Hunger Facts
Why is supporting the fight against childhood hunger so important?
“Texas ranks 3rd in the nation for food insecurity, meaning one in five adults and one in four children in our state are hungry, and that is simply unacceptable.”
– Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner, Todd Staples
One in four children in Harris County go to bed hungry each night. 24% of children ages 0-5 in the Greater Houston Area live in poverty, and approximately 60,000 preschoolers do not receive free meals in schools through the breakfast and lunch assistance programs.
These are too often the forgotten little ones who will go to bed hungry and malnourished, with headaches, stomach aches and little hope for tomorrow.
Kids’ Meals delivers 1,200 healthy lunches to pre-school aged children living in poverty. The waiting list for children in need of food is constantly growing due to the increase in food prices, rising unemployment rate, and slowing economy.
What are the effects of hunger on children?
Hunger impairs our children's health in significant and long-lasting ways:
- Impedes growth and development
- More illness, including stomach- and head aches, colds, ear infections and fatigue
- Poorer mental health
- More hospitalizations
- Greater susceptibility to obesity and its harmful health consequences
Hunger predisposes our children to behavioral difficulties, including:
- More aggressive behavior
- Higher levels of hyperactivity, anxiety and/or passivity
- Difficulty getting along with other children
- Greater need for mental health services
Hunger impedes our children's ability to learn and perform academically. Hungry children are likely to:
- Have impaired cognitive functioning and diminished capacity to learn
- Achieve lower test scores and overall school performance
- Repeat a grade
- Experience school absences, tardiness and school suspensions
Source:"Household Food Security in the United States, 2007; U.S.D.A. Economic Research Service, November 2008; http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err66/
For information on hunger facts, please visit Share our Strength at www.Strength.org
