Category Archives: global hunger

December 8, 2012 · 4:40 am

Fight Hunger at Home and Abroad in Farm Bill

Congress will decide budget amounts for food aid programs at home and abroad in the upcoming Farm Bill Credits: World Food Program USA

This week foodbanks across the country will be distributing food rations to the needy. Also this week a shipment from the U.S. Food for Peace program arrived in conflict-torn and impoverished Yemen. What do these two programs have in common besides fighting hunger?

Both initiatives depend on funding from federal programs in the upcoming Farm Bill legislation. Many food banks benefit from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) which sends donations to states for foodbanks to distribute. The Food for Peace program fights hunger overseas as a way to promote stability worldwide.

Congress will be deciding in the coming days how much to fund both of these hunger-fighting plans. Now is the time for people to let their representatives in government know that fighting hunger needs to be a priority of both our domestic and foreign policies.

Food is the basis of all things. Children in America suffering from hunger cannot learn and become the best they can be. Food can be a difference-maker for a child and his or her family, a safety net when tough economic times come.

Overseas, food is life-saving in areas of conflict and natural disaster, of which there are many ongoing – in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria and elsewhere. When the conflicts end, food can give people and communities the stability they need to rebuild and make peace. Food can also make the difference there whether a child attends and finishes school.

While the face of hunger may be different from one country to the next, it is vitally important to combat the menace wherever it may be.

Ensuring funding for TEFAP and Food for Peace as well as the McGovern-Dole international school meals program are steps we can take without breaking the bank. Food aid programs are relatively inexpensive when compared to other programs. Annual spending on nuclear weapons for instance would beat Food for Peace and TEFAP by close to $50 billion.

There is enough food in the world to feed everyone, so why not fight hunger at home and abroad? This year’s Farm Bill is a great place to start by supporting TEFAP and Food for Peace.

Article first published as Fight Hunger at Home and Abroad in Farm Bill on Blogcritics.

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December 7, 2012 · 2:26 am

Running to Save Children from Deadly Malnutrition

A mother attends to her severely malnourished child at an inpatient feeding centre in Mao, Chad. Plumpy'Nut is used to treat this potentially deadly condition (UNICEF Chad/2011/ Esteve)

A mother attends to her severely malnourished child at an inpatient feeding centre in Mao, Chad. Plumpy’Nut is used to treat this potentially deadly condition (UNICEF Chad/2011/ Esteve)

Recently, I wrote about how you can raise money to fight global hunger by running and using the Charity Miles app. My fellow writer and runner, Elizabeth Paff, is joining in on this mission with a slightly different spin.

Elizabeth (Biz) is going to run and raise money for a food called Plumpy’Nut that saves the lives of starving children around the world. For every minute Biz runs through December 14, I will make a donation to Edesia, a non-profit organization that produces the Plumpy’Nut.

Each donation will buy a Plumpy’Nut meal (about 33 cents) which consists of a peanut paste fortified with crucial nutrients for children under the age of five. Without these nutrients small children can suffer lasting physical and mental damage.

Plumpy’Nut (as well as its variations like Plumpy’Sup) are currently being used in emergencies such as the conflicts in Syria, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Plumpy’Nut, which comes in a packet, is a food that can be easily distributed in these dangerous areas as it requires no refrigeration or preparation. In crisis areas there is a race against time to reach the hungry and especially the smallest children as they are the most vulnerable.

When the massive famine and drought struck East Africa last year it was Plumpy’Nut that saved many lives. When famine threatened the Sahel region of Africa this year Plumpy’Nut was again called into action. Edesia, which was recently featured on New England’s Chronicle TV show, produces Plumpy’Nut for aid groups like the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and others to use in the field.

Biz is a member of the Leadership Pathways program at the College of Mount St. Joseph, and is an activist fighting hunger. She will log her miles at Mount St. Joseph’s indoor track. I hope others will sponsor her running too and make the donations to Edesia as I am. This will make an inspired holiday gift. I am already counting her runs both Tuesday and Wednesday of 40 minutes each to the tally. So please join in.

Visit Edesia’s website.

Article first published as Running to Save Children from Deadly Malnutrition on Blogcritics.

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November 29, 2012 · 4:28 am

Interview: Alanna Imbach of the UN World Food Programme on Charity Miles app

Using Charity Miles you can help support school feeding programs run by the World Food Programme
Credits:
WFP/Kongkea Chhoeun

In my last article, I wrote about Charity Miles and how you can use this free app to help raise donations to fight hunger and cancer.

Yesterday, I interviewed Alanna Imbach of the UN World Food Programme (WFP). She tells us more about how by walking, running or biking you can help support WFP, the world’s largest organization fighting hunger.

How did WFP connect with Charity Miles?

WFP is always on the lookout for innovative new ways to tackle global hunger issues, and engage people in efforts to reduce malnutrition and hunger. Charity Miles founder and brainchild, Gene Gurkoff, invited WFP to join up with this exciting new initiative early in 2012. When the game-changing phone application went live in June of this year, WFP was one of an initial nine top charities that walkers, runners and bikers can choose to support.

Give us an example of how funds raised through Charity Miles will help WFP feed the hungry?

It’s incredibly easy—and it’s free! When you use the Charity Miles app, your phone’s GPS is used to measure the distance that you cover during your walk or workout. WFP then receives 25 cents for each mile that you walk or run, or 10 cents for each mile biked. It may not sound like much, but with as little as 25 cents, WFP is able to provide a healthy meal to a child in school.

How easy is it for someone to join?

Using Charity Miles to support WFP in the fight against hunger is as simple as downloading the free application onto your iPhone or Android smartphone, then activating it while you enjoy your jaunt through the fresh outdoors. The app can be downloaded at charitymiles.org, and must be connected to an active Facebook account.

Do you see an increasing trend of support for WFP resulting from Charity Miles?

WFP’s partnership with Charity Miles is not just about raising money. It is also very much about raising awareness about global hunger, and empowering people to change the world by earning meals for hungry and malnourished kids in need, all while having fun. It has been great to see more and more people using Charity Miles as a launching pad to start conversations (and friendly competitions!) with their friends and colleagues about hunger in school and homes around the world.

Article first published as Interview: Alanna Imbach of the UN World Food Programme on Charity Miles Mobile App on Blogcritics.

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November 26, 2012 · 4:57 am

Running Charity Miles to Fight Hunger and Cancer

You can use the free app Charity Miles to help fight hunger. (photo courtesy of Charity Miles)

On Thanksgiving I got the chance to raise money for three charities: Stand up 2 Cancer, Feeding America, and the World Food Programme. All this by simply running and using a free app called Charity Miles.

I bought an Android phone a couple of months ago and downloaded the free Charity Miles app. You select a charity and choose whether you are going to run, walk, or bike. The app keeps track of your miles. Every mile you cover leads to a donation to the charity of your choice. The results of your runs get posted to your Facebook page.

I started out on Thanksgiving day with a three-mile run and took a little break to submit the results so Stand up 2 Cancer could earn the donation. The three miles I ran donated about seven minutes of cancer research.

The next three-mile run was for Feeding America and this donated about eight meals. As a member of the Feeding America Blogger Council I was also busy getting an online petition set up to support America’s foodbanks. So please sign this petition.

After another much-needed break especially considering the very hilly terrain I was running (the place is called Western Hills), my plan was to next run for the World Food Programme (WFP). My phone had a glitch so I lost about a mile’s worth. However, I did run a little over two miles after that, leading to a donation of five meals to WFP.

I also was able to mention Charity Miles to a few people I passed along the way.

Just as I am writing this I have received a message from Charity Miles stating:

“Yesterday was Charity Miles’ biggest day ever! Over 8,900 miles in one day – nearly half of which were for Feeding America, helping to feed over 15,000 people! What a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving!”

I am happy to be nine of those miles yesterday and to raise money for causes I am very involved with. My column here, primarly about world hunger, is nearing its 500th article.

I was glad to see Stand up 2 Cancer recently added to the Charity Mile list. I know how deeply devastating this disease is. My mother passed away from lung and brain cancer this summer.

There are many other charities as well that you can help when you join. I never used a cell phone or Android before starting this, so for experienced people it should be relatively easy to set up.

Article first published as Running Charity Miles to Fight Hunger and Cancer on Blogcritics.

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November 21, 2012 · 4:19 am

FreeRice Can Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving

FreeRice has two goals: Provide education to everyone for free. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

What if on Thanksgiving Day you could share food with a hungry person a world away? What if you could feed hundreds or thousands of “silent guests” on Thanksgiving? Actually you can, with FreeRice, the award-winning online game which helps feed the hungry.

When you play FreeRice you answer questions in many subjects including vocabulary, math, etc. For every correct answer, 10 grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Programme, the largest food aid organization.

This year I had the opportunity to write some of the questions that appear in the new FreeRice section on world hunger. I have also been encouraged by the response to the game.

Recently, I wrote a story on the great work Ithaca College’s Food for Thought organization has done with FreeRice. This is part of their ongoing campaign against hunger which is highlighted by the Walk for Plumpy’nut.

A College of Mount St. Joseph student, Elizabeth Paff, has been promoting FreeRice as part of an upcoming campus walk event against hunger. The St. John’s Church in Delhi, Ohio told me they are playing FreeRice with some of their school programs.

FreeRice has raised money to feed schoolchildren in Haiti after the earthquake. Currently FreeRice donations are headed to Niger, a country in Western Africa that has suffered a severe drought this year. In addition, Niger is host to thousands of refugees from a conflict in the neighboring country of Mali.

We saw this year how tough drought is and how it can lead to higher food prices. In Niger, where farmers have less technology and means to cope, the consequences of drought multiply. We can throw this country a safety net by playing FreeRice.

So after turkey this year, make some time for FreeRice. By simply playing this game, you can invite a “silent guest” into your home on Thanksgiving, and help feed people a world away in Niger.

Visit FreeRice.com to start playing.

Article first published as FreeRice Can Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving on Blogcritics.

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November 13, 2012 · 4:03 pm

A Tale of Two Yogurts

I was recently introduced, by one of its most loyal customers, to a very popular yogurt shop called Orange Leaf.

So I got an idea to propose a holiday event there to fight hunger by awarding gift certificates to Orange Leaf customers who get the highest scores playing the game FreeRice.

FreeRice is the online trivia game where for every correct answer, 10 grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Programme. So hopefully this event will get up and running at the Orange Leaf which I visited in Cincinnati. While I was at the store I sampled the yogurt and gave it a yum!

Now for me and others yogurt is a pleasure to add to the day. But a world away there are others for whom getting a chance to buy yogurt and other fresh foods is a simple step toward coping with the trauma of war.

Refugees from the war in Syria who have fled to neighboring countries are without resources to buy food. One initiative the World Food Programme (WFP) has started is providing electronic vouchers so the refugees can actually shop at a store near where they are staying.

The food vouchers have been provided to over 120,000 refugees in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey. WFP says, “The food vouchers can be redeemed against a list of items including cheese, milk, yogurt and eggs, which are not normally included in food rations. WFP often uses vouchers when food is available in the market but people do not have enough money to buy it.”

This is less expensive aid compared to shipping in food long distances and gives the refugees some choices as to what they may buy. The use of vouchers also helps the stores in the area where the refugees live. This means less of a burden on the host communities and more peaceful coping.

As WFP videographer Jonathan Dumont says, the voucher system gives refugees a chance to have a family meal again and in a troubled region, “a little comfort and stability goes a long way.”

With any luck yogurt will soon be helping to raise funds for the World Food Programme through the FreeRice contest, while at the same time be a part of its hunger relief operation through electronic vouchers. A tale of two yogurts.

Article first published as A Tale of Two Yogurts on Blogcritics.

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November 13, 2012 · 3:57 pm

Take Lead in Fighting Hunger at Home and Abroad

With the election behind us, it’s time to focus on a major hunger crisis here at home and abroad. There are 50 million people hungry in the U.S. and worldwide there are 870 million starving people, a major cause of instability.

We don’t need to wait for the President and the Congress to act. I was reminded by Elizabeth Paff, a leadership student at the College of Mount St. Joseph on the Ohio River, that in America action starts from the grassroots. She wrote, “it has to start with someone out there so why not me?”

In 1947, along the Ohio River, that same leadership spirit was in action when a train rolled by as part of nationwide tour collecting food for war-torn Europe. The Friendship Train, as it was called, was powered by the initiative and generosity of everyday Americans. Wheat flour, milk, beans, macaroni, spaghetti, eggs, dried peas, and other foods were collected. These donations came when Europe’s recovery was still very much at risk. Winter was fast setting in with food supplies running low.

George Marshall, then Secretary of State, said, “from this time on…every man, woman and child in this country will exert a direct personal influence on the course of international affairs.” And they most certainly did in helping feed Europe’s hungry. The Friendship Train preceded one of our most successful foreign policy initiatives, the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe from the ashes of World War II.

Every American today can have a similar influence, whether feeding war refugees and flood victims in South Sudan or a hungry person in Syria or Afghanistan displaced by conflict. If everyone became a leader, had their own type of “Friendship Train,” this would be the biggest contribution to peace that can be made.

It does not take much to make a difference. Even one dollar buys a week’s worth of meals for a child. A church I visited had a collection jar for such a purpose called Change for a Change. Anyone with a computer can play the online game FreeRice and raise funds for the World Food Programme. Organizing a fundraising road race or walk in your community can also send a powerful message that world hunger is a top priority.

We cannot expect there to be peace with millions of people malnourished and children stunted in growth. The instability we see in the world will never cease unless there is food, hope, and opportunity for all.

At home leadership is needed too, with many Americans struggling to get enough food for their families. Unemployment, health issues, or natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy place people in need of emergency food banks. We have to make sure that these foodbanks have enough supplies.

That is where citizens can take the lead in organizing canned good collections or online fundraisers. Athletes can use a cell phone app called Charity Miles to raise money for Feeding America as well as the World Food Programme.

Combining your charitable acts with messages to the President and the Congress can make leadership contagious. You can encourage Congress, for instance, to pass legislation helping the hungry such as the upcoming Farm Bill.

Today, there is enough food worldwide to feed all the hungry at home and abroad. It’s not a question of resources as much as leadership. That is where you can come in to take charge in confronting the food crisis facing our planet.

Article first published as Take Lead in Fighting Hunger at Home and Abroad on Blogcritics.

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October 31, 2012 · 10:21 pm

Charity Miles for Halloween!

Here is a video about Charity Miles for Halloween and below are some instructions on how you can use this tool to help feed the hungry. If you get through Halloween!

Here is a video and some instructions on how to use the free app Charity Miles to help raise funds for the World Food Programme, Feeding America and other charities while you walk, run or bike.  (courtesy Ekaterina Oshepkova of the World Food Programme)

How do I use the app Charity Miles?

1. Download the application at charitymiles.org

2. It will ask you to connect via Facebook. Note, without a Facebook account, you will not be able to use the application. Also, your GPS must be on. (most cell phones apparently already have this on)

3. When you are ready to exercise, select the charity in which you will be exercising for. You can do so by sliding the screen until you see WFP, which is the 10th charity.

4. Select, walk, run, or bike. The application will then start & track your distance.

5. When you are finished, or want to take a break, select stop.

6. If you wish to resume, select resume. If you are finished, select finish.

7. When you are finished with your exercise, the application will prompt you to accept sponsorship. Accept Sponsorship. If you do not accept sponsorship and allow a post to your Facebook wall, no money will be donated to the charity.

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October 31, 2012 · 1:13 am

Ithaca’s Food for Thought Takes on Global Hunger

Amanda Riggio, former Food For Thought member and Ithaca College student, conceived an event, “Rise Up for Rice,” where students could gather together and answer trivia questions at freerice.com to help eradicate world hunger. (Food for Thought photo)

New York is full of great history and heroes. During the fall of 1947, for example, the Friendship Train rolled through the state collecting food for the hungry in war-torn Europe.

Today, not far from where the Friendship Train made its New York stops, students at Ithaca College are also collecting donations to feed the hungry. One way they accomplish this is through an online trivia game called FreeRice.

Every time you answer a question correctly playing FreeRice, ten grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Programme. And the Friendship Train is one of the questions in this game!

Ithaca College has a dedicated organization to fighting world hunger called Food for Thought. Back in 2010 I wrote a story on Elizabeth Stoltz who founded this hunger-fighting group.

Stoltz had set up an event for the Ithaca community called the Walk for Plumpy’nut, a fundraiser to provide life-saving food to malnourished children. This event has continued ever since collecting thousands of dollars each year to purchase Plumpy’nut. She was also running a magazine called Plumpy’nut Press.

Since that time Food for Thought has expanded its reach in feeding the hungry. In addition to the annual Walk for Plumpy’nut it has started the Rise up for Rice challenge using the FreeRice game. Two of Food for Thought’s current officers, Lethia McFarland and Lindsey Smith, recently shared some of the groups accomplishments in the following interview.

Who developed the idea of the Rise Up For Rice Challenge?

Amanda Riggio, former Food For Thought member and Ithaca College student, conceived an event, “Rise Up for Rice,” where students could gather together and answer trivia questions at freerice.com to help eradicate world hunger.

How many players participated in the Rise Up For Rice Challenge this year?

Unfortunately, we cannot measure the number people participated this year, given that many people did so remotely, but we did raise 43,590 grains of rice collectively.

Did you have a tournament involving different teams too?

We did not. Everyone who participated logged in under the same account “riseupforrice,” so that we could best track the impact.

How many grains of rice did you raise this year?

43,590 grains (over four times the amount that we raised last year!)

How did you promote the event on campus?

We actively promoted the event via social media, including Facebook and Twitter. To supplement this, we also designed small pamphlets and distributed them throughout campus.

Do you have members participating from outside the campus?

It could have been a possibility, but unfortunately, we could not measure that affirmatively.

Can people still take part in Rise up For Rice all year long?

Yes! We encourage students to play on the day of Rise up for Rice, but the account is open all year long.

Rise up for Rice was preceded by another event on campus called Walk for Plumpy’nut? How did that event go this year?

At our 6th Annual Walk for Plumpy’nut on Sunday, October 7th, we welcomed 109 people and walked together in solidarity to fight childhood hunger. We were able to raise over $4,100 dollars, as well as obtain 40 sponsors for this year’s walk. All of the proceeds will go directly to Concern Worldwide to buy Plumpy’nut for distribution in therapeutic feeding centers across Ethiopia. Plumpy’nut, a ready-to-use therapeutic food, will be used to help treat severely malnourished children. Overall, we hosted a successful event, thanks to the gracious support of the Ithaca community.

Article first published as Ithaca’s Food for Thought Takes on Global Hunger on Blogcritics.

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October 23, 2012 · 4:13 am

George McGovern Championed Food for Peace

George McGovern, author of War Against Want and the Third Freedom, was named the United Nations World Food Programme’s first global ambassador against hunger. Credits: WFP

George McGovern passed away Sunday at 90 years old. He ran for President against Richard Nixon in 1972 and was a senator from South Dakota. But I remember him first for a book he wrote in 1964 called War Against Want: America’s Food for Peace Program.

McGovern was the director of Food for Peace under President Kennedy. This was the top U.S. program in fighting world hunger, started during the Eisenhower administration. McGovern’s book explored the history of Food for Peace and America’s leadership in fighting world hunger.

I ordered a copy from Amazon.com one day in 2006 after taking a leadership course at the College of Mount St. Joseph. Up until that point I really had no idea what Food for Peace was or very much knowledge about global hunger in general. What better introduction than War Against Want. Ever since getting that book, I have been writing about hunger issues.

In 2008, the Friends of the World Food Program held a teleconference with McGovern. I got the chance to talk with him and he told his story of how influenced he was by his experiences as a bomber pilot in World War II. He saw hunger in the war-torn countries and that planted the seed for him becoming an advocate for the needy.

McGovern was a leader who emerged from a World War II generation that understood how powerful a force hunger is in international relations. This wisdom helped the Greatest Generation navigate the treacherous waters of the post-war world.

When McGovern became the Food for Peace director in 1961 he hit the ground running and led a big expansion, especially with school feeding. Children in South Korea, Brazil, India, Poland and other countries received school meals during McGovern’s tenure. These countries are now donors to food aid.

The U.S. Food for Peace program led to the creation of an international version which is today known as the UN World Food Programme (WFP). McGovern was the one who got the ball rolling on this initiative, now the largest food aid organization in the world. The U.S. Food for Peace program is the single biggest donor to WFP. So the two programs work hand-in-hand in the global effort to end hunger.

McGovern remained active in fighting hunger even long after his days in government. He served as a goodwill ambassador for WFP. Josette Sheeran, the WFP director from 2007-2012, said: “I have treasured knowing him and feeling his incredible support.”

In 2000, an international school meals program was started by McGovern along with Senator Bob Dole. The McGovern-Dole program has fed millions of children in Haiti, Afghanistan, Yemen, Bangladesh and other locations. Each year McGovern-Dole grants are awarded to WFP and other hunger fighting organizations so they can provide school meals in developing countries. If you want to pay tribute to McGovern a great way would be to advocate for this program to be expanded. What better way to reach out to the world than through school meals?

As WFP’s current director Ertharin Cousin says, “George McGovern saw – way before anyone else – how the simple, sustained act of putting a meal in the hands of a poor child at school could change that child’s life and give them a chance at a better future.”

McGovern also was a leader in building the U.S. national school lunch program including summer feeding. At a Friends of WFP teleconference someone asked whether hunger should be fought first at home before going abroad. McGovern replied: Why not do both? There are after all enough resources in the world to reach all hungry people. Why give any quarter in the fight against hunger? He certainly did not.

While McGovern has moved on, his legacy remains, and also his spirit. You can see this when new advocates for ending world hunger emerge, ready to build on the foundation he left. McGovern’s story, in that sense, is far from over.

Article first published as George McGovern Championed Food for Peace on Blogcritics.

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