By: Joe Mabry

Hunger Hunger is the uneasy or painful sensation caused by want of food or the want or scarcity of food in a country.

Food Insecurity The percentage of children under the age of 18 living in households that experience limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods at some point during the year. The national average for household food insecurity rate is 14.7%. North Carolina’s household food insecurity rate is 17.1%.

Myths Most who are hungry are homeless. Hungry children are in families where no one works. Plenty of food is available at soup kitchens. School food programs cover a lot of the problem.

Causes of Hunger The leading cause of hunger is poverty. 16.1% of North Carolina is below the poverty level. advocates/guides/federal-poverty-guidelines.html advocates/guides/federal-poverty-guidelines.html Low wages Unemployment. North Carolina has a 10.5% unemployment rate.

Statistics 1 out of 6 people in America go hungry. 14.5% of households struggle putting enough food on the table regularly. This is 48 million Americans, which includes 16.2 million children. More than 1 in 5 children are at risk of hunger. African-Americans or Hispanic children have a rate of 1 in 3 to go hungry.

Hunger in NC North Carolina has a population of 9,752,073 people. Children under 5 make up 6.5% of North Carolina’s population. 24% of these children are hungry. Children under 18 years old, make up 23.7% of the state’s population. 1 out of these 5 are hungry.

Effects on Students Inability to focus Often sick Hospitalization is more frequent Have significantly higher levels of behavioral, emotional and academic problems Higher levels of aggression More likely to be suspended from school

Programs to Combat Hunger SNAP WIC National School Lunch Program (Free and Reduced Lunch) s.aspx?state=NC&loct=10&by=a&order=a&ind=2239&d tm=4682&tf= s.aspx?state=NC&loct=10&by=a&order=a&ind=2239&d tm=4682&tf=1021 National School Breakfast Program Summer Meal Programs

Free and Reduced Lunch Eligibility

What Can Teachers Do? Food Drives for Local Food Pantries Fundraisers to Donate Money to Organizations Snacks Backpack Programs

Sources Data Center, Kids Count. “North Carolina Free and Reduced Lunch Rates.” April 22, s.aspx?state=NC&loct=10&by=a&or der=a&ind=2239&dtm=4682&tf= s.aspx?state=NC&loct=10&by=a&or Do Something.Org. “11 Facts About Hunger in the U.S.” April 22, about-hunger-us about-hunger-us Feeding America. “Hunger and Poverty Statistics.” April 22, america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty- statistics.aspxhttp://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in- america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty- statistics.aspx

Sources Cont. The Food Effect. “All About Hunger.” April 22, hunger/hunger-myths/ hunger/hunger- Hunger Notes. “2012 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics.” April 22, d%20hunger%20facts% htm d%20hunger%20facts% htm Statistic Brain. “Free and Reduced Lunch Statistics.” April 22, and-reduced-lunch-statistics/ and-

Sources Cont. No Kid Hungry. “Hunger Facts.” April 22, “United States Demographics, Poverty and Food Insecurity.” April 22, United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services. “Income Eligibility Guidelines: School Lunch and Breakfast.” April 22, United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services. “Income Eligibility Guidelines: SNAP.” April 22, United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services. “Women, Infants, and Children.” April 22, United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services. “How To Apply.” April 22, U.S. Department of Commerce, United States Census Bureau. “State and County QuickFacts.” April 22,