Hunger Games

I was driving around recently and passed a billboard that captured my attention. It said that one out of every five kids in America went to sleep hungry. These were not picky children who decided to skip dinner because they didn't like asparagus. They weren't stubborn boys and girls bent on winning a showdown with their parents by proving they could win the family's culinary standoff.

The message on the giant sign on the side of the road was not meant for over-analyzation or complex dissection. In simple black and white, the proclamation was heartbreakingly clear: 20% of American kids live in households where there is not an adequate amount of food to sustain their dietary needs. Like most other kids in this nation, they washed their faces, brushed their teeth, and then tucked themselves into bed for the night. But there was one glaring difference.

The gnawing in the pit of their stomach.

According to the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year. And the the fastest growing segment of the homeless population are families with children. Recent numbers suggest that almost 40% of the total number of homeless people in America are families with kids.

In urban communities around the States, these families are homeless for an average of eight months. Or, just slightly less than an entire school year. Or, the full term of a pregnancy. I am a parent with 2 kids in school and life is challenging enough getting them to focus on their studies without the distraction of constant hunger or not having a fixed, stable place for them to live. The statistics indicate that 1 out of every 5 of their classmates, while not necessarily being homeless, still struggle by going to bed hungry.

This leads to a more restless state of sleep and makes for a more challenging school day. Students not receiving proper food and nutrition are more likely to be irritable and prone to lapses in concentration. The result is not only an empty stomach and bad mood, but a tangible disparity in their educational experience. When kids don't get enough to eat, the end result is more than a growling belly.

Food donations are always welcomed at Samaritan House. When you provide food for our residents or drop off items for our kitchen and pantry, you are doing more than simply feeding people. Because we serve families and children, the food you donate literally has the potential to change the course of our children's lives.