April Food Day 2010

April 1 is not just for “fools”;  it’s also the second annual April Food Day: Bloggers Fighting Hunger.  In conjunction with Feeding America, April Food Day works to increase awareness about hunger in America (and hopefully motivate people to do something about it!)  Definitely one of the best things I can use my blog to do.

It’s easy for me to complain about the amount of money we spend on groceries…or that there’s not enough food in the pantry, but in reality we have plenty of money and more than enough food.  It’s important to remember that some people, even in America, really are going without.

Some information about Feeding America and hunger in America (from the April Food Day site):

• Feeding America is annually providing food to 37 million Americans, including 14 million children. This is an increase of 46 percent over 2006, when they were feeding 25 million Americans, including 9 million children, each year.
• That means one in eight Americans now rely on Feeding America for food and groceries.
• Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks is feeding 1 million more Americans each week than they did in 2006.
• Thirty-six percent of the households served have at least one person working.
• More than one-third of client households report having to choose between food and other basic necessities, such as rent, utilities and medical care.
• The number of children the Feeding America network serves has increased by 50 percent since 2006.
• Feeding America food banks provide food and groceries to 33,500 food pantries, 4,500 soup kitchens and 3,600 emergency shelters.
• 68 percent of pantries, 42 percent of soup kitchens, and 15 percent of emergency shelters rely solely on volunteers and have no paid staff.
• 55 percent, are faith-based agencies affiliated with churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious organizations; 33 percent are other types of non-profit organizations.

So what to do?  Donate food, time or money to your local food pantry.  Volunteer at a soup kitchen.  Join me in donating to Feeding America on the April Food Day donation page. For every $1 you donate, Feeding America helps provide 7 meals to men, women and children facing hunger in our country.  That’s a really good return for your money!

Still have questions about April Food Day?  Email the founders,  Meg or Chris.