The Purpose of “Food for Thought”
Inspired by the “Will Work for Food” program https://www.willworkforfood.news/ which presents weekly webinars on ADR topics and supports food banks worldwide, “Food for Thought” is an opportunity for our blog readers to support food banks in the United States and elsewhere. Click on any (or all) of the organizations listed below to donate or volunteer to support the work to feed the world.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa
What is “Food Insecurity?”
Food insecurity is an official term describing when people don’t have enough to eat and don’t know where their next meal will come from.
In 2023 47 million people in the United States are food insecure. 100% of U.S. counties have food insecurity. 14 million children in the United States are food insecure. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics#foodsecure
What Can We Do?
There are many organizations in the United States and internationally offering assistance to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. Some provide daily hot meals, others provide groceries and household necessities. The list below includes a variety of organizations in different parts of the U.S. and around the world. Click the link to find out more about their mission and how you can help.
Food Banks & Other Resources
Here are links to some food banks & other resources in the United States and worldwide:
The Christian Service Center for Central Florida: Orlando, Florida– The Family & Emergency Services program can provide pantry food items and clothing vouchers to individuals and families who live in Central Florida. The Daily Bread program offers a free, nourishing lunchtime meal to anyone who is hungry in Central Florida. The Daily Bread kitchen serves meals six days every week at no cost to the consumer.
His Compassion: Ocala, FL. Our Mission – Your support is what makes HIS Compassion successful. There are many ways you can contribute and help. Whether it is donating food, money, time or your voice, there are many ways to support HIS Compassion. Learn more about how you can get involved and do something good.
East Spring Branch Food Pantry: Houston, Texas. Our Mission – To provide food free of cost to families in urgent need, who reside in zip codes 77024, 77040, 77041, 77043, 77055, 77080, 77091 or 77092; the pantry offers these services without regard to a person’s race, religion or national origin.
Convoy of Hope: Delivering meals through partners, churches and community organizations across the US. They have delivered 150 million meals and counting in response to the pandemic.
Feeding America: With a network of 200 food banks across the US, this organization is helping food banks support communities.
FoodCorps: Working with school districts to ensure school meal sites can feed students who are out of school as well as their families.
Meals on Wheels: Provides home delivery of food to seniors who find themselves more isolated than usual.
Save the Children: On the ground in 87 countries, the charity is delivering nourishing meals to children.
United Way: Supports communities around the world, helping people most in need access food, shelter, vital information and more, through local United Ways and the 211 network (in the U.S.).
World Central Kitchen has provided more than 30 million meals in more than 400 cities so far. The charity is also partnering with restaurants to provide jobs for their staff.
Other Ways to Help
Food Pantries.org: Use this national database to locate food pantries in local communities that you can contribute to.
Little Free Pantry: This organization is standing ready across the US, giving 24-hour neighborhood access to food and other necessities.
International Food Banks
- IN EUROPE: European Food Banks Federation (FEBA)
- IN AFRICA: Food For All Africa
- IN AUSTRALIA: Foodbank Australia
- IN CANADA: Food Banks Canada