Understanding Hunger

The ability to obtain enough food for an active, healthy life is the most basic of human needs. Families that cannot achieve this are the ones must likely to be hungry, undernourished, and in poor health, and the ones most in need of assistance.

Recent years have seen a rapid increase in housing costs, yet wages have failed to keep pace and many companies have been forced to make workforce cuts. Oftentimes, parents are forced to choose between feeding their families, and paying the rent, utilities, and medical bills.

Research has shown the effects of hunger and nutritional deprivation, specifically during a child's developing years, include impaired physical growth, brain development and cognitive functioning; long-term emotional and health problems; and increased need for special education. Ensuring proper nutritional health now can save millions of dollars in costs later for mental health, social and education services.

Hunger is a complex issue, with no one known cause, or solution, but many far-ranging implications. Learn more about this national issue with the resources listed below.

America's Second Harvest

Bread for the World

Food Research and Action Center

Center on Hunger and Poverty

Congressional Hunger Center

Feeding Children Better

Food Research and Action Center

Hunger Free America

Hunger in America

Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger

Share Our Strength