FOOD SECURITY
Article written by Min Hur
PROBLEM
Food insecurity is something that all modern-day countries face to a certain extent. Around 27% of people globally are food insecure, which means that they lack access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious foods. The case becomes worse for third world countries, with a little more than half of their citizens experiencing food insecurity; while only 10% of people struggle with food insecurity in better-off high-income countries. Although through a global lens there has been a 31% decline when compared to 2010, certain countries have increased significantly in the instability of their countries’ general food sources for the people.
CURRENTLY
Recently, an efficient form of measurement to find out which countries are struggling with food insecurity has been made. It is called the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, or FIES, and it was made by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. This is the first standardized measure of people’s direct experiences of food insecurity that can be used on a global scale. Some of the most hungry countries, according to the Global Hunger Index, currently include the Central African Republic, Yemen, Chad, and Madagascar.
TAKE ACTION
There are many things that ANYBODY can do to help battle food insecurity and malnutrition of many people globally.
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Donate to organizations that help reduce food insecurity: One organization that dedicate themselves to helping to reduce hunger globally is Feeding America. You can donate monetary donations and can even help from your own home. This is one of the most simple ways you can help because you don’t even need to specifically go outside and buy food to donate, rather you can donate a single dollar online!
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Donate to a food bank or local pantry: Food banks are charitable organizations that distribute donated foods to people who have little to no access to daily meals. There are many websites including Feeding America and Food Pantries that help you find food banks nearby!
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Volunteer at food banks: You can help by filling the bags, handing out the food, and providing other services they offer.
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Start your own food drive: You can do this by reaching out to people in your community, family, or neighborhood. You can easily find step by step guides to creating food drives online!
MISCONCEPTIONS
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Myth: Only unemployed people are food insecure.
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FALSE! Even people who are in the workforce receive meals from food banks because of reasons ranging from large family size to minimal income.
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Myth: Food insecurity only affects older people, including seniors.
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FALSE! Around 50% of people who receive food from donations and food pantries are under 30 years old. Children make up a big percentage of this group and are over-represented in food insecurity in comparison to the number of children worldwide.
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Myth: There is nothing I can do to help stop food insecurity.
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FALSE! There are so many simple ways that you could help, as listed above. Some additional ways include participating in small local grocery store events, including Walmart’s Fight Hunger Spark Challenge.
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