Talking About Hunger: Three Simple Steps
October 18, 2013
By JoAnn Turnquist
President and CEO, Central Carolina Community Foundation
October 18, 2013
Did you know that Wednesday, October 16 is World Food Day? Hunger is a problem that seems to affect every community in every corner of the world. And we don’t have to travel to a distant country to experience the problem first hand. According to Feeding America, 18 percent of our South Carolina’s population is food insecure. What’s worse? 28 percent of our children are food insecure. A sobering thought – nearly a third of the children in the Palmetto state are not sure where their next meal is going to come from.
While it may be difficult for your child to understand the global issue of hunger, you can help them understand the problem we face here at home and how they can help make a difference in their community. It is easy for your family to get involved and every little bit helps.
Step One: Talk about it
Talking to kids about complex and sometimes frightening issues can be daunting. And while we can’t shield our children from the realities facing our world, we do have the opportunity to help them understand the issues and the effect the issues can have on other families and indeed, our entire community. Our conversations can also dispel myths, correct misinformation and remove assumptions. Important lessons for children growing up in a ‘barrage of information’ world.
Step Two: Take Action
There are a number of organizations in our community working to end hunger. Here are just a few ways you can help.
1. Get involved with Harvest Hope. Did you know that this organization provides 38,000 meals across Central South Carolina PER WEEK? There are countless ways to get involved:
2. Organize a Souper Bowl of Caring group. Maybe it’s a church group, your child’s class, your neighborhood or a group of friends. Join the 260,000 youth that collected more than $9.8 million in dollars and food for local hunger-relief charities this past year during the Super Bowl. Amazing.
3. Consider supporting other organizations in our community that battle hunger or other issues that lead to hunger, like Oliver Gospel Mission, Transitions, St. Lawrence Place, Family Shelter, The Cooperative Ministry and more. Look at their websites, learn about their services and the populations they serve and see how you and your family can help.
Step 3: Reflect
Even though you’ve participated in the same event, each member of your family may take away a different experience. After it’s completed, sit down together and talk about what you did, who you helped, why you did it and how you made a difference. You will have the opportunity to learn from each other’s unique points of view and may be surprised by the different perspectives that are shared.
Do you have other ideas for getting your family involved with fighting hunger? Please share. We’d love to hear about them!
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