The National Commission on Hunger was created in 2014 as a legislative mandate to address hunger in the U.S. The actual definition of hunger is when “a member of a household reduces or disrupts what he or she eats because the household does not have the money or resources for food.” Here are some statistics that you may not have known about hunger in the U.S.:
- Hunger is Increasing in America – 2010 was the year in which the number of hungry Americans increased, and that number (7 million Americans) has not gone down as of 2017. It’s also a regional problem: North Dakota has low rates of hunger; Arkansas has hunger rates above 8%.
- Hunger Knows No Demographic – Women head-of-the-household families are more likely to be needy than male head-of-the-household families. More than 10% of U.S. black households experience hunger than white. Latinos suffer a 6.9% hunger rate, and again, regional differences exist: Southern families are more likely to be hungry than Northeastern families.
- Hunger Leads to Illness – Hungry children are more likely to have educational problems and mental health issues. Adults can suffer physical illness due to a lack of nutrition, and hungry seniors are more depressed. Reports indicate that if hunger in America was resolved, healthcare costs would drop.
Help Lessen Hunger
There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them
except in the form of bread.
-Mahatma Gandhi
We cannot end hunger as individuals, but when we work together, there is so much we can do! Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago truly needs your help. There are four ways to give:
- Donate – There are several ways you can make tax-deductible monetary donations.
- Legacy – Make the value of tzedakah your legacy.
- Referral – We are a proud people! If you know someone who may need help with food, please complete a referral form so that we may contact them.
- Volunteer – Volunteers of all ages are welcome to assemble and distribute food packages to needy families.
Call 847-674-3224 or contact us to help end hunger in greater Chicago.