Hungry for Change

It hasn't snowed much yet this year here in Michigan, where many children have a complex ritual of wearing their pajamas inside out,  putting ice cubes in the toilet before bed, and something else that involves white crayons on the windowsill…  just to increase the chance of a snow day and no school.

Not all children hope for that snow day. There are many children that breathe a sigh of relief when they wake to clear skies, roads, and a school day.

In the United States (I want to repeat that: In the United States)  roughly 1 in 5 families don't have enough food.  It's called being 'food insecure' and is defined by the USDA as a state of being where 'consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year'.

It's estimated that close to 16 million children in the United States live in homes that are food insecure. For many of these children Winter Break is not the time for rejoicing. Snow days don't mean a day playing video games and sipping hot chocolate.

Days not in school mean

• -No breakfast
• -No lunch
•  - Limited access to adequate food

Children that rely on school as the major source of meals can already anticipate hunger over the weekends during the school year. Longer times off, like Christmas, can strain a family food plan that relies on school-provided breakfasts and lunches now that the children are home all day.

At a time of year when it's gray and dreary outside, commercials show piles of sweets and presents, the talk is all about what a person hopes to GET, it can be depressing and dispiriting when you know you don't have enough food to GIVE to your family.

Visions of sugarplums dance in their heads, as do whispers of waffles, capering cookies, sauntering sausages, capering chickens, prancing potatoes,  and the whole operatic musical buffet.

1 in 5 families, that's 20% of all families, are food insecure.

Almost 16 million US children receive their only sure meals at school. (One out of 10 of those children are homeless, according to data collected by the McKinney-Vento Educational Program.) Over 5 million US senior citizens are also food insecure and don't have the opportunity of even that chance to receive a meal each day.

One of those families may be one you know. One of those families may be yours.

There is help: places to help and places to give help.

Although the distance to help depends on where you live and the ability to travel, there are nationwide organizations that can provide food both in emergencies and assist on an ongoing basis.

Sometimes the quickest way for families with children to receive help is to talk to the school's guidance counselor. Food insecurity doesn't mean that you have failed your children, it doesn't mean that you will lose your children. It just means that you need help.

There are also good nationwide programs, and finding them can be as easy as entering your zip code:

No Kid Hungry has an interactive map to help families find places where they can get free meals.

Feeding America has Local Food Bank finder.

Take Action

*Donate to food banks, pantries, and shelters.

You may be expecting a list of items that are needed, and that will follow. First, though, there is one thing that all three of these places need: cash. Money. Donations of gift cards to local grocery stores.

Many non-profit organizations can stretch a dollar farther than the average person, and they are aware of what they most need. So- if you are blessed enough to contribute money please do so.

Before donating food to a food bank, pantry, or shelter ask yourself how it can be prepared before being eaten. 

• Does it need cooked? (electricity for microwave, gas for stove, etc.)

• Does it need hot water? (There are many children that have never eater ramen packets as soup, instead they eat the noodles raw and duster with the seasonings.)
• Does it need a can opener? (this is a practical item to include with any donation of canned goods)
• Does it need to be eaten with something else? (Peanut butter goes best on crackers or bread. Maybe even with jelly or jam. Or a carton on shelf-stable milk.)
• Mac and cheese is a pantry favorite. (But think of all the things needed to prepare it. Think or being five years old and needing to make it on your own.)

If you and your family are blessed with having enough to eat please take action to make the coming new year happier for your neighbors.

---

Please click on the tiny heart below so I know this story clicked with you.

You can read more of my writing on Vocal here.

You can find me here on Medium.