Posted by: Tina W.
The children in the video below aren't skin and bones, but that doesn't mean they aren't suffering.
True, they don't live in shelters or in boxes on the street, but many of them sleep on a neighbors floor at night.
Every one of them admits to sometimes having to study by candlelight when the electric company shuts the
lights off. Sometimes, they say, they cant sleep because there empty stomach is growling in pain. One little
girl recalls the embarrassment she feels when she has to ask friends for leftovers.
Of the 35.5 million Americans that go struggle with hunger everyday, 12.5 million are
children. While America is not by any means the most hungry country in the world, it is the only country
where the hunger rates are getting worse instead of improving. I myself work in a grocery store where I see
the amount of food stamps being used steadily increase. No doubt that it is the tough economy and loss of
jobs that is pushing these previously cash buyers below the poverty level. I find that the people i know as
regulars are normally embarrassed, often offering up explanations as to why they are now on welfare. Top
reasons are typical (jobs, economy, sickness) and i wasn't surprised to recently learn that Philadelphia is the
second most hungry of the major cities.
While every member of a family in poverty suffers, its hard to argue that a child suffers the worse. A
child cannot sleep at night when there stomach hurts, or pay attention the next day in school when they are
hungry and sleep deprived. Poor nutrition now will effect there health for the rest of there lives.Childhood
hunger causes emotional and behavioral problems, and limits social development. Children who live in homes
where finances cause a stressful environment will exhibit poor concentration, which will limit success in
school. Limited success in school, as we all know, usualy means limited success in life.
The video below is admitiidley a little long, but its a great chronicling of what nations hungry children
deal with every day and watching it will give you a greater understanding of what its like. Although,
statiscicly, you probably already do.
