There are over 7,000 higher
education institutions in the U.S. with over 15 million students according to
braintrack.com (http://www.braintrack.com/us-colleges).
There are an estimated 18,000 Community Gardens
throughout the United States and Canada according to the ACGA (American
Community Gardening Association) www.communitygarden.org/learn/faq.php. There are over 189,293 Grocery Stores and 318,758 Food
stores in the United States according to the
NAICS Association. www.fmi.org/research-resources/supermarket-facts
|
The
U.S. grocery industry, which includes a variety of businesses from supermarkets
and convenience stores to wholesale clubs and superettes, had sales totaling
over $1 trillion in 2009, with supermarkets accounting for just over half of
total sales at about $557 billion (1). The supermarket industry comprises the
largest segment of the U.S. grocery industry. Non-supermarket grocery sales
are comprised mainly of convenience stores, about $325 billion, and wholesale
clubs, about $117 billion according to CDFI (www.cdfifund.gov/.../Understanding%20Grocery%20Industry_for%20f). “In
this era of the expanding waistlines, we hear far more concern about obesity
than we do about hunger. But the two are more closely connected that many of
us realize.
A new documentary, A Place at the Table, peels
back the curtain on the problem of food insecurity, weaving together the
stories of low-income Americans who struggle to put healthy food on the table,
despite the fact that they have jobs.
As we've reported, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture estimates that about 50 million Americans fall into
this category of "food insecure" — meaning they don't always have
the resources to buy the food they need. This includes nearly 17 million
children in the U.S.” - ALLISON AUBREY
The excerpt written above is from an article written by NPR’s
ALLISON AUBREY.
What exactly
does this mean you might ask? This means that America has the ability to end
hunger in America. Many may doubt my optimism but the numbers don’t lie. I am
convinced that collectively utilizing these resources and others we have the
capacity to end hunger in America. After watching the documentary “A
Place at the Table”, I was outraged that such a grave injustice was occurring
right here in the great United States of America.
The plight of the people seemed to go unnoticed and
as an American I found this to be appalling. This isn’t the America we preach
abroad, nor is it the America we openly acknowledge. Like a wealthy family with a deep dark
secret our struggles are masked, hidden even with no intention of ever
revealing the illusive truth. Like
bones and dead love ones we bury the truth under the false illusion that this
to will work itself out.
This isn’t anti-American rhetoric or self-righteous
condemnation. This is a moment of self-reflection and heartbreak, juggling the
conflicting weight of loving a country in spite of its flaws. It is with that
same love that I look onward with optimism and hope. If you look at it close
enough the solutions are all there, right before your very eyes.
Imagine the possibilities of what we could accomplish
with what we have already. With the help of innovations like urban farms and
Community gardens, The grocery store industries who profit off of hard working
Americans daily, and secondary education institutions like Universities, city,
state and private colleges who shape the minds of our world.
Remember we can be the difference collectively. Start
a meeting, champion a petition, organize in your communities, and spark conversations
via social network and other social settings. The problem isn’t their problem
it’s our problem. What affects others affects us all. I have sparked the
discussion once again, now it is our job to turn momentum into action.
WWW.CLOUD77PRO.COM TM ©January 2014 by Ade
