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Are your children hungry? { Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week }

November 22, 2013 By katbiggie 17 Comments

 

Our pre-school director informed us at the beginning of the school year that the school had taken on a new weekly service project. Each Thursday we would pick up 20 backpacks from the local coordinator and fill them with food to send home with children for the weekend.

Without these backpacks, these children and their siblings would likely not have anything to eat until breakfast at school the following Monday morning.

That, in itself, is heartbreaking. But what she told us next brought me to tears. “We will provide boxed milk and juice, canned foods, fruit cups, granola bars. They all have to be able to be easily opened by a child five and under. Often, these are young children and they will be alone, perhaps with younger siblings to also feed.”

I have a six year old, three year old, and 1 year old. The thought of them coming home on Friday night, looking through the bag, and planning how to make the food last throughout the weekend just takes my breath away. Imagining my six year old opening a fruit cup for my daughters… I cannot bear it.

Yet, this is a common occurrence.

Our children deserve better. We live in one of the most affluent countries in the world. Hunger, especially amongst children, should never be a problem.

And yet, it’s an enormous problem.

November 17-2013 is Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 46.5 MILLION people live in poverty in our country!Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week

My state, South Carolina, is the 9th poorest in the country. Nationalhomeless.org reports that 1 in 5 children go to bed and wake up hungry. And in my very own city, we have hundreds of children who rely on the free breakfast and lunch program for their warm meals. In my neighboring school district there were over 1200 homeless children last year.

It breaks my heart. Again, I imagine a five year old fending for himself and taking care of younger siblings.

Here is one of the craziest statistics of all: in SC, a worker earning the minimum wage of $7.25 must work 79 hours per week, 52 weeks a year in order to be able to afford a two bedroom apartment at the Fair Market Rent (FMR.) SEVENTY NINE HOURS a week every week of the year. and in Columbia, in order to afford that, they have to make $14.34/hour.

What can you do to help during Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week?

I’ll tell you what I did. I donated four Thanksgiving packs to a foodbank. I am serving at a Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving at my church for those in our community who need it. And I am bringing my six year old son with me. And, I’ll be joining Jennifer in her monthly giving program by donating cash to our local food kitchen. Oh I also donated to the Scary Mommy Thanksgiving project to feed needy families.
another jennifer giving pledge

No, I am not wealthy. Yes, this came out of my family’s grocery budget. But I can’t stand by and watch children go hungry.

Imagine if it was your child, anxiously awaiting his backpack of food.

There is a national Backpack program if you want to get involved, (Another Jennifer actually ran a whole piece on that today) or you can start your own local program by working with the social workers at your schools.

When you think about it, it’s outrageous.

Thanksgiving is coming next week. Be so thankful that you will have a wonderful feast. In recognition of Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, please consider donating to your local food shelters and give back. It’s so easy to donate a “Thanksgiving pack” – a canned ham, yams, boxed potatoes, green beans. You might spend $8 on that, and you can feed a family.

Today, and every day, I am so thankful that my children and I have never known real hunger. And I pray we never do.

Janine's Confessions of A Mommyaholic
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katbiggie

Freelance writer at Kat Biggie Press
Alexa B, who blogs as "Kat Biggie" is a wife, mother, and writer. She has three children and one in heaven. She recently self published a book entitled "Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother" which is available on Amazon. She blogs about life after the loss of one of her twin daughters to TTTS, motherhood, all things parenting, advocacy, grief support and social good.

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Filed Under: Call to Action, Social Good Tagged With: Homelessness, Hunger, Social Good, South Carolina, Thanksgiving dinner

Comments

  1. another jennifer says

    November 22, 2013 at 10:32 am

    Nearly a quarter of kids in Maine are food insecure. It kills me. I’m so glad you are joining me in this, though I’m not surprised. I’m sure your son will appreciate helping out, as mine did. I think it really hits home when they realize kids their age don’t have what they have. Hugs to you, Alexa!
    another jennifer recently posted…Philanthropy Friday: Feeding Our Kids 7 Day a WeekMy Profile

    Reply
    • katbiggie says

      November 25, 2013 at 10:21 am

      I really hope that Bug sees the benefit of what we are doing and understands how much we have to be thankful for!

      Reply
  2. thedoseofreality says

    November 22, 2013 at 10:56 am

    It is just simply astonishing, and we feel exactly the same way you do. It is our DUTY to act, even if it means sacrificing something ourselves. No child should be hungry. Period. Excellent piece…the beginning totally made me cry.-Ashley
    thedoseofreality recently posted…Pinterest Nightmare #132: The Pet High ChairMy Profile

    Reply
    • katbiggie says

      November 25, 2013 at 10:22 am

      I know, I cried too when she told us. NO child should be hungry. Not in this country at any rate! So glad for all you ladies do to support this mission as well!

      Reply
  3. Janine Huldie says

    November 22, 2013 at 11:08 am

    I, too, am just so thankful to never have to know what true hunger feels like and I truly thank you for sharing this today over at FTSF linkup, because it is a wonderful cause and truly hoping that many will help out and do their part for these children and their families!
    Janine Huldie recently posted…Lily Ann Huldie Birth Story-What I Am Thankful for 3 Years Later-FTSF 44My Profile

    Reply
    • katbiggie says

      November 25, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Yes, I thought it was a good fit for your FTSF linky this week! Glad I was able to participate AND get the message out!

      Reply
  4. Tamara says

    November 22, 2013 at 11:50 am

    So thankful I don’t know what true hunger feels like. My son..he’s only one. When he’s hungry for dinner, he carries on like a banshee. And he’s not truly hungry – he’s just impatient. And to think of him waiting and waiting and waiting..I really can’t handle it.
    My husband and I have a strong pact that any extra money coming in these days is partly going to charitable causes for local children.
    Tamara recently posted…My Very Thankful Heart.My Profile

    Reply
    • katbiggie says

      November 25, 2013 at 8:28 am

      Very proud of you and your husband’s commitment! That’s a really great thing to do. I can’t stand the thought of my kids being TRULY hungry either!

      Reply
  5. Kristi Campbell says

    November 22, 2013 at 1:06 pm

    The thought of children going hungry just wrecks me. My son is four, with speech and language delays and I can’t imagine him trying to figure out what to do if he were hungry and I was working 79 hours/week. I donated to the Scary Mommy Thanksgiving initiative as well and sponsored a family. I love the idea of sending backpacks home and appreciate you letting me know about this program. Perfect way to be thankful this week!
    Kristi Campbell recently posted…Pilgrims. Dorky clothing and shattered illusions. And a defeated pizza boy.My Profile

    Reply
    • katbiggie says

      November 25, 2013 at 10:15 am

      I can’t stand the thought of my children fending for themselves either! Yes, please keep spreading the backpack program!

      Reply
  6. Dana says

    November 22, 2013 at 2:46 pm

    I just came home from grocery shopping and filled our fridge. And kids are rationing their food so it lasts for the weekend – it’s just not right. I supported the Scary Mommy project, but it’s not enough. When will it ever be? I guess we just have to do what we can, and be thankful – so thankful – for what we have.
    Dana recently posted…Oh, to be a teenagerMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Kenya G. Johnson says

    November 22, 2013 at 5:20 pm

    Wow I know this is everywhere but this in particular hit home because I am from Columbia, SC. By no means was I a fend for myself child, but my parents made some sacrifices so that I could eat. I wonder how much they made back then. I know my daddy was in construction when I was an infant, so if it rained he didn’t get paid. Wow, that for the message.

    Reply
  8. Kelly McKenzie says

    November 22, 2013 at 6:17 pm

    Such an important issue. I’m reminded of how I felt when I first read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. It just isn’t right that kids go to school hungry. We, of course, have the same issues here in Canada. My children’s elementary school was just beginning to work on a support plan when my two moved up to the secondary school. I hear it is running smoothly now. Thank you for reminding me that the issue is still out there.
    Kelly McKenzie recently posted…A Time to Be ThankfulMy Profile

    Reply
    • katbiggie says

      November 25, 2013 at 8:26 am

      Oh my gosh, that book is SO amazing! I actually thought about it several times recently… the image of the 3 year old burning herself when she had to make her own mac n cheese. Thank you for taking the time to comment!

      Reply
  9. Considerer says

    November 22, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    Good for you, for this 🙂
    Considerer recently posted…Ten Things of Thankful 25th Weekaversary PartyMy Profile

    Reply
    • katbiggie says

      November 25, 2013 at 8:27 am

      Thank you Lizzi!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 1 in 5 children in America will go hungry this summer - No Holding Back - No Holding Back says:
    June 9, 2014 at 7:28 am

    […] saw an announcement that our school district is continuing the backpack program over the summer. That is fantastic. It doesn’t solve the problem for all children, but at […]

    Reply

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