World Vision USA’s Post

We will never permanently end hunger until we transform the systems that hold hunger in place. In the late 1960s, Congress invested significantly in SNAP and school meal programs, successfully ending severe hunger in the U.S. by 1970. By the early 1980s, government cuts to these programs reversed progress, causing dramatic increases in hunger. We again witnessed the clear impact of government assistance in reducing poverty and hunger during the pandemic. Clear government interventions, like the Child Tax Credit, proved critical, reducing child poverty to 5.2%. When government and food assistance programs were once again rolled back, the rate of child poverty shot back up, more than doubling to 12.4% in 2022. We know we can end hunger because it's been done before. That’s why we are committed to ending hunger through government action. Since 1993, Hunger Free Vermont has been working to protect and expand nutrition programs, so everyone can get the food they need with dignity. To learn more about our mission, visit https://lnkd.in/g_HTP22U.

Today is the unofficial fourth anniversary of the COVID 19 pandemic, which has led to 7 million confirmed deaths worldwide and nearly 30 million excess deaths from what was expected from pre-COVID trends. HGA recognizes the devastating effects of this virus and its impact on our country and the world. Over the past four years, we have helped communities apply for funding to reimburse them for COVID response expenditures; and we continue to help our clients in administering relief funds that have been crucial to their economic recovery. https://lnkd.in/gMknbn-z

Did you know that globally 1 in 10 people go to bed hungry every night?     More than 25 countries were facing crisis levels of hunger in 2022.   How did the world respond in 2023 with the funding needed to save lives? Only 35% of funding appeals were met. Which means there was a staggering hunger funding gap of 65%.    Read the Hunger Gap Report here:

The New York budget season kicked off with the release of Governor Hochul's Executive Budget. While the proposal includes important investments in New York communities and families, the framework misses the mark on hunger. At a time when food insecurity is on the rise and with a recent Department of Health (DOH) report finding nearly one in four New York adults experienced food insecurity at some point during the past 12 months, the Executive Budget proposes a $22M cut to the state's Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP). The proposed figure, which amounts to a nearly 40% cut compared with current funding levels, would significantly constrain a program that supports millions of New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet. New York's hunger relief programs, HPNAP and Nourish New York in particular, serve as a crucial backstop for hungry New Yorkers. They enable food banks, pantries, shelters, and community-based organizations to provide nutritious and culturally relevant options at food distributions. More investment is needed to meet the rising demand at distributions, not less. Also missing from the Executive Budget were broadly popular initiatives including universal school meals, the Working Families Tax Credit, and a $100 minimum SNAP benefit. These initiatives would go a long way in reducing poverty and affirming food security. The New York Assembly and Senate will now begin developing their respective budget proposals, and state lawmakers need to hear directly from you. Join us in sending a simple message to your elected representatives: healthy food is a basic human right! https://lnkd.in/e7b4mBdu

Anina's latest blog dovetails well with my new Make the Math Work post. Hunger is political, and we need to muster the political will to end it. https://lnkd.in/efR6yDyM

"If you are angry with your food bank for talking politics, then you aren’t really fighting hunger. You’re fighting for the status quo." This is SO true. I love Anina's straightforward views on hunger, food justice, and food banking and highly recommend you also subscribe to her blog.

The root cause of hunger lies within each and every one of us. As long as hunger and poverty persist, there is room for all of us to improve. Here are three tips to transform our approach to hunger relief: 1. Challenge the current systems involved in hunger relief. Do they simply report numbers, or do they actively evaluate how their programs can bring about positive change and improve the lives of those they serve? Let's prioritize the quality of service and the impact of programs, rather than focusing solely on quantity and organizational growth. Additionally, what bureaucratic obstacles hinder the provision of services? How does their work invest into food sustainability? 2. Take the time to genuinely understand the barriers to food access from the perspective of those who are experiencing hardships. Let's refrain from creating solutions based on assumptions. Instead, let's listen and learn from the people affected by these challenges. 3. Let us recognize that our current food systems negatively impact marginalized individuals in our society, small-scale farmers, and grassroots nonprofits. It is important for us to acknowledge our privileges and strive towards supporting sustainable and equitable food systems. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against hunger and create a better world for all. #FoodDignity #FoodDignityMovement #FoodDignityBook

Today, we released our 2024 Hunger Funding Gap report, which found that hunger-related appeals received only 35% of the funding needed in 2023. This means that the world failed to respond to 65% of urgent requests for #hunger funding, It would take $8.86 billion to fully fund the hunger-related appeals of the 17 countries included in our report, which is roughly half of what the American public is estimated to have bet on last year's Super Bowl. Funding is just one part of what it takes to address the complex issue of hunger. But, after working for nearly 45 years in more than 55 countries, we know that it is a critical part of building long-term solutions. Read more ➡️https://lnkd.in/eBzWypXJ 📸by Toby Madden for Action Against Hunger #wef24 #ZeroHunger

A harvest to wreak fear in the hearts of hungry people. 😱 Is this a post about the summer solstice? and the potentially disastrous harvest of a wet and sunless early growing season? No, it is not. It is about our new Governments, who will be taking their places on the benches of their national Parliaments in just three weeks. (If you are not familiar with the British system, in the UK we have Governments and Parliaments for each of the four Nations in the United Kingdom.) Whosoever is on those benches will be carrying the hopes of millions of people. And they will have mountains to move to reestablish some kind of equality in the state. British people are hungry and living off handouts from charities. The Government will face hostility from The City, as it seeks to contain their activities, and to preserve their own influence. Big money generally has little interest in the needs of the poor. And those new MPs waiting in the wings to step out and fight for their own philosophies and interest groups will scrap it out like dogs in the House. (Children in school are generally disgusted and appalled by the behaviour of British politicians in Parliament!) But whatever comes, I confidently predict that there will be difficulties, disappointments, and mistakes. There is going to be a poor harvest (get used to it) and interest rates will be up before you know it. More than that, I predict that, should the Government fail to meet the needs of the hungry *as a priority* – they will face a harvest of electorate rage that was not planted or raised by them, but which they will reap in full. I am going to predict that hunger marches and energy protests are a real possibility for the winter. And that infighting is going to be seen as betrayal by those who need competent and cooperative representation. What do you reckon?

🌍 Reflecting on some important points (Sharing with appreciation to Anna Gawel for the original post) First, this is with a heartfelt apology and sincere appreciation to all of my friends and colleagues in the humanitarian sector who work their hardest everyday to serve people in need, my heart also extends to you. However, this current correction that we are seeing, starting with ICRC more than a year ago, will continue. 1️⃣ What is happening to our world when those in need can't get the help they deserve because agencies lack funding? 🤔 Where are we as humanity? The politicization of aid is out of control. 2️⃣ The costs of traditional operations have spiraled out of control. The balance between donor administration and NGO overheads is totally off, with heavy HQs and lean Country Offices. 🏢💸 3️⃣ The contractor model is failing. Non-profits should be the ones serving those in need. It's morally wrong to rely on contracting companies for compassionate, adequate assistance. (caveat: they could be amazing if managed well) 💔 4️⃣ Even more concerning is the lack of opportunities for local organizations (localization) to access funds and support their communities. This is a deep injustice. 🏘️⚖️ So, where are we? Is this the great correction? 🤷♂️ Doubtful, but this might be the beginning of something inevitable: the global north realizing it can't save everyone on its own. The shift towards localization is happening—ready or not. Now, local communities and organizations need to have the opportunity to step up, utilizing international donor funds to meet the needs of their people. 🌱✨ #HumanityFirst #Localization #NonProfitLeadership #GlobalChange #CommunitySupport #SocialImpact #EmpowerCommunities #SustainableDevelopment #LocalLeadership #NGO #DonorFunding #HumanitarianAid