Those with food insecurity lack access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious foods necessary for a healthy and active life. This includes not having a reliable supply of food, or not being able to afford food that fits their dietary restrictions.
More than 37 million families, children, and seniors struggle to feed themselves on a daily basis in the United States. As schools and businesses close, and many become unemployed, the need for emergency food supplies only increases.
We can take action to help the problem of food insecurity on the local, national, and international level. Here's how:
1) Don’t buy excessive amounts of food.
It is fine to stock up on 1-2 weeks of food at the grocery store, but do not purchase extreme amounts of food you will not need. This just exacerbates the problem for others, who may not be able to afford other food options when stores sell out. This goes for non-food items as well. Only buying what you reasonably need is the simplest way to do your part.
2). Donate to nonprofits.
Most food banks and pantries really appreciate monetary donations because it allows them to buy in bulk or spend it on food products they are most in need of. There are also many organizations on the national and global scale working to end food insecurity that you can donate to online. Our Spoon Chapter at University of Connecticut recently completed a campaign to raise money for Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit that delivers meals to seniors in need.
3). Drop off supplies to a local food bank or pantry.
Food banks and pantries are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for food and lack of volunteers. All it takes is a quick google search to see where you can drop off supplies at a secure location near you. Nonperishables are always a safe option to donate, but some places are looking for perishable items, as well as non-food items like diapers, sanitary products, pet food and personal hygiene essentials. Check to make sure the food pantry or bank is accepting these items BEFORE you donate them.
USDAgov on Flickr
4). If you can’t donate, share on social media.
Even if you don’t have the resources to donate food or money, you can still help by supporting organizations that do by raising awareness. You can follow or share posts by hunger relief nonprofits like Feeding America, WhyHunger, Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, and many, many more. Sharing information about food insecurity helps those in need find resources, and encourages others to help prevent hunger.
If you find yourself struggling with food insecurity, or to find more information, visit:
https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity