I hate to be a Debbie Downer but as we all get ready to stretch our waistlines eating Thanksigiving dinner, it seems pertinent to recognize how lucky we all are to be able to enjoy having food on our tables. Within the last few months, surprising statistics have been coming out that show many Americans are really struggling to eat in this down economy.

Here are five sobering facts about hunger in America:

1. 1 in 7 are food insecure – This is a USDA report that shows 47 million Americans are “food insecure”. The USDA defines “food insecurity” as limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.
    
2. 52% of food insecure households were minorities – This comes from the same USDA report. There is a significant disparity in hunger for non-white households.
    
3. 17 million children are food insecure – This also is from the USDA report. It shows that many families are suffering from hunger in our everyday lives. 17 million is almost an unfathomable number when it comes to thinking about hungry children.
    
4. 50% of all American kids will use food stamps - A recent study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine showed that about half of children in America will use food stamps. What’s scary is that the study looks at past numbers and does not take into account our current recession. You can expect that those numbers are higher now than in the past.
    
5. In King County, Food Bank visits have jumped 22% from 2007 to 2009 – The recession led to layoffs, foreclosures, and other financial instability. In our own area, we’ve seen a 22% rise in food bank visits. Individual food banks have seen much more drastic jumps in visits.
    

Again, I’m sorry for such a depressing post! If you want to make yourself feel better, consider taking action during the holidays! Here are three ways you can make a difference in the lives of those in need:

1. Volunteer! Food Banks and meals programs always can need more help. Take some time out of your week to volunteer and serve those in need.
    
2. Donate to United Way! United Way currently funds 46 different food programs in King County with over $2.5 million. Not only does our money go to food distributors like Food Lifeline and area food banks but we also fund unique projects to fight hunger. We recently funded Salvation Army’s backpack feeding program which makes sure schoolchildren have healthy meals to eat over the weekend. We also put money into Lifelong Aid Alliance’s Chicken Soup Brigade.
    
3. Adopt a family! You can have a direct impact on a family this season by purchasing their holiday meal for them. We all know how much a big turkey dinner with all the fixings warms both the heart and stomach. You can come together with friends and family to make a family’s holiday wish come true.
    

Let’s all take time to be thankful for all that we got and I hope everyone goes out and pays it forward in kindness! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!