I am working my way through some more in-depth thoughts on the book The End of Hunger put out by Intervarsity Press.
Chapter 10 has a focus on hunger in the U.S. It is an eye-opening section. There are 40.6 million living in poverty in the U.S. Of those, 13.3 million are children and 4.6 million are senior adults.
There is also the issue of the phrase “food insecurity.” It is defined as a “lack of access to enough healthy food to live a healthy lifestyle.” (p. 79)
In the U.S., hunger is primarily episodic, meaning it’s not something many experience on a daily basis. There are periods of time, like at the end of the month when the money is running out. There is also underemployment that impacts when to buy food, how much to buy, and what kind of food to purchase.
In the U.S. causes can stem from gainful employment in some areas. For example, in an area where manufacturing was a good job for decades, the factories are gone and good paying jobs have left. There is also educational achievement. Not finishing high school is a major factor in underemployment.
A vicious cycle is set. Coming from poverty, lack of adequate nutrition, and lack of education can lead to generational problems.
This is the United States. These are real issues for millions of people. We can have a direct impact at home.
I simply can’t recommend this book enough to people. We have a tremendous opportunity to bring hope at home and abroad. Why NOT end hunger by 2030?
Apprentice 2 Jesus 