Hi and welcome to our 14th newsletter.
I'm always fascinated when old sayings prove true to me. In this case I was pondering the (backwards) direction of our nation on its pledge to cut food insecurity/hunger in half in the United States by 2010. (www.alliancetoendhunger.org/blueprint_to_end_hunger.htm).
The saying I'm referencing here is: "It's always darkest before the dawn". According to the AP, a 24 city survey released on 12/21/05 by the 2005 US Conference of Mayors, requests for food assistance grew by 12% overall during the past year with 76% of cities surveyed reporting an increase. San Fransico mayor Gavin Newsom is quoted as stating, "The statistics keep on getting worse in spite of our Herculean efforts". In my home state of Rhode Island, the RI Community Food Bank reports that in 2005, they not only experienced a 19% decline in donations over the previous year, demand grew by 10%. RICFB Executive Director Bernie Beaudreau cites USDA statistics that show RI has experienced a 60% increase in hunger in the past 6 years.
That's awfully dark. It sounds to me like we are moving further away from meeting the 2010 goal. So where is the dawn? Here's what I've found lately: According to a press release (http://lugar.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=238197) on Wednesday, May 25th of 2005, US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Hunger Free Communities Act of 2005. This act reaffirms congress' commitment to cut food insecurity in half in the United States by 2010 and sets new goal of ending hunger by 2015. The bill places emphasis on assessing individual communities and promoting cooperation and collaboration among local anti-hunger groups.
How are these groups going to rise to the challenge? Where will the political will come from to make these initiatives happen? The answer lies in part with what our '1 of 52' Hunger Network brings to the table. Read on.
On June 3, 2004 the National Anti-Hunger Organizations (NAHO) published 'A Blueprint to End Hunger' (http://www.bread.org/institute/millennium_declaration.htm). This working document is based on the principles outlined in the Millennium Declaration to End Hunger in America. It outlines what steps are needed to make ending hunger in America a reality. Accompanying the 'Blueprint to End Hunger' was a letter signed by the heads of NAHO. In that letter, paraphrased here, they state, "we are issuing a call to action to every segment of our society to mobilize and work to make the vision of a hunger free America a reality. Please help us advance this agenda by taking responsibility to help move forward these solutions." In the body of the Blueprint it states, "We know what to do to reduce hunger, but these changes will not be achieved without strong political commitment. A national movement is needed that calls on everyone - from the president to the average citizen - to act to end widespread hunger. To reach the 2010 goal of cutting food insecurity in half, concerned Americans must join together and insist that the president and Congress - and leaders at the state and community level - move this knowledge into action"(italics mine).
This is where we come in. We have what they need. They have all the answers. What they need is wide-spread support. Our simple, grassroots '1of 52' method of organizing on a community-by-community and state-to-state basis is putting a permanent network connecting 'concerned citizens' across America in place with tens of thousands united toward the goal of ending hunger. You, our participants in this program, are steadily taking action, setting the example, lobbying our leaders on a massive grassroots level. Our continual attention to NAHO's solutions will help bring this all to fruition.
There is a ray of sunshine breaking through this very dark moment. Ending hunger can happen in our lifetime. Please ask your friends to join us and become aware of, and take action on, the above initiatives.
Peace in the New Year,
Steve Maciel '1 of 52' Founder
PS: Visit www.feinsteinfoundation.org
to learn how to maximize your donations in 2006!