In our society of over-indulgence and excessive food waste, there are shockingly, millions of children who still go to bed hungry each night. For some, this is an occasional hardship but for many more, hunger is a daily experience. The hunger-relief organization, Feeding America, says 13.1 million children lived in food-insecure households in 2015. “Food insecurity” simply means a child doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from.
Not everyone struggling with hunger qualifies for federal nutrition assistance. A report by the USDA Economic Research Service shows that, in 2014, 48.1 million Americans lived in food-insecure households, including 15.3 million children. Households with children reported food insecurity at a significantly higher rate than those without children.
There is a particular need to provide food for children on weekends, school holidays, school closures due to events like snow days, and summers when government-provided free and reduced price school lunches are not available. NCGH believes we all have a moral obligation to help these children. Some communities have social service agencies to help, some have food banks, and some have other ways to supplement a portion of this need. But no government or community organization can do it alone. NCGH seeks to inspire, encourage and support in tangible ways, faith-based organizations and community outreach groups willing to stand up for some of our most vulnerable citizens to make sure no child goes to bed hungry.