Priscilla's Story Short Story

Fortunately there are programs that assist families in crisis and can help to feed the children of the United States; however the number of hungry children is growing. Child hunger in the United States has been described as an increasingly complex problem and has been called the “silent epidemic.” (Goldstein, 2009)

In the United States, single parents, african americans and hispanics, households with children, and citizens with incomes below the poverty line were most susceptible to food insecurity. Those facts may not be very surprising. However, what is is the shear amount of people who face hunger in the United States.

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.

A. How many of you are worried about where your next meal will come from? Are you unsure of how you’re going to purchase next week’s groceries or what you will be feeding your children for dinner tonight? This probably isn’t something most of you think about from day to day. When you are hungry, you eat. It’s easy for you to grab a sandwich, order a pizza, or run through the drive thru when you are on the go. However, there are many families, not just in other countries, but here in the United States as well, that are going hungry every day. According to kidshealth.org, a child dies from malnutrition and related causes every 6 seconds.

One in six children in the United States do not know when they will get their next meal. Children who are facing hunger struggle in school, are more likely to repeat a grade, have developmental concerns and have behavioral problems. The National School Lunch Program has brought meals to millions of children from food insecure families for free or reduced rates.

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many of our country's most successful efforts to halt the spread of childhood hunger and starvation have recently been withdrawn.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.

In the chapter Body and Mind, Shipler talks about food. "Food is one of the few flexible parts of a tight budget."(Shipler, 201) Other bills can not be changed, rent, utilities, phone bill can not be negotiated, and the amount is due on the due date, period. Food on the other hand can be nipped to fit what money is left over after the concrete bills are paid. "The result is an array of malnourished children in America."(Shipler, 201) When the children are hungry they can not concentrate at school, develop properly or fight off illness. This pushes these children farther and father away from hope of climbing out of poverty. If they can not concentrate and do well in school, they will perhaps not graduate, not get into college, and not get a good job. If they can not develop and fight off illness, they could be doomed to either a sickly life or a very short one. The parents are unable to get proper medical attention and even if they are able if the nutritional situation doesn't change, the medical treatment is almost pointless because the child can't survive with the constant lack of basic needs. Many children suffer from a condition know as "failure to

So, why do fifteen million children in America face hunger every day? How does this happen? Many people are on food stamps, and they can be extremely helpful, but it is difficult to feed family with them. Food stamps provide only a dollar per person for each meal, according to the organization, Food is Power. More often than not, unhealthy, processed foods are a lot less expensive than nutritious, organic food, and because of this issue, many people on food stamps reach for less expensive junk food. Unquestionably, healthy foods can be very hard to find and expensive in places like food deserts. Food is Power found that thirty-three percent of Americans live in food deserts. Of course, public transportation helps families reach grocery stores, but it still can be a lengthy trip, and in rural and suburban areas, there can be little or no public transportation at all. These issues make it a struggle for parents to provide healthy food for their

Imagine your stomach growling, a feeling of emptiness, fatigue, and an inability to concentrate. Most people would associate these feelings with hunger and eat. Unfortunately, many Americans do not have the luxury of eating because of living in poverty. According to the Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of people living in poverty rose from 31.6 million in 2000 to 36.5 million in 2006. The number of people living in households facing food insecurity rose from 31 million in 1999 to 35.5 million in 2006. More than 12 million of the people living in food insecure households were children (Labue, 2009). Food America (2017) reports:

(2016, December 18). “African children still going hungry” author Larson states that it doesn't take much to cause world hunger and all it takes is a drought and a failed harvest. While this is true and educational it is a biased opinion and lacks statistical support. This article connects to the reader on an emotional level but it lacks information and facts. Larson provides real life examples of world hunger. 2 year old Aliou is just one of those in this article that is affected by world hunger. According to Larson, K. (2016, December 18). “African children still going hungry” “Aliou Seyni Diallo collapses to his knees in tears and plops his forehead down on the dirt outside his family's hut.Soon he is wailing inconsolably and writhing on his back in the sand. A neighbour spots him, picks him up easily by one arm, and gives him a little uncooked millet in a metal bowl. The toddler shovels it into his mouth with sticky fingers coated in tears and grime. The crying stops, for the moment.” (para 1). Larson uses Aliou’s story to touch the audience's heart. While this article can really touch the reader it lacks supporting information and facts. A lack of statistics can be uninteresting to the

The one thing that we all need is Food. In the U.S. and all over the world there are many people who lack the funds to buy food and millions of starving children. Anna states in her essay that most kids have trouble getting food when school is out because that is the primary source that provides breakfast and lunch. “Summer is really ground zero in the battle to keep kids fed.” (pg 224)

The United States is known as a the wealthiest country on the planet. There are many poor people in this country that can't afford to buy food for their families; many are 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.

“Some kids don’t get enough to eat, no matter what people want to tell themselves.” Hunger in the United States, particularly since the institution of

A recent study conducted by the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project (CCHIP) recorded that nearly 8% of American children under the age of 12 years old continuously experience hunger each year. The project also concluded that childhood hunger could be related to a lack of resources. The study also examined the relationship between food insufficiencies found in low income school aged children and their abilities to mentally function. Alarmingly, the study found that hungry and at-risk for hunger children were twice as likely as children receiving adequate meals to be classified as having impaired functioning. The study also reported that Teachers noted increased levels of hyperactivity, absenteeism, and tardiness among the lower

As American philosopher, Wayne Dyer, once said, “How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours”. Which becomes true in “Priscilla and the Wimps” when the shy girl, Priscilla, finally stood up to the bully, Monk Clutter. Richard Peck’s short story “Priscilla and the Wimps” is a low comedy that uses caricatures and hysterical situations.