Food Stamp Challenge For Hunger

It was difficult to read that countless millions of federal dollars and many of our country's most successful efforts to halt the spread of childhood hunger and starvation have recently been withdrawn. And as a result, this problem of childhood hunger is not getting better but is actually getting worse. The most recent estimates compiled by the USDA in 1999 indicate that 36.2 million Americans live in food-insecure households, which means that their access to adequate and safe food is limited or uncertain. This too is very disturbing information.

Additionally, Food commodities include a variety of foods, such as nonfat dry and ultra-high-temperature fluid milk, juice, farina, oats, ready-to-eat cereal, rice, pasta, peanut butter, dry beans, canned meat, poultry, or fish, and canned fruits and vegetables

Did you know that 17% of Americans in rural areas live below the poverty line, and out of those 17%, 15 million of those individuals are children? (Hunger In America 2014). The month of September was Hunger Action month and many individuals helped raise awareness by taking the Food Stamp (SNAP) Challenge. This challenge consists of an individual living on the SNAP balance of a $6-7 per day budget for food. Many individuals came to the realization that this is a difficult budget, and does not meet the nutritional needs for a family.

Comparing my menus (on a normal day with the food stamp day), it can clearly be seen that the latter is less nutritious. However, one might argue that the health differences aren't that much due to the unhealthy nature of both menus. On the CalFresh benefit day, I had trouble planning a healthy and satisfying menu because the healthy menus under $6.50 aren't satisfying or the other way round (the satisfying menu aren't healthy). By reason of being a college student, I went for the latter, satisfying but unhealthy menu.

This program promotes volunteering in the community in exchange for reasonably priced meal packages. I met with Alice D., the woman that runs the program from the La Plata church to discuss this program. If Pastor and the council agrees to allowing this program to be established at the church, Alice D. has offered to sponsor our church and mentor me until we can get the program up and running at our church in Bryans Road. This program saves money on groceries and builds strong communities through the use of volunteer work, which is required with the purchase of a monthly package of nutritional and affordable food. I believe this could be an excellent program to assist those in need in our local

Most people are fortunate enough to have three, healthful meals every day. Although, this is not typical for everyone in America. 1 in 6 people in America battle hunger every day. A majority of these people have children to care for. Children who struggle with hunger are more likely to have academic or behavioral problems. Typically, parents with children often encounter some form of unemployment at some point. Sadly, because of these exasperating issues up to 5,000 people starve to death each year.

Food stamps are an important component of low-income families’ monthly resources, increasing the chances that families are able to meet basic needs (Ratcliffe, McKernan & Finegold, 2008). This form of food relief dates back to the Great Depression when many Americans lost their jobs and did not have money to feed their families. People were starving while farmers produced abundant crop that could not be sold due to a lack of consumers with buying power (Dorsch, 2013). The Federal Surplus Relief Corporation which was a part of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, bought basic farm goods at low prices and distributed the among hunger relief agencies in different states and local communities (Congressional Digest, 2013).

Did you know that in 2014 there were 48.1 million Americans that lived in food insecure households? When a household is food insecure, it means that its residents have trouble meeting their basic nutritional needs due to lack of money or

Reports from Feeding America, 42 million americans go hungry every night(CNBC). Nearly 1 in 7 Americans go to bed hungry at night. Also with 15.8 million U.S households didn’t have food to eat at some point. Last year the government handed out $74 billion in food-assistance benefits about double the level of 2008(CNBC). As of 2016, there were 95 million americans without a job in the workforce(CNBC). Over 20 million children in the U.S will have received the supplemental nutritional benefits also known as food stamps. With new restrictions on food-stamp eligibility, in the form of work requirements, mandatory drug testing, and so on. It’s ironic the world's “richest” country has nearly 1 in every 7 americans going to bed hungry. With all of the food this country prepares through schools, restaurants or even at home think about the amount of food being wasted and thrown away throughout only half of the

4. A single bag of food—which provides highly nutritious meals for six children—costs around $1.44 to produce, and 93 percent of all donations to FMSC goes directly toward the food program.

The United States is known as the wealthiest country in the world. But, there are many people that can't afford to buy food for their families, many are also homeless. “While hunger affects people of all ages, it's particularly devastating for children even short-term episodes of hunger can cause lasting damage."(“Child Nutrition Programs") Child hunger in the United States is caused by poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and food shortage; however there are many solutions to this problem like FRAC strategies, food banks, summer feeding programs, and backpack feeding programs.

The Food Stamp Program, now known as, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the U.S. largest food assistance agency, whose annual budget is $75 billion (U.S. Dept. of Agri., 2012). SNAP was created in 1969 to help combat hunger and improve the nutrition and health of low income families. Indeed, the federal government is acting irresponsibly and contributing to Americas obesity epidemic by allowing SNAP participants to purchase junk food, such as soda; therefore, sugary based beverages should be eliminated as an acceptable food item, expand knowledge regarding nutrition education and wellness programs and lastly, revise SNAP to meet current dietary guidelines and restrict unhealthy foods to benefit recipients.

Nationwide, 95.1% of Americans are employed, and 64.9% own a home. In fact, per capita, United States ranks as the 9th richest of 195 countries in the world. So, why do 1 of every 6 Americans struggle with hunger? As a first world country, America has the ability to feed every person within its borders. The United States is one of the greatest nations in the world, but according to data gathered between 2011-2012 by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, (OECD),”America may have the worst hunger problem of any rich nation.”. In fact, America is ranked the 6th country in the world for struggling with hunger, right after Mexico, Turkey, Hungary, Chile, and Estonia.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program is another food distribution program that currently operates in 23 states, in the District of Columbia, and on two Indian reservations (Guthrie & Lin, 2002). The eligible requirement for elderly is that they must have a household income at or below 130% of federal poverty guidelines (Guthrie & Lin, 2002). The last societal program is the Child and Adult Care Food Program, which provides meal and snack reimbursements to nonresidential daycare

In 2014, a foundation called Feeding America did a survey on the people they serve and found that in order to stretch their food budgets 79% of them purchase inexpensive and unhealthy food in order to stay fed. This can seriously impact their health, because no matter the age, healthy bodies and minds require nutritious meals. In some cases, food insecurity can even lead to Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity. These are just a few examples of why food insecurity is so harmful. Fortunately, there are many organizations, clubs, and foundations that are committed to ending hunger in America, and eventually the world. The first step to solving this problem is spreading information, and realizing just how dangerous food insecurity is, and who it affects. After learning these things, you may want to help and there are many ways to do that. I’m sure in the past, you've donated food to the annual canned food drive our school puts on, and that’s just one way you can contribute to solving this problem. There are many organizations that ask for donations and will put your money to great use, for example every dollar you donate to Feeding America will provide 11 meals for a child in need.If you don’t have food or money to donate, you can donate