The Food Effect
“The facts, though distasteful, speak for themselves. One in five North Carolina kids under 18 is hungry. For children younger than five, the number jumps to 1 in 4— the littlest ones easily fall through the cracks without school food programs to help sustain them. In North Carolina, where unemployment is high, the number of hungry people is increasing drastically; ongoing economic hardships have forced many families to choose between grocery shopping, paying mortgages and utility bills, buying gasoline or going to the doctor.”
– 1 in 5 children go hungry in NC
– 80% of NC households with children and receiving food assistance don’t know where their next meal is coming from
– 28% of food pantries in NC have had to turn clients away for lack of food
– 42% of needy families have had to choose between buying food and paying for heat
– 35% of hungry families have had to choose between paying for food and paying for their rent/mortgage
– 25% of Americans personally know someone who was forced to choose between food and paying bills
– 170,000 people in North Carolina receive emergency food assistance every week
“Childhood hunger is pervasive, extensive and appalling. Children all across our state are going to bed hungry — and that’s simply not acceptable. Not here. Not now. Not ever. Fortunately, the issue is solvable. It will take a concerted, focused effort on the part of our society, our lawmakers, our charitable organizations and ourselves to feed our children and feed them well. But when we do, they will be more prepared to learn, stay in school, get a job and be self-sufficient. Let’s get busy. Because making sure all North Carolina children get sufficient amounts of wholesome, nutritious food is not just the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do.”
– The Food Effect
