When a New Jersey student said she had not had enough to eat, she highlighted a problem at home that affects about 18 million children nationwide.
A third-year New Jersey student burst into tears in the middle of her virtual class, confessing to teachers and classmates that she was starving.
“This nine-year-old couldn’t stand it any longer,” said former New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, who runs Fulfill Food Bank.
That heartbreaking moment led an entire community to help, including Guadagno.
“This family is not offered immediate food, but groceries for six months,” Guadagno said.
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The girl’s mother lost her restaurant job almost a year ago.
“This is happening in your garden,” Guadagno said.
In January, 40 million people live in a family where at least one adult has no paid job, according to the Center for Priority Budgets and Policies.
And the number of American children facing food insecurity has doubled from 14% to 28% since 2019, according to Northwestern University and the USDA.
About 80% of families in the Los Angeles school district were in poverty before the pandemic began. Food drives like this can save the lives of mothers like Sara Swogger.
“My son has a special edition. I’m going to cry,” Swogger said. “Having to work from home and having to do school stuff is very hard.”
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President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited a Houston food bank on Friday, a site that works twice to meet the demands of a pandemic ia weather disaster.
Frontline people say the hunger crisis in the United States will be a long struggle.
“Our hungry children are two or three years old (or older) in need,” Guadagno said.