As you have undoubtedly read in our last blog posts, food insecurity is a serious problem affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when individuals or families do not have access to enough food due to a lack of financial means. This can lead to malnutrition and other health problems and negatively impact a person’s ability to find stable employment.
The Hunger/Health Cycle is a term used to describe the cycle of poverty, health problems, and food insecurity that many people find themselves caught in. Lack of money leads to choosing cheaper, less nutrient-dense food options. Poor food options lead to chronic health concerns. Chronic health concerns lead to fewer opportunities for stable employment, which leads to a lack of money. Once in this cycle, breaking free without help and support can be challenging.
According to nourishingneighbors.com, “40% of Americans are one paycheck away from being caught in this cycle.” And although starvation is statistically non-existent in the United States, 34 million food-insecure individuals still live among us. That is 10% of our population living in hunger.
To combat food insecurity, it is essential to create safe, reliable sources of nutrition for everyone, both within communities and on a global scale.
Food insecurity is entirely preventable both from supply and funding perspectives. Yet around 9 million people globally will die of hunger this year.
Here are some other statistics:
2.3 Billion
The number of people in the world who are moderately or severely food insecure. That’s 29.3% of the global population
45%
The percentage of children’s deaths globally that are related to hunger.
10 seconds
How often a child dies of hunger?
69.2 Million
The weight, in tons, of food, wasted in the first half of January.
You absolutely can make a difference in this world. By supporting your local food pantry, donating to a global charity, or offering nutritional food to a homeless person you can help change lives. When I was a small child, once a month, my family would go without food for 24 hours and then donate the money we saved to help those in need. For Christmas every year, we would pick a family in our community and bring food to them throughout the month. My parents taught their children to fully see the world around them and to conceptualize the human experience not as a perpetual search for an easier life but as a search for easing the lives of others.
At the beginning of any new year, we take a moment to identify the wants and needs within ourselves—health, happiness, love—and create resolutions for becoming greater versions of who we are. When was the last time we took a moment to identify resolutions for building a greater future?
This year, we at DTVMS would like to challenge our listeners, partners, dealerships, and friends to seek ways to improve the lives of those around us. Whether it be a gentle word, a moment of trust, a helping hand, or a free meal, each one of us has the power to change lives every single day.
We encourage you to be loud about your giving. Show others the power behind kindness so they may follow your actions and do likewise.
If you would like to participate in Fill-A-Cart 2023, you can email us at [email protected] or call Herb at 702-526-0900.
Charity Ann
