Hunger in the United States by Denise O' Brien

Who would have thought that land of milk and honey could ever be hungry? In her essay, organic farmer and farm activist Denise O' Brien demonstrated what is most likely the impact of the global economic downturn — one that is unseen by much of the world but deeply felt in the United States (US). “Although hunger in the US is less dire than in developing nations, it is nonetheless quite serious. Starvation is rare here, but malnourishment is not,” she asserted. This, as she pointed out the government's means of underprojecting this otherwise strange phenomenon.

In 2007, the Food Research and Action Center estimated that there were some 36.2 million people who were “food insecure.” Almost 24 million were adults and a little over 12 million were children. A significant segment of them consists of African Americans and Hispanics. Hunger has also been concentrated in Southern states such as Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Maine, South Carolina, Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

As in the past, food banks have been a reliable recourse. But as more and more people are feeling the pangs of hunger, food banks are feeling the crunch as well. O' Brien wrote, “Food banks are a treasured source of aid for millions of needy Americans, but they increasingly face shortfalls in supplies and their ability to help. Nationally, donations are up about 18 per cent but demand has grown to 25 to 40 per cent. As fuel costs increase, food stores stock fewer inventories to reduce shipping costs, thus making them less available to contribute to food banks. Food producers are also cutting inventory with like results while government surplus programmes make far less food available than they did in years past.”

Yet O'Brien saw an opportunity in this crisis as community-based organisations are stepping up their efforts in cultivating gardens, opening kitchens and organising organic food stalls. These activities, she said are organised around the principles of community food security, community focus, self-reliance and empowerment and local agriculture. This growing movement consists of Plant a Row for the Hungry, Growing Power, Rochester Roots, Brooklyn Rescue Mission Inc. and Bed-Stuy Farm, among others.

“Hunger in the United States” is one of the articles featured in Women in Action magazine issue, “Harvest Reaped but Hard to Reach .”

Next issue, we look at hunger in the South with Edra Mbatha Kavati's essay, “Mired in Mathare.”