5 Actions in 5 Minutes to End Hunger

Hunger has no place in our country or our world. Yet, just this week the number of people in America on food stamps has reached an all-time high. Now more than ever, we must commit to addressing this unacceptable issue. Nobody should have to struggle to put food on the table.

So don't just sit there! Here are five things you can do in just five minutes to join the fight against hunger:

1. Vote now to end childhood hunger in america.
   This Idea for Change submitted by Eric Herbozo. The 10 ideas with the most votes will be presented to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day. Here's a snippet from Eric's idea: "It is time for America to reevaluate its priorities and take a genuine stance on solving the issue of child hunger in the United States. With one in six American children at risk of hunger, it is abominable that we could conceivably justify spending money elsewhere. Let's take the proven scalable solutions put forward by Share Our Strength, Feeding America, and other hunger strategy nonprofits, and fund them to the point where child hunger in America is a thing of the past." Well said, Eric.
2. Commit to taking the food stamp challenge.
   See how the 10 percent of Americans on food stamps must live. Shop and eat on $21 dollars per week for two weeks ($21 per person per week is the average food stamp allowance). Ask others to join you. See how challenging it can be to eat nutritious foods and avoid hunger. Talk about the experience, tell friends, write a letter to the editor, or email me about your experience at shannon@change.org. The Food Stamp Challenge Toolkit promises that you'll never look fresh fruits or a container of coffee the same way.
3. Act locally by helping your local food bank.
   Search the End Hunger Network's database to find an organization fighting hunger in your neck of the woods. Call and ask what supplies they need most and then help make it happen.
4. Pick up the phone!
   Call your Congressional representatives toll-free at      (800) 473-6711    and urge them to pass right away a temporary boost in SNAP/Food Stamp benefits as a key step in their economic stimulus/recovery work. (Before you call, take a look at this letter signed by national organizations supporting a SNAP boost.) Sign up for FRAC's Child Nutrition Action Alerts (email Etienne Melcher at emelcher@frac.org and ask her to add you to the list).
5. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.
   Call attention to the recent USDA Food Insecurity data that proves hunger in America is on the rise. The Food Research and Action Center makes it easy, just follow these easy steps to locate your nearest newspaper(s) and send a letter. (For hunger information about your state, check out the state profiles.)

Although hunger receives a lot of attention during the holidays, remember that it affects people every day of the year. In fact, hunger is at it's worst during the summer when free school meals are on hiatus. Be sure to check back here regularly for action updates and legislative alerts on hunger and homelessness.