Hunger In America

In class we often watched food-related media that concerned lavish foods, or can be seen as reflections of America’s “gluttonous” culture, i.e. Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, Supersize Me, and Barefoot Contessa. In class little has been discussed about a completely different sector of America’s food culture. Hunger in America, in my opinion is often a topic that is completely ignored. Not only do foreign countries fail to recognize that America has its own hunger issues to be concerned with, but America has pretty much ignored the growing number of those who suffer from hunger each night.

                According to the Feed America Campaign 1 in 6 Americans suffer from hunger. Meaning that one in six people do not have enough access to food, in order to maintain a healthy diet. There are also many misconceptions about hunger that have probably played a role in it “being swept under the rug”. For example, a common misconception about hunger is that it only affects the unemployed, homeless.  More often than the not, the people who suffer from hunger are children (around 14 million), and have at least one employed working adult in their homes, and a large portion of people affected by hunger attended a technical school or college! (Feeding America). Another hunger –related misconception is that hunger only effects minorities, which is false, hunger knows no race and people from all over America are affected. From the suburbs, to rural areas, to inner city area’s hunger is a disturbing problem that needs to be given more attention. Only recently did the Feeding America Campaign start making PSA’s about hunger, (less than three years ago)!  Yet, while our government fails to give enough attention to this growing issue, there has been work within our own community to combat hunger. Every Thursday the UCM (18 College St!) provides a hot meal to local community members whose incomes are not sufficient. With the help of student volunteers, and other community volunteers UCM is efficiently improving the lives of community members, and proving that hunger is an issue we definitely should not be dealing with in America (or anywhere for that matter) in 2011.

The UCM Free Supper Thursdays and similar programs nationwide,  will hopefully gain the attention of the government, and serve as the catalyst  that end hunger in America.