No Child Left Hungry

Albert Einstein said, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” After watching the movie Dive Living of off America’s Waste: I gained a newly heightened awareness of hunger and food issues of current times. The film Dive, by Jerry Seifert, is a documentary like account by a group of young men that eat and feed their families off of the food they collect on a daily basis via dumpster diving. The film brings awareness to the idea and reality that there are people here in the United States of America that does not have enough food to eat on a daily basis. People think that throwing away food doesn’t matter. Wasted food does matter and affects others. Children are a vast majority of those left behind without adequate nutrition on a daily basis. According to the American Psychological Association, “Hunger can hinder cognitive development in children, increase behavioral problems, affect body image…eventually lead to poor health and low self-esteem and have long lasting effects on health. Most people agree that not having enough food or proper nutrients effects children’s ability to learn, self-esteem and alters health due to the vast existence in today’s society. Childhood hunger and poor nutrition in the United States of America can be combated if people work together at efforts to make sure no child is left hungry.       

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs is a research based theory presented in pyramid form of basic human needs that must be met before they can go on to the next stage (Huitt). The pyramid is based with the first and most basic needs being on the bottom of the chart and moving upward to show each stage of psychological accomplishment and growth. Each lower need must be met before a person can go upward to the next level. At the bottom of the pyramid is; food, water, elimination. Next is safety and security. The third level includes belonging. The pyramid continues to the top point which is self-actualization.  Having food and water is the first need that must be met before any person even cares about their safety and well-being.  It is increasingly difficult for a child to sit, learn, and cooperate in a classroom if he or she has to worry about when and where their next meal will come from.

Many schools offer free and reduced lunch meals for children.  According to an article in USA Today, Children are coming to school hungry; many students depend on meals at school as their major source of nutrition according to about 65% of teachers. The article further explained that teachers on average spend $25 out of their own pockets to buy food and snacks for students (Hellmich). Caring teachers are making these efforts to better help students be better able to concentrate and cooperate in the classroom. Many of Americans are considered working poor. People in this category spend most of their already low income on rent and utilities (Kaitschuck).  In many instances working poor families depend on local soup kitchens and food banks (Kaitschuck).  Knowing that major food chains practice throwing away food rather than donating to needy organizations is discomforting.  Parents depend on these donations to feed their children.  In the movie Dive, the participants were able to consume better meals with the food collected from dumpsters than they could afford to purchase (Seifert).  Many fresh, organic meats, vegetables, fruits, grains and dairy products were items recovered from the dumpster dives. Food items are packaged with sell by labels. Once the sell by date and often previous to this date, is reached the store will dispose of the item to the trash. How can anyone with a conscious just throw away perfectly good food, one may wonder? Unfortunately throwing away good food instead of giving it to a needy person is a common practice of many businesses and citizens at homes. Nearly half of food items grown, manufactured and meals prepared in the United States of America are not consumed by people and thrown away when they are yet consumable (Seifert). A statistic like that in a first world country is sad and stifling.  Grocery chains try to avoid customer complaints of food freshness and lawsuits by taking the route of discarding items also to prevent lawsuits. Many people think that it’s easier to throw away than give it to others in need and hungry.  The federal government has assisted in encouraging positive actions like grocery stores, giving food to food banks, needing organizations, etc. without repercussion of being sued via the Good Samaritan Act passed during the Bill Clinton Administration. A law being passed on a federal level is not enough to save lives. Volunteers are needed to organize, distribute and cook food donations for people less fortunate. What type of country has the United States of America become?

Children are going to school hungry every day. Humans need food and water to survive: without it their organs will not function properly and can result in death. Children need adequate nutrition to grow, learn and focus. Where and when do people start to help make a difference? Start today; start now with small, personal, and consistent changes. Parents that are more fortunate should have their child take extra leftovers or snacks to school and share with classmates. Parents can also contribute by purchasing extra snacks and supplies for the classrooms. People can donate nonperishable items to the local food bank or church in local areas.  Children are the future and they are depending on adults. There’s an English Proverb that reads, “You never know what you can do until you try.” Any efforts made are better than no efforts.    

Works Cited

Hellmich, Nanci. "Children are coming to school hungry." USA Today 23 Feb. 2011: 05D. Biography In Context. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

Huitt, W. (2007). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved [date] from,

http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/regsys/maslow.html

Sarasohn, David. "Hunger USA. (Comment)." The Nation 16 Dec. 2002: 7. Academic OneFile. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

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