by Linda St Cyr, Contributing Writer

"MORE THAN 50 MILLION AMERICANS STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE."- Share Our Strength, Hunger Fact-Sheet

Santa is on his way but for many families getting food on their tables is as elusive as seeing Santa climbing down the chimney. Over 44 million homes are considered food insecure. These families rely on school lunches to provide their children with a meal, trips to the local food bank to get a meal on the table, and stretching every dollar for what it's worth. During school breaks the amount of children who go hungry increases because there is no food in the home.

Hunger hurts. Not just emotionally but physically and mentally. According to Share Our Strength, children who go hungry are more likely to become sick (headaches, stomachaches, ear infections), become hospitalized, risk obesity, face behavioral problems, lack focus in school, and struggle with learning.

The number of hungry during the holiday season is only increasing. Island Harvest (a food relief organization in Long Island) spokesman Donald Miller told CNN's Eatocracy about the increase, "Prior to the start of the holiday season – the benchmark would be the number of turkeys requested for Thanksgiving and Christmas and this year, it came in at an astounding 42,000, whereas last year the requests were for about 25,000. We've taken in around 12,000 so far, so we're really behind the eight ball."

17.4 million households in America are food insecure. 4.2 million of those households include children. America is considered one of the fattest nations yet we have millions who cannot afford to put food on the table. It is shocking and sad. There are ways you can help fight against hunger. Visit places like Island Harvest, Share Our Strength, and Feeding America to make a donation. Find a local food bank and donate non-perishables, ask if they are hosting a turkey drive then donate one.

If you are in need of help putting food on your table this holiday season: Please use THIS TOOL to find a local food bank.

by  Michael Thompson, Contributing Writer

This Halloween, even if a child does not knock on your door proclaiming, "Trick-or-treat for UNICEF," you might consider a donation to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.


We may tend to envision our contributions paying for famished children to eat porridge from bowls with their fingers, but UNICEF does much more. Concerns beyond world hunger include schools, medical issues such as AIDS treatment and prevention, and fresh water supplies, just so name some samples.


The annual UNICEF budget is about $2.7 billion, two-third contributed by the governments of United Nations member countries and one-third from 6 million private citizens worldwide like you.


To contribute, visit this website. And always remember, if you are not financially situated to make a cash gift to an organization such as UNICEF, you can always donate your time to your local soup kitchen or to any worthy cause.


UNICEF estimates than 22,000 children in the world pass away each day, what we mean by "pass away" is "die," because of hunger and other poverty-related concerns. This should not be accepted, especially when we consider our comparative wealth.


P.S.: Just because a young American child is trick-or-treating for UNICEF, that doesn't mean you can't give them a candy bar in addition to your UNICEF contribution.


SOURCES


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNICEF


http://www.unicef.org/


http://www.unicef.org/support/14884.html


http://www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=9fLEJSOALpE&b=1023561

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Should all schools serve breakfast in this way to reduce childhood hunger?

Watch the video for more info and tell us your thoughts in the comment section. 

by  Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

On September 9th, Morgan Stanley launched a new campaign to fight against childhood hunger by partnering with Feeding America. The new campaign is called "Fill the Plate" and targets combating hunger during the weekends and after-school hours when children are most at risk of hunger

The partnership between Morgan Stanley and Feeding America is intended to strengthen and expand Feeding America's BackPack Program. The BackPack Program is designed for children to easily and discreetly give children access to nonperishable, nutritious foods. The backpacks are filled with foods and then distributed to children on the last day before the weekend or holiday vacation from school. According to Feeding America, during the fiscal year of 2009 over 190,000 children were served and over 3.7 million backpacks were distributed because of the backpack program. With the help of Morgan Stanley's "Fill the Plate" campaign, the hope is that the number of packs distributed will increase another 25% with more than 900,000 children being served by the end of 2014.

Morgan Stanley launched "Fill the Plate" on its 75th anniversary renewing their ongoing commitment to children's health issues and community service. President and CEO of Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, said of the partnership,

"Good nutrition is essential for children's success in school and throughout life.We look forward to partnering with Feeding America, an organization that knows how to make a genuine impact in communities across the U.S."

Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America, said of the partnership with the leading global financial services firm, "We applaud and welcome Morgan Stanley to the frontline in our continued fight to end hunger within our lifetime."

This is not the first program Morgan Stanley has stood firmly behind. In the past 50 years, The Morgan Stanley Foundation has advocated, campaigned, initiated projects and/or given non-profits grant funding. Some of the projects and non-profits supported by Morgan Stanley include the Global Alliance for Children's Health, the Million Meals Summer Program, Grow Clinics, Mount Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program (SAVI), Renewable Energy Projects, the Carbon Disclosurer Project and Education scholarships, internship and career development.