Your Stories

Currently,

50 million

people in the United States struggle with hunger. See first-hand perspectives of what hunger looks like across the country.

What does hunger look like in your community? Share your own story to help us educate others about hunger in America.

Roger

Palm Springs, CA

I have volunteered for my local senior center food bank for over 27 months. We are associated with FIND Food Bank in the Cochella Valley. We started serving approximately 80 clients two years ago and now serve about 290 on a weekly basis. These folks are seniors and the disabled. We were just informed that because of the shortage of donations, money and the increase in people needing assistance our weekly stock will be downsized to about 20% of what were allocated in the past. Food is a basic necessity and shouldn't be on Congress’s chopping block!

Read Roger's Story

Carol

Franklinville, NJ

Five years ago my husband and I were both working, when illness struck my husband and he lost his job. We became homeless for a year and a half after his temporary disability ran out. I lost my job by taking time off to care for my seriously ill husband and could not find another a year later.

Thankfully my husband now receives Social Security Disability, but the amount is not enough to meet all of our expenses throughout the month. In order to eat 2 meals a day, we must depend on local food banks.

Never in our wildest dreams did we think this would happen to us! We used to be able to support food banks and donate money towards food programs for the needy. I will still go through our pantry to help out anyone in need with as much as I can. By cutting any of the food programs, the government will be cutting off thousands of Americans that are hungry, including children! How will the children be able to concentrate in school while hungry? They are our future.

Read Carol's Story

Ashele

Hammond, IN

Hello, My name is Ashele and this is my story. I remember, growing up in a single-parent home. There were so many times that we suffered with food insecurity; me, my mom and my brother. Although I never told anybody, this made me feel very shamed. I remember when I was in high school, I would skip lunch because I could not afford the food, nor I did I want anybody to me to eat free lunches. This was my story growing up. But this isn't my life anymore. Because I know how it is feel to be hungry and that emotional trauma that accompanies it, I am a Hunger Advocate. I want to help spread the knowledge about food insecurity, donate and help others to donate. Every little effort makes one child feel less forgotten.

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Sylvia

Everyday I see a line of people in my neighborhood lining up to get food from the pantry and always wonder, will that be me one day? I want to help but am unsure how. I found this site, and now feel like i can actually do something to help. You never know when that could be you on that line, we must all help now.

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Marlene

Brevard, NC

I am a senior citizen & my only income is S.S. so I stretch my food budget by participating at a monthly food program for seniors. At Anchor Ministries the third Thursday of the week, I'm able to purchase goods for 30cents per lb. The central food bank here also supplies baked goods & veggies when available. I also pick up my TEFAP box while there.

The past year there hasn't been much to choose from on the goods by the pound. Also the TEFAP has been sparse with only a couple of cans of vegetables, fruit, or juice and perhaps 1 protein. For the past couple of months MANA has not provided us with any goods.

I am able to cook and make "stone soup" if needed. Yet I do try to eat a healthy diet, one low in sodium and fat. This is quite the challenge when I depend mostly on canned goods. I do my best, pay bills first then I purchase what I need for pet food and non food products which Food Benefits do not provide. Sometimes, unfortunately, I use a charge card to buy the basics. I do not go out much but do enjoy staying home in my cute little house I purchased through a senior subsidized home ownership program. My family treats me to meals out and the occasional day trip or movie.

I know there are many seniors and children plus working families who need a hand up with food & basic necessities. We are a nation of plenty and a nation of great waste. We need to find a way to fix this so that the "waste" is given out and shared. No one needs to go hungry in this great nation....No One!!!

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Jonathan

Los Osos, CA

In my town of Los Osos, CA. I know a number of families with young children aged 1-5 years-old who are food-insecure. We live in a beautiful town on the Central Coast of California, which is not the sort of place I would expect to see these issues. These families have asked us for help with food on a few occasions and seek hunger relief at local food banks. Some are using food stamps to help their families. Furthermore, the families that I know are not the sort that you would traditionally expect to have such hard troubles:they are college educated and motivated people. The cost of living is high here, which compounds peoples' situation. Without hunger relief programs, they would be in even worse straits. I implore Congress to keep these programs supported and increase funding to help deserving families who have fallen on tough times.

Read Jonathan's Story

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