Hunger can be defined as the physical and mental condition which occurs from not consuming enough food due to insufficient family, community, or economic resources. (Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project, 1997). When it comes to world hunger, many think of it only on Thanksgiving or World Hunger Day. However, hunger is an ongoing problem which affects over 800 million people each day. Unfortunately, over 40,000 people worldwide die daily as a result of hunger and hunger related causes. (Hunger: The Year Round Problem, 1997).

People suffering from the indignities and pain of hunger include senior citizens with fixed resources, single parents whose income does not cover all basic needs such as shelter and food, poor working families in which two minimum wage jobs cannot make ends meet, and any individual struck by sudden tragedy or disaster. (Bethlehem Center Food Bank, 1997).

Many people suffer from hunger due to inadequate distribution of food. Producing adequate amouts of food for everyone has always been a worldwide pressing problem. There is enough food produced worldwide to feed everyone. However, the supply varies from country to country and year to year, and may not always be distributed evenly. Most people in North America, Soviet Union, Europe, New Zealand, Japan and Australia receive adequate food supplies. Their food contains enough proteins and calories to maintain good health. Protein is the most significant food substance necessary for life (New Book Of Knowledge, 1996).

In less developed countries, such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America, many people suffer malnutrution due to “food insecurity” (New Book Of Knowledge, 1996). “Food insecurity” exists when individuals in a society lack nutritionlly, adequate, and safe foods due to the inavailability of the food they need.

Others suffer from hunger due to war. One of the reasons why hunger arises from war is that the governent spends a larger percentage of its wealth on military expenses such as weapons which drains resources that could be used to maintain consistent agricultural development. During periods of war, access to food is often controlled by armed forces. Therefore, the military conflicts often endanger individuals forcing them to leave their crops and land unattended.

In addition to war and unequal distributions of food, poverty is also a cause of hunger. “The official poverty definition is based on a series of poverty ‘thresholds,’ which vary according to family size and composition. If a family has a total income level below the threshold for its size and type, it is considered poor. The thresholds are adjusted every year for changes in the overall level of prices, but otherwise have remained unchanged in concept since the mid-1960’s.” (A Staff Study Prepared for The Joint Economic Committee, 1989.) Many people assume that others go hungry because they are too lazy to work. However, many people who are hungry work, but simply cannot afford to eat nutritionally adequate food. In addition, many may believe that people who receive food assistance are homeless. Of course, this is partially true, but many are low income families who receive assistance from food banks and soup kitchens as well as from government funded programs such as food stamps. (Food Bank: What Causes Global Hunger, 1997).

Malnutrition has a devasting affect on the hungry population. Malnutrition is poor nourishment which results from insufficient food. People affected by this may suffer a loss of vitality and reduced ability to function physically and mentally. Children experience fatigue, headaches, colds, and other illnesses that may cause them to be physically inactive. Pregnant women who are undernourished tend to have low birth weight infants. Low birth rate babies suffer impaired development and physical illness as well. Therefore, the risk of death within their first year is greater. In adults, hunger weakens muscles and bones, worsens health problems and adds to depression and lack of energy. One out three children awake each day to feel the painful effects of hunger. The main causes of malnutrition are illnesses and diseases due to communities which lack clean water and sanitation. (Position of The American Dietetic Association, 1997). In addition, hunger affects cognitive development. “Children who are hungry may be less attentive, independent and curious. Many hungry children have difficulty concentrating. Therefore their reading ability and verbal and motor skills suffer.” (Food Bank: How does Hunger Affect Us?, 1997). In adults, hunger produces irritability, nervousness, and difficulty in concentration. The impacts of hunger are damaging, it may dwindle self-esteem and self confidence, as well as physical deteoration. . (Food Bank: How does Hunger Affect Us?, 1997).

What can we do about hunger? There are many programs to assist in the problem of hunger: The Food Pantry in which a 3-5 day supply of food can be taken home; the Food Drive in which a community effort is sponsored by organizations, grocery stores, schools, churches, or food banks to donate a certain amount of non-perishable food; shelter, which temporarily houses homeless people; and the Food Bank which is an organization that distributes food to soup kitchens shelters, or other organizations to help feed the hungry.

In closing, hunger is a worldwide ongoing problem. The causes and affects of hunger can be devasting and can often lead to death. There are many programs to assist in the problem of hunger. Some of these programs include the Food Pantry, the Food Drive, and the Food Bank. Unfortunately, hunger causes pain and suffering for many worldwide. However, the programs which assist in this serious social problem give hope to those in need and to those who assist in helping the hungry.

A Staff Study Prepared for The Joint Economic Committee. (1989. October 18). Alternative measures of poverty. Washington, DC: Congressional Committee. (p. 3). Retrieved November 1, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://www.brown.edu/Departments/World_Hunger_Program/hungerweb/ intro/poverty.html

Bethlehem Center Food Bank. Retrieved November 1, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcfb/know.htm

Chamber of Commerce, Washington County (Personal Interview, 1997).

Department of Social Services,Washington County (Personal Interview, 1997).

Department of Social Services, Watauga County (Personal Interview, 1997).

Community Childood Identification Project. (1991). A survey of childhood hunger in the United States. (Executive Summary). Washington, DC: Food Research and Action Center. Retrieved October 30, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://www.brown.edu/Departments/World_Hunger_Program/hungerweb/ intro/hunger.html

Food Bank: Facts. Retrieved November 1, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://www.citycare.com/lvfoodbank/hunger/activity2.htm

Food Bank: How Does Hunger Affect Us? Retrieved November 1, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://www.citycare.com/lvfoodbank/hunger/activity2.htm

Food Bank: What Can We Do About Hunger? Retrieved November 1, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://www.citycare.com/lvfoodbank/hunger/activity3.htm

Food Bank: What Causes Global Hunger? Retrieved November 1, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://www.citycare.com/lvfoodbank/hunger/activity1.htm Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank (Personal Interview, 1997).

It’s A Fact: When families, neighbors and co-workers go hungry, the whole community suffers. Retrieved October 29, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://www.citycare.com/lvfoodbank/hunger

Nelson, Steven S. (1997). Hunger: The Year Round Problem. The Ethic and Religious Liberty Comission. Retrieved October 29, 1997 or the World Wide Web: http://www.erlc.com/Hunger/1997/SN65Year.htm

New Book of Knowledge: F (1996)

Offering Community Solutions to the Problem of Hunger (Pamphlet, 1997). Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. Position of The Amercan Dietetic Association: World Hunger. Retrieved November 1, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://www.eatright.org/aworldhunger.html

Suppes, M.A., & Wells, C. C. (1996). The Social Work Experience: An Introduction to the Profession and Its Relationship to Social Welfare (2nd ed.) New York: The McGraw Hill.

Whitaker, W.H., & Federico, R C. (1997). Social Welfare in Today’s World (2nd ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill.

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