Amber Waves of Grain
“Food is strength, and food is peace, and food is freedom.”
-President John F. Kennedy.
Hailed a “Hunger Hero” by the World Food Program USA, President Kennedy, in his devastatingly short time in office, acknowledged the hunger of those outside of our borders and took action. Almost immediately after being inaugurated, he expanded the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act, which was a law from 1954 that facilitated the export of U.S. agricultural products in order to combat hunger in foreign countries as well as help support U.S. farmers. President Kennedy also set in motion mass deliveries of food to the Republic of Congo, a country that was suffering from overwhelming famine.
Before the days of JFK’s fight against global hunger, President Abraham Lincoln fought for domestic food security from office. President Lincoln signed a landmark legislation that created the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), a government organization that still supports agriculture and nutrition today. He also worked to help educate the future generations of American farmers by signing the Morrill Land Grant College Act in 1862. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, this act “facilitated the transfer of public land to each of the states to establish colleges of agriculture and the mechanical arts,” ensuring all interested students could learn the skills needed to grow and care for their own food.
President Barack Obama and his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, made a huge impact on food insecurity in America with the federal school lunch assistance bill Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. According to the fact sheet from the White House Archives, this bill authorized “funding for federal school meal and child nutrition programs and increases access to healthy food for low-income children.” Additionally, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act secured this funding for five years, and included $4.5 billion in funding for school lunch assistance programs for 10 years.
Despite these incredible efforts to combat hunger, food insecurity is still a daunting issue for millions of Americans, and many of them are your neighbors.
The good news is, you can be a “Hunger Hero” too!
Make a $25 contribution to Mott Haven Fridge Network and your gift will rescue and deliver 525 pounds of produce to your neighbors in need!
Include your friends and family by starting a fundraiser!
Sign up to volunteer and witness your impact first-hand!
In the words of President Andrew Jackson, “…when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in!”
What are you waiting for?!
