Food Stamp Challenge...Time for reflection and action!

The second annual Food Stamp Challenge (2011) sponsored by Maryland Hunger Solutions has ended. Over 160 people participated including a Maryland senator, several delegates, the Maryland AARP State Director and other advocates.

A few students from the University of MD participated in the challenge and blogged about their experiences. Many wrote about their concerns regarding the lack of nutritious meals, variety and the feeling of intense hunger. Click here to read the blogs.

Now that the challenge has ended, we have the perfect opportunity for reflection and action. Could you live on $4.30 a day for food and if you could, would you be able to purchase healthy options and create well-balanced meals for yourself and family? If you were in a position to help would you?

The new face of hunger? - Photo courtesy of FeedingAmerica.org

The face of hunger is changing in America. The new hungry is now the educated and middle class. Many rely on food banks or other food programs to keep food on the table. Most of us know someone who is hungry. Now is your chance to make a difference! You don't have to have a lot of money and you don't have to save everyone. Just make a commitment to do something:

• Donate food or volunteer at your local food bank
• Adopt a family or individual in your community: purchase grocery store gift cards; collect packaged food from family members and friends and give to the family; or when you cook for your family, make a little extra and share of the cooked food
• Participate in public events to raise money for the hungry (check for events in your area) 
• Write to your governor about hunger in your state and in your community
  

There are many things you can do to help. Find creative ways to give back and make a difference in your community. Enlist the help of your family, friends and colleagues--chances are many of them would jump at the opportunity to help. Feeling bad for those in need is not enough. Get involved!

Articles:

CNN Living: The new hungry: College-educated middle-class cope with food insecurity

USA Today: New breed of Americans going hungry

Other Links:
Feeding America

Contact government officials

How to write letters to your congressman

Food Research and Action Center

If you are hungry and in need of food, search for resources in your state by going to a search engine and typing in something like "hungry in (your state or city)." If you do not have internet access, call the mayor's office in your city and ask for telephone numbers for food banks and food programs in your area.

Take the Food Stamp Challenge!

The Food Stamp Challenge, sponsored by Maryland Hunger Solutions, gives participants insight into the struggle of hunger and food insecurity that many of our fellow Marylanders experience every day.  

Challenge participants will use the average federal Food Supplement benefit -- $30 per person for the week - as their budget for food for one week. They are forced to make difficult food shopping choices, and often realize how hard it is to avoid hunger, afford nutritious foods, and stay healthy.

Could you live on $4.30 a day for food? Join Maryland Hunger Solutions and Take the Food Stamp Challenge -- September 19-25, 2011.

Did you know: 8.8 million seniors face the threat of hunger? Visit AARP's "Drive to End Hunger" website and get involved.