5 Organizations Tackling The Issue Of Food Insecurity
Hunger affects people young and old in countries around the world. There are many different ways to handle this issue, from helping farmers in impoverished areas to advocating for better policies to distributing food directly to those in need. The organizations listed here use different methods, but they all work to address food insecurity. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Groups Working To End Hunger
| Name | Headquarters Location |
|---|---|
| Rise Against Hunger | Raleigh, NC |
| York Region Food Network | Aurora, ON |
| San Diego Hunger Coalition | San Diego, CA |
| The African Seed Access Index | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Summer Meals | Portland, OR |
The 3 Main Types of Local Hunger Relief Organizations
- Food bank: Stores donated food and distributes it to charities, meal programs, and food pantries
- Food pantry: Gives directly to those in need, often unprepared food to low-income families
- Meal center (aka soup kitchen): Serves prepared meals to the homeless and hungry
The Prevalence Of Global Hunger
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
| Year | Number (in millions) of undernourished people | Percentage of undernourished people |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 947.2 | 14.5% |
| 2010 | 822.3 | 11.8% |
| 2011 | 814.4 | 11.6% |
| 2015 | 785.4 | 10.6% |
| 2016 | 796.5 | 10.7% |
| 2017 | 811.7 | 10.8% |
Items Food Organizations Need The Most
- Applesauce
- Canned goods
- Cooking oils
- Crackers
- Dried herbs & spiced
- Dried or canned fruit
- Granola bars
- Instant mashed potatoes
- Nuts
- Pasta
- Peanut butter
- Rice
- Shelf-stable stew, soup, and chili
- Whole grain cereal
Ending Hunger Now
In Depth
Lack of reliable access to healthy food is one of the most urgent problems resulting from poverty, leading to a slew of negative effects on child development and public health. Many caring organizations seek to address this pressing challenge, whether through direct aid or by advocating for systemic reform. In no particular order, here are five groups working to eliminate hunger.
Opening our list at #1 is Rise Against Hunger, an international nonprofit that distributes food and vital services to those in need. The organization's Nourishing Lives program shares nutritious meals, distributing them in schools to encourage attendance by children and incentivize adult participation in skill development programs. The group also offers emergency relief, bringing crucial supplies and services to regions impacted by crisis.
Rise Against Hunger's Empowering Communities program works to support farmers in developing countries, bolstering food security by offering training in resilient agriculture, improving access to land, and creating community gardens. Other initiatives provide training in entrepreneurial skills, or create infrastructure improvements such as renewable energy projects or clean water systems. Volunteers can help locally by packaging meals, or undertake service trips to assist where need is greatest.
Rise Against Hunger's Empowering Communities program works to support farmers in developing countries, bolstering food security by offering training in resilient agriculture, improving access to land, and creating community gardens.
Following up at #2 is York Region Food Network, dedicated to fighting hunger in its southern Ontario area. YRFN operates several community gardens, growing fresh produce for local nutrition initiatives, and enabling free seasonal harvesting of fruits and vegetables by low-income families. The group also offers a Good Food Box program, letting area residents purchase a curated selection of fresh and nutritious items.
YRFN organizes a weekly Community Cooks event, aimed at teaching kitchen skills, making connections, and celebrating cultural diversity through lessons on regional cuisines. The group also provides a free weekly communal breakfast, and hosts educational workshops on nutrition and gardening. YRFN shares information on food banks and other nutritional resources in the region, as well as healthy recipes for use at home.
Next up at #3 is the San Diego Hunger Coalition, working to end food insecurity within San Diego County. This group's Hunger Free Kids initiative provides technical assistance to help school districts implement meal programs like Breakfast After the Bell, and organizes expert discussions on strategies for expanding school meal options. The Coalition also assists low-income residents in navigating the CalFresh supplemental nutrition program.
This group's Hunger Free Kids initiative provides technical assistance to help school districts implement meal programs like Breakfast After the Bell, and organizes expert discussions on strategies for expanding school meal options.
The San Diego Hunger Coalition offers CalFresh training sessions for community organizations working on food access issues, and leads the Hunger Free San Diego collaboration, performing research on nutrition insecurity in the region. The group follows up its research reports with public policy advocacy, organizing collective action and working with legislators to call for change. The Coalition also provides educational programming and articles on challenges in nutritional health.
Our #4 entry is The African Seed Access Index, which works to fight hunger in Africa by supporting smallholder farmers, through promotion of systems which enable access to plant genetic stock. TASAI monitors the development of the continent's seed sector, producing reports detailing regional progress toward the equitable availability of genetic material for crops.
TASAI works with government agencies, industry groups, and other nonprofits to develop recommendations for strengthening and expanding African markets in seeds. The organization conducts workshops to present research findings and discuss strategies for broadening access. It also shares its expertise at events like Making Markets Matter agribusiness training sessions. TASAI shares articles, publications, and presentations about the development of Africa's seed sector.
TASAI shares articles, publications, and presentations about the development of Africa's seed sector.
Capping off our overview at #5 is Oregon's Summer Food Service Program, also known as Summer Meals. Funded by the US Department of Agriculture and open to all families, this initiative provides free meals for children throughout the state, offering nutritional support during the months when they are unable to receive free school lunches.
Many locations offer activities for fun and education; the organization offers free resources to those operating meal sites, including activity guides and evaluation tools. It also provides marketing resources to help spread the word about local options. The program shares information on how interested locals can start summer food programs of their own.
