Thankful - day ten

Our youth speaker on Sunday gave an amazing talk about showing gratitude this Thanksgiving season. She shared some staggering facts about hunger in America and throughout the world and reminded me just how very blessed and fortunate I am. Her sincere message of gratitude touched me very much.

Today I am very thankful to have food in my fridge...

Some U.S. Hunger Facts:

•35.5 million people—including 12.6 million children—live in households that experience hunger or the risk of hunger. This represents more than one in ten households in the United States (10.9 percent).


•4.0 percent of U.S. households experience hunger. Some people in these households frequently skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food for a whole day. 11.1 million people, including 430 thousand children, live in these homes.


•6.9 percent of U.S. households are at risk of hunger. Members of these households have lower quality diets or must resort to seeking emergency food because they cannot always afford the food they need. 24.4 million people, including 12.2 million children, live in these homes.


•Research shows that preschool and school-aged children who experience severe hunger have higher levels of chronic illness, anxiety and depression, and behavior problems than children with no hunger.

There are many, many worthy causes in need of our help this holiday season. I hope you will join me in including your local food bank among them.