Why is there Food Starvation in America?
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Last night I heard an alarming statistic on the televised nightly news. In Texas 22% of all children go to bed not knowing from where their next meal will come! Folks...this is cause for some serious concern. Starvation exists in America, the so called "Land of Plenty."
While the news media is packed with diet aide commercials and the latest weight loss trends for the many obese people living here, there are other people (including children!) who may be living next door or around the block who will never be concerned with having to shed excess pounds. Hunger and starvation is stamped upon their faces and resides deep within their belly's.
Much of the media focus is directed towards the starving people in Africa and other places around the world. Some reasons given are warfare which drives people from their homes or they risk genocide if they stay in place, droughts and other natural conditions. We are saddened by this plight of people in far away places as we munch on our pizzas delivered to our doors and sip on our sodas. Except for a few who are dedicated to world hunger relief, the rest of us are easily distracted and our thoughts are quickly diverted elsewhere.
Food in pantry
Dried beans
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Occasionally we are tempted to contribute to some charity offering food relief and this is commendable. Countless people of the world need our help! And those very people might be living around the corner from us or in that car we passed on the street.
There are red barrels begging to be filled in almost every grocery store in America. Some thoughtful souls contribute a can or two of food or some dried package mix that they throw into the barrel on their way out of the store. Many grocery stores have bags already made up and tagged with useful items of non-perishable food that can be added to our grocery bill and left in these barrels as a donation. Sadly, others use the barrels for trash. The volunteers who regularly pick up the contributions to take to food pantries have to sort through the barrels to separate the well intended and useful commodities from the refuse.
How and why could this be happening right here in America?
How could this most basic of needs go unsatisfied in one of the wealthiest of countries?
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Contributing causes for food shortages
There are many causes of food shortages world wide. As human beings sharing the same planet we should all take part and do what we can to help the helpless. Sadly many of the people affected are our planet's children.
Ignorance plays a part in this. Clear cutting old growth forests (which we need for our life giving oxygen supply) to plant food does not ordinarily work beyond a crop or two. The ground that allowed the forests to thrive is for the most part not fertile enough to support food crops.
Dislocated people who are driven by warfare into camps where they can no longer secure their own food become dependent upon others to supply their daily needs. This places a burden on the normal supply and demand for foodstuffs.
Growing corn and other crops to be converted into bio-fuel is an inefficient way of producing more fuel, but it also takes away a certain percentage of food out of the available supply that could have been feeding hungry people.
Those of us who eat domestic cattle and other animals (and I am guilty) take food from other hungry mouths. Why? It takes more vegetative matter such as corn and grains to feed the animals than the proportion of meat that is derived when those animals are slaughtered. Just a cold hard fact. If we meat eaters of the world would simply cut back and eat a meatless meal a little more often, the food supply for the rest of the world would gradually be enlarged.
Greed also plays a role. Raising the prices of such a basic commodity as rice when it becomes too expensive for many people around the globe to purchase, causes needless hunger. Have our corporations become so heartless? I'm afraid that the answer in some cases is "yes." Would the shareholders of these companies who are receiving better profits be as happy with them if they knew that the end result was causing people to starve and die? I think not...at least I hope so. This is happening right now! Prices of rice have risen substantially around the world.
These are just some of the reasons causing food shortages around the world. It is by no means an exhaustive list.
Starvation and hunger in the world
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Terrific hub about starvation from another writer on HubPages.
- Sam and Esther starvation in the midst of plenty is the real pornography
Hunger and starvation are human-made problems, not the will of God or chance. That is why it is so obscene that starvation continues, and especially that children bear the brunt of it.
What can we do?
Plenty!
Considering that a great number of the people in the world live on a dollar or two per day, if each of us would fore-go a little something on a daily or weekly basis and consider giving what we would have spent to a local food pantry or a national or international charity, the impact would be huge.
How about foregoing a movie or if you go to that movie, how about foregoing the normal food and drink you'd ordinarily purchase and put it in an envelope dedicated to feeding the hungry?
How about foregoing your daily cup of coffee at least once in a while and putting that un-spent money in that same envelope?
Next time you go grocery shopping, think of donating something to help feed the hungry. If you make it a habit and everyone started doing just a little, we could collectively help stamp out hunger. Relate grocery shopping to thinking of the hungry...not simply your own desire to stock your shelves and refrigerator with food.
***This memory still resonates with me...***
For almost 15 years I worked as a volunteer counselor at an assistance ministry. Some of what we were able to offer was to help with food assistance. When the ministry was still small, we counselors (after listening to and documenting the crisis) were able to fill a couple of grocery bags and help carry them to the people's cars if food was what they needed.
On this one particular day a box of cereal was showing at the top of the bag that I had just filled. A mother had her two small children with her and the eyes of the little boy had spotted the box of cereal. He looked up at his mother and said with eager excitement "Look Mommy! Cereal!"
I remember thinking to myself that this was obviously a rare treat.
Had Santa Claus just delivered a sack filled with toys, the excitement in this little child's face and voice would not have been any greater than what I had just experienced seeing and hearing first-hand.
Fortunately we were able to help the mother and her little brood that day with some food and possibly some other assistance. I no longer remember her plight.........just her son's happy response to seeing that box of cereal.
Won't you consider sharing a bit of food, money or your time to help stamp out hunger?
If every time we go grocery shopping we think about those that are hungry and we contribute just some loose change or toss in a can of corn or a bag of rice into those barrels, we will be helping people like that little boy who was so excited to see that box of cereal.
Will you help?
Will you do your small part to help eradicate hunger and starvation here in the land of plenty and beyond our seashores?
A terrific video putting this into perspective...
- Easy Jello Salad Ring Molds - Some favorite family recipes
I think of my mother and also my grandmother when these jello salad mold recipes come to mind. My grandmother's could be substituted for a dessert anytime in my opinion. It is delicious! Other recipes are included in video form. - My Mother's Sour Cream Coffee Cake Tube Pan Recipe
This is a favorite recipe from my mother and is perfect for those brunches or anytime a good sour cream coffeecake would be desired. Other video recipes are also included in this hub. Hungry yet? - More Great Old Timey Sweet Recipes from my Grandmother's Journal
From recipes written on examination blanks to cookies called Rocks, see photos and get five more old timey recipes here. All taste tested! - Scrumptious Quinoa Side Dish - Recipes Perfect for Picnics or Anytime
Quinoa salad is a delicious, easy to make and nutritious meal or side dish. I recently learned about this wholesome protein rich grain and will share my recipe and other information with you. Mmm...these additional video recipes look terrific!
Food Hubs by Peggy W...
- Delicious Recipe - Roasted Vegetables - Appetizer or Entree
This recipe for a delicious vegetable appetizer or entree is so very easy! Amounts, ingredients and seasonings can all be adjusted to suit individual tastes. Excess garden produce can be used...
- Old Grocery Store Ads Prices from 1957 in Corpus Christi, Texas
A fun discovery... Discovered last week in an old box of saved newspaper clippings, recipe cards and food related magazines as well as a hand written old journal of recipes mostly in my grandmother's...
- 30 Minute Recipe ~ Chicken Mozzarella with Italian Flair
Who would believe that with only 3 ingredients plus salt & pepper this easy chicken entree could become a favorite company dish! Directions & photos.
- Quick and Easy Dinner ~ Pasta and Seafood
Like pasta? Like seafood? Take a look at this simple to prepare recipe that will have your guests begging for more. - Easy Gazpacho Soup Recipe that will WOW your Family and Friends
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Well done hub! You hit the nail on the head with this one. Thanks for speaking out - nice work!
Hi Patty,
I can't answer that last question if it means that six years of corn storage would feed the entire country? If so...that seems a bit crazy! If it is 6 years of corn storage for just that one state...not so crazy as it could be utilized elsewhere as needed in emergencies.
That is a terrible statistic...over 50% of everyone in Central Ohio needing government food assistance. Something is radically wrong with not only the economy...but how our government is (not) handing it. Our legislators need to put politics aside and do what is right for the country as a whole.
And to think that those of us in the U.S. are still better off than many in other countries of the world certainly gives one something to think about and hopefully generate the right kind of actions.
Thanks for your comment.
Three years ago, 34% of the kids and families in my county in Central Ohio recieved some sort of Public Assistance, at least food stamps. In 2011 over 50% of thst whole state receives help from the govt in purchasing food. And were a farming state with SIX YEARS of corn crops stored in silos. I have no idea what's up with that.
Hi Billy,
Yes, more people are struggling now because of the economy and those of us lucky enough to be able to share should think of the hungry when we do our grocery shopping and always donate something to those red barrel collection spaces in the stores. A can of beans or a box of rice just might be what someone else needs to keep from being hungry! Thanks for your comment.
Sadly the situation may only get worst as food prices soar due to droughts and the weak USD
Absolutely Tony! And I will do the same, linking your great hub about starvation to this one. Such a sad and unnecessary situation that hunger exists anywhere on this planet on a regular basis!
Peggy - hunger is so unnecessary and so sad. Thanks for this info about hunger in the "land of plenty" - seems it's a world-wide problem. May I link this to my Hub on starvation?
Love and peace
Tony
Hi again Tracy,
You have amazing faith and thank heavens you found some compassionate doctors to help you. There was actually a book written some time back...something to the effect...Why do bad things happen to good people? You have shown your strength of character in what you relate through your writings.
Personal is fine here on hubpages and many people write about their personal journeys, trials, feelings, etc. So go ahead! Your experience might just help someone else along their life's path.
May God keep you in His care always.
thank you for the advice I have been going round and round trying to find a legal service to help with this but no luck so far..but at least every year they take our tax refund and now it's almost paid off..i think.from my calculations anyway..and it's true you never know what's down the road and sometimes it's hard to keep on the path but if you lose sight of God you will be lost forever...I gave it all to God because I had no more money no job couldn't work because I was so sick..by the time they figured out I had a brain tumor I was already dying..but when I finally realized that no doctor would take me without insurance or a full upfront payment I just prayed my self silly and about three days later I had an appt with an eye specialist who by the way charged me nothing and he told me i'm not sure but i can almost guarantee that you have a brain tumor..and all i asked God was will you please send me to a doctor who is kind and compassionate who will help me..and that got the ball rolling..it's quite amazing but my first surgery my out of pocket expense was twenty five dollars..amazing .I was thinking of writing a hub about my whole experience but have not they might tag it as to personal...but might do it any way..God bless you and keep on being the wonderful person you are :o)
Hello Tracy711,
So very sorry to hear about your struggles and glad that you finally got a diagnosis that can generate a little much needed money coming your way by getting that disability check. It surely doesn't seem fair to me that because of an "administrative error" that you should have to be paying back the food stamp money that you received! Wow! I had no idea that could happen. If people lied and cheated to get the food stamps and it was discovered...that would make sense. But if the error is because of miscalculations on the government's fault, it seems to me that you should not have to bear the brunt of that mistake.
See if there is a volunteer lawyer's service in your area where you could get some free legal advice. They might be able to advise you to see if you have any recourse. Just doesn't seem fair!
Glad you liked this hub. Things happen in life that could knock almost anyone off of their comfortable circumstances where they suddenly need people's help. No one is immune...at least on this side of the grave.
Bless you!
Peggy W, hello what a wonderful hub..I have been on the hunger side myself...a few years ago I was very ill could not work and my fiance was taking care of both of us..not enough money for anything..fell behind on rent to buy food ..lost our apt..moved to another and asked for help and there were some great places that gave money and food but on a one time basis..finally they figured out what was wrong with me and now I get a disability check,however before this came to be we applied for food stamps they gave them to us we qualified and now we have to pay all that money back..they say we were not supposed to have qualified that it was an administrative error but they are making us pay it back..needless to say we are broke most of the time but God he helps us so much and we still find ways to help others too..so if there's a will there is definately a way..Gods blessings and thank you for the great hub :o)
Hi billyaustindillon,
It is a terrible plight indeed that so many go hungry in our own state and country. Job losses are worse now than when I originally wrote this hub, so the statistics are probably higher. Awful...just plain awful! We certainly DO need some change! To allow starvation in this (at least it used to be) the "land of plenty" is sinful. We can and SHOULD do better!
It is shocking that in this day and age there are 22% in Texas starving and you know that number is likely higher up North. They bail out the banks, allow sick bonuses to Goldman and crew on that money and we could go on and then we have situations like this. Change indeed.
Hi Dolores,
We all get distracted with daily life and I am guilty as well. When I was doing my voluntary counseling once a week, I was kept reminded of other people's daily struggles on a more regular basis.
It is truly sad the food that is wasted in so many places like supermarkets, restaurants, etc. Some of them do more than others to share the excess supply and they should be commended.
Let's all look at those red barrels in the grocery stores like we do red traffic lights. STOP! THINK! RESPOND APPROPRIATELY!
Thanks for your comment, Dolores.
Peggy you have pointed out a terrible problem. Often, we only think about poor folks who need food at Christmas, then forget about them for the rest of the year. And while food stamps are available to some, the working poor may not qualify. What irks me is how much food is thrown into the garbage at supermarkets. My son used to work in a seafood department. One minute, the fish were good enough to sell. Later, that same day, it went into the trash.
Hello myownworld,
I agree with you...it is a start just getting people to realize that starvation exists in many places and we can all do our part to help alleviate it. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
very insightful...and brilliantly written! what I loved most was the passion with which u wrote this...one can really feel your sincerity in it. anyone suffering, whether in a developed country or a poor one, deserves our attention....so thank you for bringing this to notice. it's a start....
Hi Karen,
It is a disgrace that we have so many people who go to bed hungry right here in the "good 'ole USA." We could help them and others if we put it high on the list as a priority. Thanks for reading and leaving your comment.
The U.S. continues to puff itself up by looking as though they are saving everyone else in the world. We need to take care of our own first.
Hi again Misha, You know what they say about great minds... LOL
Thank you for visiting and commenting Peggy :) And yes, we are pretty much on the same page on a lot of things :)
Hi Misha,
Just spent almost the entire morning reading your isms hub and left a comment. I agree that using taxpayer money to bail out failing corporations just does not make sense. Help the people who are hurt on a temporary basis...but not the corporations or the leaders at the top with bonuses for failing.
Military expenses......another category entirely. Although I personally was against entering Iraq, I now feel as though we cannot pull out precipitously leaving them in the lurch (so to speak) prior to them securing their own country against hostiles. Hopefully we will continue drawing our troop levels down safely for everyone concerned.
Afganistan......to my knowledge no one has ever come out of that country on the plus side. (Another Vietnam?)
We must have a military presence somewhere to protect us if ever needed. But the way new wars are being conducted (terrorist's striking civilian targets anywhere and everywhere) we need to rethink our old ways of defense.
Getting back to hunger.........there are definitely so many wasteful expenditures that could be turned towards more positive goals like changing the way people get enough food to eat. We certainly agree on that.
Thanks for coming back and commenting.
Idiotic projects? Sure, the latest and the greatest is the bailout of private corporations for taxpayer money. That money alone would feed the whole world, and if you add billions you spend daily on Iraq and Afghan wars and hundreds of military bases all over the world, everybody would be able to eat caviar for breakfast...
Hi Misha, Ah.....I see that you are a dreamer of good outcomes. World peace would be wonderful. People unfortunately have been fighting in one battle or another since the beginning of time. If we (as world inhabitants) were faced with an invasion from outer space and alien beings.......maybe, just maybe we would pull together and quit killing one another on this planet. But then we would be fighting aliens. Still fighting!
Not sure what you meant by "idiotic global projects" but there is no doubt we waste money like crazy.....here in this country and elsewhere.
Wish there was an easy solution. We all simply need to do what we can and hopefully things will improve for the neediest on our planet who through no fault of their own do most of the suffering.
Thanks for your comments.
Hi Birte, You bring up some good points. Education is the key to some of these things which are intermingled with various religious beliefs. So a tough battle there, I am afraid. Thanks for your comments.
Stop the wars, bring the troops home and disband the majority of them, stop idiotic global projects - and you have enough money to feed not only America, but the whole world - and you don't need to cut down on your own food :)
This is an issue I have thought a lot about. I hate to see the eyes of the starving child.
No doubt if we all cut back a little, more grains can feed these children. Each dollar donated will give a child a chance.
But what if there were not so many of us? In the last 100 years the world population has quadrupled to it's present 6.5 billion. I am sure that the world can sustain this, but a what quality.
I believe that in conjunction with feeding children already here, there should be much more eduction on sustainable family sizes, and sustainable agriculture. Some of the cultures who cannot feed their children hold cattle for sacred. As you say, cattle take a lot more vegetative feed for the same amount of food supply.
Instead of keeping all that cattle alive for sacred purposes, the same time could be invested in the growth of grains.
Keep raising our awareness on such important topics
Hello Jewels,
I totally agree with you! Community gardens would be wonderful for everyone involved! More children would know where food originates. People would get exercise. Locally grown food would be fresher and better and food could be shared with those that needed it.
I have read books about the Great Depression and apparently almost everyone's backyard or balcony as well as town and city parks were turned over to growing gardens. Everyone pitched in and only took what they needed for personal use.
Hopefully we will see more of this! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Hello cindyvine, With the tax on cigarettes continually rising, I am sure some smokers have been tempted to slow down or quit, but it is quite the addiction. I never smoked but I know how hard it was for my parents to quit.
As to this getting close to being like the Great Depression.......it is bad but we are not quite there yet. Of course for those that have lost their sources of income and may be losing their homes or are already homeless..........it IS the modern day Great Depression for them!
Thanks for commenting!
Hi katyzzz, Thanks for commenting. The photo was taken from the middle of a climbing rose in our backyard. It is rather bright. LOL
Is great to address this hunger issue. There is a time window wide open at the moment where communities can change their lives here. As wayward as this may seem to others, I'd love to see community gardens come back where the focus is on feeding whoever is in need. So many elderly people are looking for things to do, make themselves feel worth again. The ability to grow your own and take it from the ground to the kitchen table is becoming a lost art. Community projects are something tangible and you see where money is going. With this not only are mouthes fed, but idle minds are settled and people feel worth.
Seems like this is getting as bad as the Great Depression, but I am sure that smokers will still have money for cigarettes
Thanks for reminding us of this very pressing and sad problem, Paggy, your little picture in red and gold stands out amongst the crowd.
Hi Tom, Couldn't agree with you more. Thanks!
This was good....anyone giving food to the hungry is a better human being for it. Great hub...Thanks! :)
Hi goldentoad,
Couldn't agree with you more. Let's all chip in a little and see if we cannot change things for the better. Thanks for your comment.
Hello Teresa, It is hard to accept that this is happening to so many people in the U.S.A. When I grew up my parents always taught us not to waste food because "there were starving children in China." I have no idea if other parents used that same tactic, but the lesson of not being wasteful with food was learned.
Whether that many children in China were starving compared to other countries in the world is an unknown to me at this time. But from what I have learned from others is the fact that we need to take this situation of people going hungry and actually starving and dying from lack of food seriously.
Thanks for commenting and adding to the discussion.
Great read PW. A child going hungry is the worst, anywhere in the world.
Thank you: this is excellent, timely, and really valuable advice. You're so right -- I saw a commercial on Hulu.com that says 1 in 8 Americans needs help with food supply.
Hello mkhovu, Thanks for reading and leaving your comment. This world could be so much better with just a little extra effort on the part of people who have much that they could easily share.
Very powerful and true PeggyW. When you have plenty, you never realise what the future can be like. Greed does play a huge role. The government does not play as a good role model to this effect either. People in power tend to abuse the resources and forget about the very people who elected them. Instead look after businesses more. The basic needs for human existance should be made cheap or free. The list can go on. There will always be people who take advantage of the whatever benefits they are given but people can be taught about the value of life.
Thanx for posting this hub. Dreams do come true. America, let's make one person's dream a reality and make this world a better place.
Hi Pete, We all need to do more. Just hope this hub raises greater awareness. My mother who lives with us could just about be a vegetarian. She eats very little meat by choice. My husband and I need to cut back for the reasons you mentioned...health and helping others. Thanks for your comment.
Wow you got my attention. We have donated to the local food bank and we have picked up things at the grocery but not nearly enough. The point about meat eaters is well made. I will talk to my wife. We should cut down for our own health reasons and it would be nice to think that it helps others also. Great hub; thanks for the info.
Peggy W Hub Author 7 months ago
Hello kims3003,
Glad that you liked this hub about food starvation and (hopefully) what can be done about it. Thanks for your comment. Appreciate it.