Even though America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, millions of adults and children face hunger and food insecurity every day. According to USDA’s Household Food Insecurity in the United States in 2018 report, more than 37 million people in the nation struggle with hunger. In 2018, 14.3 million American households were food-insecure, meaning their access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources.
Even in Iowa, a major food producer, Feeding America reports that 341,890 people are struggling with hunger – and of them 111,520 are children.
When the Food Bank of Iowa shared that grim situation with DMU President and CEO Angela Walker Franklin, Ph.D., she rallied the University community, and its members responded: During a food drive held the week of Nov. 18-22, employees and students donated nearly 500 cans, boxes and bags of cereal, vegetables, fruit, soup, tuna, rice, juice, peanut butter, pasta, personal hygiene items, baby wipes and more.
That response reflects DMU’s mission of improving lives in our global community and its vision for being a leader in community service. It’s also consistent with the fact that access to adequate, nutritional food is vital to one’s health and wellness, a key focus of the University.
Of course, one drive will not solve the ongoing problems of hunger and food insecurity. Next time you’re grocery shopping, toss a few extra healthy food items in your cart to give to your local food bank. Families in your own community will thank you for it.
