Based on the 2005-2007 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Agriculture Department, at least 17 percent of children across America have the potential to go hungry. Children who lack proper nourishment during their developmental stages of life risk long-term affects, such as developmental, behavioral, and academic problems. Children are a key component to our future, and nourishment is significant to children prospering, both mentally and physically.
Thousands of children go hungry across the United States daily. The government has developed ways to ensure school-aged children are provided nutritious meals each school day. However, it may be hard for the government to extend this assistance to children aged five and under, which are not in school. A new study recently conducted by a non-profit anti-hunger group called Feeding America, concentrated primarily on hunger in children below the age of five. The group found that approximately 17 percent of children in this age group are at risk of going hungry. They found that 11 states actually had more than 20 percent of children under five who were at risk of going hungry. They included the top state of Mississippi, then North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Idaho and Arkansas. Feeding America operates centers to feed the hungry around the U.S
According to Dr. John Cook, an associate professor of pediatrics at Boston Medical Center and lead researcher of the report, hunger is based on two main factors across each state, the states level of employment and poverty rates, as well as the offerings of food and income assistance programs. Hunger seems to be a major problem across the U.S that continues to need attention. The newly released study was not based on data gathered during this new downturn in the economic market, which probably mean the numbers are currently even worse than expected. Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive of Feeding America said, "These children without the availability of nutrition don't have the chance to spring back." She noted that her organization is currently lobbying for additional federal funding for food bank programs to target young children.
This new data should help us be more aware of our hunger situation here in the United States. Children are not just going hungry in other countries, but there are over 12 million children at risk of going hungry here in the U.S. each day. It is very important for communities to support their local food banks and charities that target these groups and look to our government for more financial support and food for our hungry children. Without food and nutrition in their developmental stages in life, children may be left with impairments and the lifelong affects of childhood hunger.Source
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