What You Can Do to Fight Hunger in America
1 in 7 Americans don’t have enough affordable, nutritious food for a healthy life. This is how you can help.
By Meghan Rabbitt
Community is often built around sweet moments at the dinner table. Yet for the one in seven Americans who don’t have enough to eat—including 14 million children—that simple joy of sharing a meal can feel out of reach.
“Hunger is closer than you think,” says Audrey Garro, executive director of A Single Bite, an organization that connects local food, nutrition education, and community support in Sullivan County, New York. Really take this in: There are 48 million people who live in food-insecure households in America—including more than 12 million older adults and one in five children— which means it’s likely that you have neighbors who are struggling to put nutritious meals on their tables.
Not sure what you can do? For Hunger Action Month—and as part of the launch of Modern Prairie in Action—we want to help you better understand food insecurity and get inspired and empowered to help. “It takes a community to feed a community,” says Garro. “It takes all of us to do our part.”
Here’s exactly where you can start.
Begin where you live.
Hunger in America can feel like a massive problem, and it can be easy to think that doing one small thing couldn’t possibly move the needle. Yet there’s a good chance you have a food pantry or non-profit organization near you that’s helping to feed your neighbors in need. And these organizations often rely on local volunteers in addition to donations to serve the community.
Uche Akobundu, nutrition strategy and impact senior director of Meals on Wheels America, says learning about your local food system is a great starting point. “Local food systems represent how food flows from food production, processing, packaging, distribution, and consumption,” she says. “Functioning food systems matter because in the U.S., we have enough food for everyone, but the challenge is ensuring it’s accessible to all who need it.”
Even a basic understanding of your local food system can help you determine where the need is, consider what policies and practices are in place to boost food access, and think about where you might be able to step in and help.
Look a little closer to notice those who may be in need.
Food insecurity is often an invisible challenge, and one that can prompt a lot of shame in those experiencing it—which in turn may prevent them from asking for help. That’s why Garro says it’s important to consider what may be behind a neighbor’s broken-down car in the driveway, lawn that hasn’t been mowed, or apartment where the windows are covered by blankets instead of curtains. “In many cases, you’ll find people who need your help,” she says.
“Too often, we think hunger happens because people failed to save enough, invest enough, get sufficiently educated, or be worthy enough to have access to food consistently,” adds Akobundu. “This is a big misconception.” The reality is far more complicated.
Share food as a gesture of kindness—not charity.
For those dealing with food insecurity, asking for help can feel impossible. That’s why Garro suggests simply dropping food on someone’s doorstep who you think may be in need, along with a note to let them know you bought or made extra.
You might leave a bag of apples with a note that says, “I picked too many!” Or, drop off a rotisserie chicken and bag of salad because they were buy one, get one free—even if it’s a little white lie. Small acts like these can go a long way toward preserving someone’s dignity, while also letting them know they’re supported, says Garro.
And if you think someone might be struggling, don’t make assumptions or ask invasive questions, adds Garro. “Instead, invite them over for tea, drop off some extra groceries, or find small ways to connect first.”
Give what you’d be excited to receive.
Too often, donating food involves rummaging through our pantries and pulling out almost-expired canned beans and bags of grains. Remember, just like those dried chickpeas and canned salmon didn’t exactly inspire you to make a delicious meal, they probably won’t appeal to someone else.
Instead, walk around your local farmer’s market or go to the grocery store, pick out what look delicious to you, and donate those foods, says Garro. “Think about sharing food for the soul as well as for the body.”
Match your talents to a need.
Love cooking? Find an organization that needs you to prep food. If you’re a gardener, share some of the beautiful produce you’ve grown. Are you the friend everyone calls to help them get organized? Volunteer behind the scenes at your local food pantry, taking stock and organizing shelves. Don’t mind driving? Consider delivering meals to those in need.
And if you aren’t sure how to pair what you love doing with a way to give back, give money. “Even modest, recurring donations help programs stretch their reach, since many operate on lean budgets and rely on community giving to close the gap between need and capacity,” says Akubonda.
Modern Prairie in Action!
To raise awareness this Hunger Action Month, we’ve chosen three organizations to spotlight: A Single Bite, Meals on Wheels America, and Feeding America. We’re also organizing a number of local events, hosted by our Trusted Prairians, to give you opportunities to roll up your sleeves alongside fellow Modern Prairians in your own communities. To learn more about these events, click here.
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Meghan Rabbitt is a journalist and author of The New Rules of Women's Health.