Hunger and Food Insecurity
Despite the shift in terminology (from hunger to food insecurity), the experience is the same… having too little of the right food on a regular basis to maintain one’s energy, ability to learn, and live in good health. Learn more and help take a bite out of hunger!
Introduction
Many of us take it for granted that we need not worry about our next meal. But for hundreds of millions of people worldwide, including many children, food insecurity is a serious problem. Many thousands right here in Connecticut suffer from hunger and food insecurity as a result of poverty. Continue to learn more about the issues on a local, state, national and global level, and what you can do to fight hunger.
Exploring Hunger on the Local Scene
Hunger and food insecurity are problems for many Connecticut citizens, despite the fact that our state is one of the wealthiest in the nation. Before we move on, the distinction between these two interrelated issues should be made clear. According to End Hunger Connecticut, food insecurity is the lack of assured access at all times to enough food for healthy, active lives, while hunger is the mental and physical condition that comes from not eating enough food due to insufficient resources.
Hunger affects people in a variety of negative ways, according to Greater Hartford’s foodbank, Foodshare. Pregnant women that are malnourished are more likely to have stillborn or unhealthy babies, and undernourished infants and children are susceptible to learning and other developmental problems. Hungry adults are less likely to enjoy good health and are often less energetic and productive, affecting their ability to care for children or find and keep a job.
Hunger is everywhere in Connecticut, from the big cities of Hartford and Bridgeport to the dozens of small towns and villages scattered across the state. End Hunger CT reported in 2007 that 283,000 people in Connecticut are food insecure, over 85,000 of which suffered from very low food insecurity at some point during the year; many of these are children. In fact, one out of every five children under the age of twelve in the state is hungry, totaling 102,000 hungry children.
Connecticut, however, has less of a hunger problem than most states. According to the USDA, 10.9% of American households (over 12 million households with more than 35 million people) are food insecure, compared to only 8.6% of Connecticut households.
From Local to Global
Both locally and globally, the problems of food insecurity and hunger are ultimately a result of poverty. One startling global statistic, reported by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), is that one out of seven people in the world, almost a billion people, go to bed hungry. Over a billion to not have access to safe drinking water, exacerbating the situation of malnutrition, a serious crisis intimately related to hunger.
Nearly thirty percent of the world’s population suffers from malnutrition. The problem is especially dire in the developing world, where twenty percent of the population is chronically undernourished, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization. The FAO also reports that of the 12 million child deaths each year around the world, over half are related to malnutrition.
Responding
Education and advocacy are important pieces of the fight against hunger and food insecurity. There are many actions you can take to spread the word about the issue. If you belong to any organization like a church or fraternal group, give a short speech about the problem and ways to help. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to ensure that more people read about hunger. Political leaders have the most power to enact change – you can always give them a call or write a letter so they know that people care about this issue.
Hands on Hartford offers many ways to get involved with the issue of hunger. Check the project calendar to find a service opportunity that fits your schedule and interest.
Resources
The above information was taken from the following sources. Click on the links to learn more: End Hunger Connecticut, Foodshare, U.S. Department of Agriculture, International Food Policy Research Institute, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization.
