5 Ways to End Hunger in 2010

As we move towards the end of 2009, it's time to step back and take a sobering look at the statistics on hunger that were released over the past year.

For example, we've learned that nearly 50 million people in the United States regularly don't have access to adequate amounts of food, the highest number ever since records have been kept; and that, at some point in their lives, 50 percent of all children in the country will have relied on food stamps for survival.

However, instead of simply sitting around and dwelling on the poor state of food security in the United States, I thought it would be much more useful to talk about five things that we can all do to help combat hunger in the new year:

1) Volunteer! -- If there's one thing that any of us can do, regardless of expertise or resources, it's volunteer time at a local food bank or soup kitchen. Many of the small soup kitchens around the country are staffed by elderly men and women. While some people, particularly around the holidays, do volunteer to help feed the hungry, it's really a full-time job and the people who operate these facilities need full-time support.  If you'd like to find a place to volunteer near you, click here (this list is by no means exhaustive, contact your local social service organizations for more info).

2) Help raise money for a "double dollars" program -- These programs, which have begun to pop up in cities like Boston and Washington, DC, provide matching funds for every $1 someone with SNAP, WIC, or Senior Farmers Market Promotion Program benefits spends at a local farmers market.  If you aren't able to make a donation directly to any of the organizations that manage these programs, consider organizing a fundraiser (bake sale, fun run, etc.).  It's a great way to support local food AND to help increase access to healthy food in low-income communities

3) Go gleaning with a local organization -- The best and most cost-effective way, in my opinion, to help local food banks distribute healthier food is to participate in a gleaning trip.  Farmers who have finished harvesting certain fields will let volunteers come onto their farm and glean (i.e. pick through the produce that is left, usually still of high quality) and take whatever they can carry home.  Many nonprofit groups have developed partnerships with local farms, resulting in tons of free, fresh, healthy produce being fed to the country's needy families.  Some easy time spent Googling will point you to an organization that does this near you.

4) Plant an extra row in your garden for someone in need -- If you grow your own food (and if you don't, give it a try, it's fun!), consider planting an extra row this spring to help feed the hungry.  Millions of pounds of fruits, vegetables and herbs are already donated each year by gardeners throughout the country. Already a gardener and looking for a place to donate your extra bounty?  Use the AmpleHarvest search engine to find a local food pantry near you.

5) Support legislation that will increase access to healthy food in low-income communities -- There are going to be a lot of opportunities for our legislators to commit to a healthier future for all Americans this coming year, and one of them is going to be the chance to support the National Fresh Food Financing Initiative.  If you think that everyone deserves access to healthy food and good-paying jobs, take a minute to sign our petition, but also make sure to call your decision-makers in 2010 when a bill proposing the initiative's creation will reportedly be presented.

If you have additional suggestions of how to help stop the spread of hunger in 2010, leave us a note in the comments section below.

(Photo credit: cambodia4kidsorg on Flickr)