccess to nutritious meals, someone youknow could be struggling with hungerlike

Jennifer, a Florida teacher who was laid off justweeks after her son was born; Bill from Ohio, who

once had a middle-income job to support his wife,

his three teenagers and the monthly mortgage

on his dream home; or Judy and Steve, retirees

constantly trying to maintain the delicate balance

of their fixed incomes between food, bills and

rising medical costs. Across the country, 49 million

people with similar stories are facing hunger.

Hunger is at a crisis level in our nation. Feeding

America fed 37 million Americans in 2009, an

increase of more than 12 million in just four short

years. Thats the bad news, said Vicki Escarra,

president and CEO of Feeding America. The good

news is that so many individuals and companies

have stepped forward to help us end hunger. Last

year more than 700,000 Americans volunteeredfor the Feeding America network, and donations

of food and funds are at an all-time high. But more

help is needed. We all need to continue our

collective efforts to feed our neighbors.

More than 200 Feeding America member food

banks, a Chicago national office and a D.C. legisla-

tive office are working tirelessly to one day reach

each and every one of the 49 million individuals

that need our help. Keeping in step with President

Obamas efforts to End Childhood Hunger by 2015,

Feeding America programs including Kids Cafe

and BackPack, serve 14 million children annually.

Nearly three million seniors rely on the services of

Feeding America to get the sustenance they need

to thrive. With the help of generous corporate

partners, the organization is creating accessibilityto fresh produce and proteins through mobile

pantry and retail store pick up programs. In the

midst of childhood obesity pandemic, nutrition

programs have been implemented to teach clients

healthy ways to enjoy the billions of pounds

Feeding America distributes each year.

Feeding America, the nations largest hunger-relief

organization, can only provide such hope in times of

need because of generous partners and supporters.

Learn how you can help fight hunger

by visiting feedingamerica.org.

Feeding America

brings hope to millions.


16/16

Every day, through no fault of their own, nearly 25% ofAmericans age 65 and above are faced with heartbreaking

choices. And the harsh reality is that many are forced

to decide between medications and food on the table.

Or heating their home and paying their mortgage.

Its sad but true, which is why AARP Foundation is here.

We are a charity committed to ensuring that vulnerable

seniors have the resources they need through community

programs and services across the country.

But we cant do it alone. Your gift could mean the dierence

between hope and hopelessness. To nd out how you can

help today, call us at 1-888-OUR-AARP or donate online

at aarp.org/hunger.

a hunger-free america - usa today

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