JANUARY 28, 2010 ISSUE
Focusing on Childhood Hunger Top Priority for The Hunger and Health Coalition in 2010
Childhood hunger has reached epidemic proportions throughout the United States. Nationally, close to 17 million children faced hunger in 2009, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research Service.
Childhood hunger is more prevalent in the South than anywhere else in the nation, and is a hidden problem in many communities. In fact, more than 30 percent of the children in Watauga County are classified as “low income” and therefore at greater risk for hunger and food insecurity, based on data from the American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Hunger can create both long and short-term problems for children. Research has shown that hunger can cause weaker immune systems, more stomachaches, headaches, colds and ear infections as well as impaired performance in school—academically, athletically and socially, according to www.shareourstrength.org.
Because The Hunger and Health Coalition (HHC) believes that one hungry child is one too many, HHC has four programs that directly address childhood hunger.
In a time when so many children come home to empty homes and empty cabinets, it is crucial to provide food that is easy to prepare and nutritious. If there is food in the cabinets, it is often highly processed and filled with sugar, because such items are typically less expensive than more nutritious foods.
Three of HHC’s programs, Healthy Start, Snacks for Scholars and Backpack Program, were created in response to this issue. The Healthy Start program works with Watauga County Head Start and local daycare facilities to identify children who would benefit from additional food over the weekend. HHC prepares bags of food that are sent home with each child every Friday. Last year, more than 14,000 pounds of food were distributed through Healthy Start.
The focus of Snacks for Scholars is to make healthy, nutritious food that is “kid-friendly” available to children after school. Children can pick up snacks from HHC after school and parents can pick up snack bags along with other food that is distributed.
The Backpack Program, the most recent addition, works with Watauga High School to provide food items for children to take home over the weekends. All three programs strive to make certain local children have the food they need to grow and thrive.
Food2Kids is a HHC program that works through the Food Pantry program to provide extra food to families with children. Families that receive food assistance from HHC can request food assistance every two weeks instead of once per month.
On average, 564 families receive food assistance from the Food Pantry each month, and the food distributed feeds an average of 1,425 people. One in three people receiving food is a child under 18.
According to HHC Executive Director Compton Fortuna, “The economy has forced many families to turn to HHC for help, and so many of those in need are children. The thought of any child being hungry is unbearable and HHC is passionate about providing food to the children who need it most.”
The Hunger and Health Coalition is a nonprofit established in 1982, and had been actively serving the community for 27 years. In addition to the Food Pantry, the organization repackages and distributes more than 2,000 meals each month, and dispenses an average of 930 prescriptions. HHC is a member of the High Country United Way.
To find out more about the programs at HHC, call Fortuna at 828-262-1628 or email Compton@hungerandhealthcoalition.com. For more information, click to www.hungerandhealthcoalition.com.
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