Who are the hungry? Putting a face to people in need

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PLANO—Millions of the nation’s most vulnerable lie in bed each night struggling to win a seemingly hopeless battle—the rumbling sound of their empty stomachs drowning out any word of hope.

But Christians nationwide  involved in ministries to the poor insist hunger is waiting to be abolished.

Roughly 36 million Americans are food insecure—unsure where their next meal is coming from. They are neighbors, friends and family, but many hide their need, causing most people to be unaware of their struggles.

Who are they? And why are they hungry? There is no single answer.

world hunger offering“Hunger has no face and no personality,” said Cheryl Jackson, founder of The Giving Movement , a Plano nonprofit organization. “It has no respect for one type of person. It is the working poor and the people devastated by an unexpected loss.”

Food insecurity is defined as the uncertainty of being able to acquire enough food for a healthy lifestyle. According to the Texas Food Bank Network, 1.3 million Texans are food insecure. The state is also highest in child food insecurity.

Many people believe the hungry are the continually nonworking, but Texas Hunger Initiative Director Jeremy Everett said that rarely is the case.

“The overwhelming majority of SNAP- (food stamps) eligible families are employed. They just need supplemental help to keep food on the table for their families,” he said. “I’ve heard of people pulling up in Escalades to food pantries because the month before, they were the executive of a company. With our economic situation, a lot of families’ most basic needs are not being

Inexcusable situation


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State Commissioner for the Texas Department of Agriculture Todd Staples termed the current situation inexcusable.

“Texas is a leader in many things; children who are food insecure should not be one of them,” he said. “Our future work force is being formed today, and our children are being educated today. We must break this cycle.”

Hunger is linked to many circumstances. Among the greatest is poverty. Susan Edwards, director of the Baptist Crisis Center in Midland, said some families would rather keep utilities running than buy groceries.

“When all else fails, you have to get to work, put gas in the car, pay your bills and insurance and wear appropriate clothes to work. So, food becomes an expendable item,” she said.

This leaves many parents unable to provide for their young, leaving children to search for their own source of sustenance.

“Where kids go hungry is when they don’t have access to food, like when they go home at night, on the weekends or during the summers,” said Jeremy Everett, director of the Texas Hunger Initiative , a partnership effort of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Com-mission and the Baylor  School of Social Work.

To provide food access, the U.S. government established the National School Lunch program—a federally assisted program that provides low-cost or free meals to more than 3 million children in Texas. It ends each year when school dismisses for summer.

Texas programs provide summer aid

Texas developed its own extension of the federal feeding program called Seamless Summer Option to help schools continue to provide meals for low-income children throughout summer months.

The Texas Department of Agriculture also developed the Summer Food Service Program, which partners with nonprofit organizations to provide summer feeding locations across the state. Texas has set up 3,200 feeding sites where any child 18 years and younger is eligible for free meals.

“We have made these programs a priority because the future of our state is dependent upon our youngest generation,” Staples said.

But Everett said there still are many barriers.

“We have 3 million kids who are on free and reduced lunch programs during the academic year, but only 78,000 children participate in summer feeding programs,” Everett said. “So, where do the others eat during summer months? Our biggest obstacle is connecting these dots.”

Faith-based organizations, food banks, the government and nonprofit service organizations are seeking to discover who the hungry are and how to effectively feed them. So, hunger becomes an issue for everyone, hunger experts said. If ignored, it will create turmoil for the future. Hunger causes long and short-term problems. From health and physical concerns to emotional issues, malnutrition causes stress to the mind and body.

“If every church in Texas would look, they would realize that in their city there is an area where there are children who are not eating because they don’t have food,” said Don Lane, pastor of CityChurch in Amarillo. “They don’t need to travel far to be involved.”


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