Obtaining enough food for an active, healthy life is the most basic of human needs. Yet due to the recent economic downturn, approximately 49 million Americans now don’t have the means to meet their basic food necessities. Food insecure households, many with children, cannot achieve the fundamental element of well-being which is necessary of a healthy, wholesome life. Which is why organizations like Feeding America are stepping up to help and annually provide food to 37 million Americans, including 14 million children who have fallen on hard times. Because of hard economic times many people have had trouble providing for their families and have had to cut down on basic necessities like food. Government programs and aids like food stamps have succeeded for 40 years as the nation’s most fundamental public program, safeguarding against hunger. This program has gotten extra support as a response to the recession with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provisions which boosted the program’s spending to $57.2 billion. Still the help has failed to reach the many that have fallen through the cracks and so it’s up to all of us to step up and make a difference.
