Child Hunger is Unacceptable

[FOTD]

17% Of US Children Under 5 May Face Hunger

Louisiana Has Highest Rate Of Child Hunger

MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Writer
http://www.newsnet5.com/health/19392069/detail.html
"WASHINGTON -- An estimated 3.5 million children younger than 5 are at risk of hunger in the United States, according to government numbers provided by an anti-hunger group.
That is more than 17 percent of children who could suffer cognitive and developmental damage if they are not properly fed.
The not-for-profit advocacy group Feeding America based its findings on 2005-2007 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Agriculture Department. The study, released Thursday, is the first to look at these numbers for children under the age of 5, according to the group. Feeding America runs food banks and feeding centers around the country.
The study also shows that in 11 states, more than 20 percent of children under 5 are at risk of going hungry. Louisiana has the highest rate, with just under a quarter of children at risk.
According to the Agriculture Department, 11 percent of households lacked enough food for an active, healthy life before the economy worsened late last year.
The study looks at a range of children who are at risk, from those who have low quality or variety of food to those who regularly experience hunger.
A lack of nutritious food, especially in the earliest formative years, can have a lasting impact on physical and behavioral health, along with development and academic achievement.
"These children without the availability of nutrition don't have the chance to spring back," said Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive of Feeding America.
Escarra said the group is lobbying Congress and the White House for more federal funding for food bank programs that target young children. President Barack Obama has pledged to expand food aid and end childhood hunger by 2015."

Oklahoma must be up there.

In a Christian nation of states with laws against choice and low priorities on defeating poverty and improving public education this might fit best in the WWJD thread.

[guido911]

Well, do something about it.

[Breadburner]

Well Guido you know his type....He would rather point the finger and tell someone else to do something about it with someone else's money.....

[cannon_fodder]

Child obesity is also unacceptable.  And that actual reported numbers on child hood obesity are at 17% (16.6% in 2006, to be specific).  The 17% number reported in this article is the number this organization has reported as possibly having an insecure food supply that might go hungry.

And why aren't they going to food banks, shelters, the salvation army, tribal entities or Catholic Charities to eat?  Or for that matter redeeming their food stamps or spending welfare checks?  Or, if it comes to eat, surrendering your child to the State if you are unable to provide (clearly not desired, but if I could not care for my child . . .).  Other than pride, I am unaware of a real reason for a child to have to go hungry.

If you bothered to look at the source material for the article you sited, you would see they list Oklahoma as having a 16.1% "insecurity rate."  Which would indicate we are below the national average, which in this regard is good.   Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas are all at or over 20% on their rankings of potentially insecure food.   You attitude that Oklahoma must be bad is very telling. 

And I'm sure you will be glad to know that the anti-hunger group referenced in the article has a recognized food bank in Tulsa:

1. Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma

Web Site: www.cfbeo.org

1304 N. Kenosha Ave.
Tulsa , OK 74106
Map it

Phone:
    918.585.2800
Fax:
    918.585.2862
Executive Director:
    Sara J Waggoner
Email:
    jmccarthy@cfbeo.org
Media Contact:
    Cindy Stevens
Title:
    Communications Manager
Phone:
    918.585.2800 X 124
Email:
    cstevens@cfbeo.org

http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx?zip=74106

So have at it FOTD.

[Conan71]

What??? In this Obama day and age, child hunger???  Say it ain't so FOTD!

You are soooo gullible, the exact fool the media expects to follow their BS.

[guido911]

Well Guido you know his type....He would rather point the finger and tell someone else to do something about it with someone else's money.....

Yep.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Well, do something about it.

We did, we voted Obama in and he is going to take all your money and feed the hungry kids.
He didn't have time to change the 2008 tax code taking office in 2009 so give him time.

I for one would rather hear you whine than see children go hungry

[FOTD]

Wow. Incredible how you attack the demon messenger but say no ill of the state capitol boys who believe this would constitute a hand out. They're too busy involving themselves in treasonous law making.  CF, child obesity occurs at an older age and is the consequence of the choice of their elders. The "emotional"poll you sight is not to be compared to real hard numbers of physical damage. Besides, how's that match up to feeding our own? This systemic restraint creates more fodder to feed their  system...the mental institutions, prisons, etc....they can make more profits this way...food has yet to be classified as a human right...

"the poorest and most vulnerable people in the country are being asked to bail out the most wealthy."
Naomi Klein

[RecycleMichael]

It gives me pain to agree with FOTD...but he is right...child hunger is unacceptable.

We also give to the food bank. I also believe this weekend is the canned food drive for the Post Office.

[TeeDub]

No child in Tulsa/Broken Arrow has any need to go hungry.

If your food stamps don't provide enough, there are numerous organizations that will make sure you can eat a healthy meal.

In addition to the link above, I would like to add:

http://www.baneighbors.com/


There is absolutely NO excuse for people not to find enough to eat.

[FOTD]

It gives me pain to agree with FOTD...but he is right...child hunger is unacceptable.

We also give to the food bank. I also believe this weekend is the canned food drive for the Post Office.

Go for some heroin for your pain if this demon causes you that much discomfort. Help the Afghanistan Nation.....

It would seem that early childhood development is a matter of ethics and generosity except when it comes to government from what these posts indicate. The government must take part of the lead and serve as a supervisor and regulator of these charities.  " Feed the Children continues to receive an "F" grade from AIP for spending only 12% of its ..." http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/feedchildren.html

"For more than a decade AIP has been reporting on issues related to FC's financial efficiency, accountability, and governance, and is interested in what additional information may be revealed while following the ongoing case as it unfolds." Wait and we will see...Have at it Sparty.

[Gaspar]

Ok, I was board at lunch and suffering from "food insecurity", so I pulled the report and read it.

First of all, it's a study on "Child Food Insecurity."  That should be your first clue that something is weird.  None of the data that Dr. Cook researched indicated starvation or malnutrition, or any physical state of hunger.  In fact, it's not much of a study, just a regurgitation of census data shaped to fit an assumption.

Struggling for marketable terminology, they used the funky term "food insecure"  to classify homes where these children may live (study was based off of percentage data only, so they have no actual evidence).   

There was no statement of sample groups, in fact, there were none, the data was pulled from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.   Then, you figure out that the entire study is based on a series of census questions related to FEELINGS of hunger (hence the term "food insecure").  No actual quantitative data, and no qualitative data.  How the hell did this guy get published?  In fact the data reviewed was only offered through percentages without any actual quantification by state (and it states that "actual households and states were not quantified"). 

He did not take into account ANY actual food consumption, restaurant dining, or institutional programs (schools) in any of the states or census groups. 

I would assert with complete confidence that if Dr. Cook (unfortunate name) took into account trips to McDonnald's alone, he would have to alter the report to indicate a concern for obesity. 

Why the hell did I just waste 30 minutes of my life on a FOTD post?
Never again.
Bunk!

[FOTD]

Ok, I was board at lunch and suffering from "food insecurity", so I pulled the report and read it.

First of all, it's a study on "Child Food Insecurity."  That should be your first clue that something is weird.  None of the data that Dr. Cook researched indicated starvation or malnutrition, or any physical state of hunger.  In fact, it's not much of a study, just a regurgitation of census data shaped to fit an assumption.

Struggling for marketable terminology, they used the funky term "food insecure"  to classify homes where these children may live (study was based off of percentage data only, so they have no actual evidence).   

There was no statement of sample groups, in fact, there were none, the data was pulled from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.   Then, you figure out that the entire study is based on a series of census questions related to FEELINGS of hunger (hence the term "food insecure").  No actual quantitative data, and no qualitative data.  How the hell did this guy get published?  In fact the data reviewed was only offered through percentages without any actual quantification by state (and it states that "actual households and states were not quantified"). 

He did not take into account ANY actual food consumption, restaurant dining, or institutional programs (schools) in any of the states or census groups. 

I would assert with complete confidence that if Dr. Cook (unfortunate name) took into account trips to McDonnald's alone, he would have to alter the report to indicate a concern for obesity. 

Why the hell did I just waste 30 minutes of my life on a FOTD post?   
Never again.
Bunk!

It was Spartacus that posted that distractive nonsense.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Cool, I am glad to know that there is no child hunger. 

[Crash Daily]

WOW. Did I just drive down a dead end? In essence, the last 5 minutes of my life was spent reading nothing about nobody.