Is Child Hunger Really a Thing in America?
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (93385)
United States
October 26, 2023 4:13pm CST
I am not going to say there aren't likely some suffering families. And I am not denying that it exists. What I am asking moreso is whether it is as big of a problem as some politicians will have us believe?
We've seen what real childhood hunger looks like in the poorest nations of the world. None are images we necessarily see here.
So, what is the answer?
It is estimated that roughly 50 million people in the U.S. are what are classified as "food-insecure." That doesn't mean hungry. That means they may not have as much access to healthy, nutritious food.
It is also estimated that 9 million children are classified as "facing hunger." Not hungry, but essentially food-insecure for lack of a better term.
The average food stamp recipent receives $450 a month. But of course it depends on the numbers. A single mother with two kids, for example, would receive $526 a month.
According to statistics, the average family of 4 in America spends roughly $412 a month in groceries.
According to Feeding America, a non-profit organization, it feeds 46 million people a year through soup-kitchens and food pantries. Beyond Feeding America there are several other non-profit organizations that do the same thing, including many churches inside of communities.
There is no real data on how many people are fed by church food pantries. But considering roughly half of all churches in the country have a food-distribution program, the numbers have to be high.
So, with all of this money being distributed through food stamps, and with so much food being distributed through various churches and non-profit organizations, who is really going hungry?
Just as a sidenote, I should note that when I was in pest control I provided services for many local churches with food pantries and even Feeding America's warehouse facility, and all of them were literally overflowing with food.
Are we being lied to? Or is it something else? Is there a hidden agenda? What's YOUR side of the story? I am very curious what your thoughts are.
12 people like this
9 responses
@RasmaSandra (81226)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Oct 23
Being one of those one the poverty side with two cats who are like my children all I can say that if I can keep them fed and happy it is possible to do that with kids too. Especially for those with two parents if both parents work but then with children of course there are a lot of added expenses. I have often received meaningful advice about getting some food assistance for myself. I found out two things one I do not qualify for either Meals on Wheels or food assistance. Why? I am healthy and taking no medications, I can take care of myself, ergo I can go it alone.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (183266)
• United States
27 Oct 23
I still think that decision sucks. I think you should get some food stamps based on your income.
2 people like this
@porwest (93385)
• United States
29 Oct 23
But, despite your circumstances, that's the best position to be in. Once dependent, always dependent. These welfare programs do one thing—provide no real welfare. No real help. They just keep people down and poor. So, if you can stay out of that, you are miles ahead.
2 people like this
@porwest (93385)
• United States
29 Oct 23
@LindaOHio It IS based on income. As well as based on how many people are in the household etc. I don't think we should ever have a system that looks for ways to make MORE people dependent or that makes it easier for people to BECOME dependent.
In fact, it should be much harder. I also think these programs should also have many more strings attached to them. Required attendance to financial management seminars, work skill seminars and training, proof of application to jobs or proof why one can't work, or in cases where one IS working, deeper examinations as to why they are not making enough to support their needs, or what can be done to improve their odds of improving their incomes.
For example, if one is simply in the wrong job that doesn't meet their needs, why not work to figure out what kind of job DOES and work to get that person out of the job that pays too little and help them get a job that pays better?
NOW we're helping people and solving problems.
As I have said many times, however mean or harsh it sounds. People are largely creating their own financial problems and then expecting someone else to bail them out, and the system sometimes makes it too easy to be bailed out, and so less people actually TRY to make their situations better because it's too easy not to have to.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90579)
• Arvada, Colorado
26 Oct 23
Sure there are hungry kids in America. And I mean hungry. They may be out in the sticks or in the city..but they do exist. Politicians will use anything to get a vote though, I know what you mean.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90579)
• Arvada, Colorado
27 Oct 23
@porwest Sure you are right..America is spoiled rotten compared to the rest of the countries..and that is why they all pour in here illegally...to get some of that legally or illegally whatever way they can, robbing from our own children.
1 person likes this
@porwest (93385)
• United States
28 Oct 23
@RebeccasFarm That IS a huge problem. We give too much away and what we give sometimes, or often times, takes away from those who really need it or frankly deserve it. All on the dime of hard-working taxpayers no less.
@porwest (93385)
• United States
27 Oct 23
I just think that when you compare America to places where real hunger is a real thing, I don't think we even come close to compare. Food in this country is as ubiquitous as sunlight, and we have more programs and "institutions" to feed people, that it almost makes the entire argument laughable. Ask any of the kids in Cambodia or Ethiopia back in the day how they ate vs. how the poorest American ate, and I bet we'd hear VERY different stories.
We are not burying our kids due to hunger. But they are. So, why the hype? How many American families can say they buried their children due to hunger or malnutrition? I don't think we have a single story.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161236)
• United States
6 Nov 23
I grew up "food insecure", and that was before there were all of these programs to help our, OR if there were programs my dad was too proud to take advantage of them full time. He did once when he was going to be gone taking Scouts on a trip for a couple of weeks. There are kids that are food insecure, because even with benefits available, and their parents getting said benefits, they do not use them wisely. They turn up their nose at commodities.They do not save their leftovers and use them. The kids get their free breakfasts and lunches and do not eat more than a bite of an item or a sip of milk. If it is not full of sugar, salt and fat they do not want it. I have seen food stamps used for ridiculous things, yet especially during covid my older sister received more food stamps than she could use. I think it is poor management more than anything.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317721)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Oct 23
There's no reason for children to go hungry in the US. As you said, there is an abundance of food pantries, pantries connected with churches, and the food stamp program. Even insurance programs help with food for Medicare recipients. Hunger shouldn't be an issue here.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317721)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Oct 23
@porwest I get FoodShare as it's called in Wisconsin. I don't get nearly what you mentioned, but I am single and a senior. I guess they figure I don't eat as much. If it weren't for my insurance card, I would be relying more heavily on my Social Security for food.
I've seen those overladen carts at the grocery store too. They don't belong to me either. What I do see is that people eat a lot of processed food. Child obesity is way up because of it. If they gave fewer food stamps, maybe kids would eat better. However, processed food costs less than good food.
@porwest (93385)
• United States
27 Oct 23
Which is why I question whether or not it really is an issue, or if it is something used as a talking point? We have, for example, an interesting dynamic right now in that according to the stats, child hunger has doubled under Biden and suddenly the democrats aren't talking about it, but republicans are, when this was always a strong point driven by democrats.
In other words, the democrats want to suggest, when they are campaigning, that republicans want to starve children. However, Biden's policies, by the stats, are suddenly starving twice as many as were when Trump was president.
So, what's the deal here?
You hate to make politics out of hungry kids, right? But at the same time, are hungry kids really a problem in this country or is it just an interesting talking point? Even when it comes to Feeding America, one of the country's largest food distribution non-profits, it is a behemoth business unto itself. Executives receive an average annual compensation of $175k a year, nearly 6 times the poverty line for a family of 4.
On top of that, when I was in pest control I ALSO did public housing, and in nearly every single apartment or house I went into cupboards and pantries were overflowing with food. So, what's the real story I guess is my main question?
I mean, if I hadn't have seen it with my own eyes, perhaps I could rely on what I am being told and take that as the answer. Something just doesn't add up—beyond that, when I go to the grocery store the carts being paid for with food stamps are ALWAYS fuller than mine which will be paid for out of pocket.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104789)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
26 Oct 23
My relatives and myself have to cut back on eating meals like going to full scale restaurants like we did before but we are not starving either like the television commercials show on television.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104789)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
28 Oct 23
@porwest You are right.
1 person likes this
@porwest (93385)
• United States
28 Oct 23
@Deepizzaguy Nobody's carts are as full as the ones being paid for with food stamps. Just saying.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (120465)
• United States
26 Oct 23
I've had students who asked me for protein bars, cheese sticks, fruit, etc in the past few years. The school used to be known as "heroin high" when I went there because we were the rich white kids. The demographic has evolved over the years quite a bit. I do believe that there are children who aren't getting enough food.
There used to be free breakfast for all students but I haven't seen the students with those kits this year. Free COVID lunch is over. I share snacks with students and am happy to do it.
1 person likes this
@porwest (93385)
• United States
27 Oct 23
But are kids starving is the question? Is the problem in America as bad as we are being told, which by the way the democrats have sort of gone quiet about since it was reported that child hunger has doubled under their reign.
Not that it is necessarily a political issue, but it sort of is, right?
Like I mentioned in another comment in this post, when I worked in pest control public housing was one of types of accounts I serviced, and what I saw were overflowing cabinets and pantries. In the poorest communities I served there was more food in their pantries than when I did wealthier neighborhoods on the weekends to fill in for residential technicians who were behind.
So, what's the real story?
Again, I am not disputing the problem exists on some level. But to what extent does it exist really? How bad is it? On top of that, I tend to view the entire non-profit part of it to be almost an industry unto itself. Feeding America, for example, rakes in upwards of $5 billion a year, and while looking at their distribution ratios, it is high, their CEO makes over $1 million a year and top execs average $175k a year, 6 times the poverty level for a family of 4.
If you happen to be Feeding America, you're not doing too poorly yourself feeding America.
@moffittjc (121882)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Oct 23
You also forgot to mention that schools have federally funded programs to feed the kids as well. If a school has a population of students in which more than 50% of the families fall below the median income threshold, ALL the kids in that school can receive free breakfast and lunch.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15513)
• United Kingdom
27 Oct 23
Can't comment on the US but here in the UK I'd say a fairly large percentage of people using foodbanks would be better off receiving budget advice...they're spending on the wrong things.
A small personal example...was riding my bike back in the summer and happened to pass a church hall near my work.
Saw a guy I know to be a sort of friend of a friend and he was coming out of the church hall with shopping backs.
Told my friend some tme later and he said they use the foodbank...after having overspent on a holiday abroad.
@Dena91 (16727)
• United States
27 Oct 23
I'll be honest whatever politicians are pushing I think a hidden agenda is behind it. They lie, play on peoples emotions to get what they want.
Are children hungry in America, I am sure there are some, but I don't believe as many as the government says there are.
Do kids think they are hungry because they aren't eating what they want to versus there is food that mom/dad cooks but they don't want it? That is more what I think is going on. I think most kids would live on junk food if allowed and if junk food isn't in the home then they are "hungry" Just my thoughts.
Side note, my brother is an exterminator in PA and sees some of what you do as well.
