The Human Face of Hunger By Cyndie Sirekis

Americans are fortunate. While hunger does exist in our nation of plenty, multitudes of people don’t die from hunger here as they tragically often do in other parts of the world. But domestic hunger is a real and growing problem. Most of us know people who face hunger, even though they may take pains to hide it—a neighbor who lost a job, the family down the street enrolling children in a summer meal program, a senior citizen from church who tries to scrape by on a fixed income.

Five years ago, in order to draw attention to the real problem of hunger in the United States, a national day of recognition was organized. This year, National Hunger Awareness Day is Tuesday, June 6. On this day, farmers and ranchers around the U.S. will join their urban and suburban counterparts to help feed those in need and encourage others to do the same.

If you’re not convinced that hunger exists in your community, consider the fact that in 2004 more than 13.8 million, or 19 percent, of American children lived in “food insecure” households, meaning they were hungry or at risk of hunger. 

America's Second Harvest (A2H), the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief agency, estimates that 42 percent of the clients they serve live in rural or suburban areas. About 27 percent of households with children reside in suburban areas and 29 percent of households with children reside in rural areas. 

According to another survey by A2H, 32 percent of families are forced to choose between buying food and paying for medical care or medicine. Sadly, that rings true when you consider that each week more than 4.5 million people across America accept food from food banks or pantries and soup kitchens to meet their basic nutritional needs.

It’s clear that there is someone in every community who could use a helping hand. Fortunately, there are a number of ways each one of us can make a difference. Donating money or food; volunteering at a food pantry, kitchen or shelter; telling friends, families and elected leaders about hunger in the local community; and raising money for local food banks are just a few of the options.

Farm Bureau, the nation’s largest general farm organization, and Second Harvest, are partners in a campaign called “Harvest for All.” Through Farm Bureau’s network, farmers and ranchers are making a difference by making donations to local food banks. In cooperation with the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, they also are telling the story of farmers making a difference in their communities.

The Harvest for All campaign includes activities organized by state and county Farm Bureaus and Young Farmer and Rancher groups in connection with local Second Harvest affiliates across the country. Hundreds of millions of pounds of food are donated to needy individuals by farmers and ranchers each year. All types of food are donated, with the proportion of fresh produce growing by leaps and bounds.  

National Hunger Awareness Day is the perfect opportunity to step up and join America’s farmers and ranchers as they help stamp out the human tragedy of hunger here in America.