Hunger and Poverty Top Moral Issues for Voters– Poll Findings

In a national voter survey taken in June 2007, American voters across all parties and persuasions ranked “fighting hunger/poverty” as their top moral issue. In the poll of 1,000 likely voters, 42% of respondents chose hunger/poverty, outranking the environment, abortion, and gay marriage by a wide margin.

With an eye on the 2008 presidential election, survey sponsor, the Alliance to End Hunger, was eager to gauge whether hunger and poverty were issues candidates could ignore at their peril. The answers were heartening. An overwhelming majority—90%-—of respondents would be supportive of a candidate who works to reduce hunger in the U.S. and worldwide. A Congressional candidate’s position on reducing hunger was an important criterion to 88% of voters. And 61% were more likely to support a 2008 presidential candidate who makes fighting hunger and poverty a major priority.

Whether these encouraging responses translate into action when it’s time to fill out a ballot, of course, can’t be known until the first primaries kick off in early 2008.

The survey was conducted from May 31 – June 2, 2007 by the bipartisan team of McLaughlin & Associates and Freedman Consulting, LLC.

Read the Alliance to End Hunger Survey

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Research Findings: Cost of Hunger to U.S. Economy Tops $90 Billion Annually

The results of a groundbreaking research study commissioned by the Sodexo Foundation find that hunger in America has a cost far beyond the human suffering of those who go hungry. “The Economic Cost of Domestic Hunger” calculates the annual direct and indirect costs of hunger at a minimum of $90 billion.

That’s equivalent to sending an annual $300 “hunger bill” to every American citizen. The lion’s share of the cost—$66.8 billion—is for medical care to treat the physical and mental illnesses linked to inadequate nutrition.  The cost of feeding the hungry and the social costs of less education and lowered productivity make up the rest. 

The Report’s authors—scholars from Harvard, Brandeis, and Loyola Universities—estimate it would cost, at the high end, $12 billion over current spending for Congress to expand existing programs to nearly end hunger. Ending hunger clearly comes at a cost, but it pales in comparison to the staggering economic burden of the current $90 billion hunger “bill.” In his Foreword to the Report, Sodexo Foundation President Stephen J. Brady wrote, “We hope that this landmark study will help the nation engage in a more public dialogue about the issue of the true cost of hunger in our midst, and the concrete and measurable steps that we can take to make America a hunger-free nation.”

Download the full Report, “The Economic Cost of Domestic Hunger” (PDF)
See a state-by-state breakdown of the Cost of Hunger (PDF)

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National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week,
November 11 – 17

For Americans living with hunger and homelessness, one week is pretty much like every other—a struggle to keep themselves and their families fed and sheltered. But for one week in November, the rest of America becomes a little more aware of the problems their fellow citizens face, thanks to National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Co-sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, the movement—appropriately held the week before Thanksgiving—educates the public and future decision-makers about homelessness, hunger, and the root causes of poverty. Once individuals have a better understanding of these problems, they will be inspired to take action by volunteering, donating funds or resources, writing to their local newspaper, or calling their member of Congress. Each action brings us one step closer to ending hunger and homelessness.

How to get involved

  • Walk in the 20th annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon on November 17th, held on the DC National Mall. You can register online at: http://www.helpthehomelessdc.org
  • Volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen or food pantry to serve or sort food. To find an organization in your area visit America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network
  • Volunteer to help on a build with your local Habitat for Humanity
  • Involve your family, neighbors, faith community, or school in collecting food or clothing for the homeless

Resources to learn more

For more information about homelessness, visit these web sites:

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Seniors and Hunger

The aging of the American population has become a critical issue for anyone concerned about this country’s future. As the leading edge of the baby boom enters its sixties, industries as diverse as banking, real estate, healthcare, and tourism are scrambling to assess the impact of an older population on their business strategies.

But not all seniors will be buying a retirement home or re-thinking their financial planning. Many—more than 10 percent of people 65 and older—will be living in poverty and facing food insecurity. According to Household Food Security in the United States, 2005, 9.9 percent of all elderly living alone experienced food insecurity and 5.1 percent experienced very low food security—a total of 393,000 elderly persons struggling with very low or basic food insecurity.

These statistics and many more are analyzed in an eye-opening White Paper on seniors and hunger by Sodexo Dietetic Intern Kristen Widican. Widican assesses the economic and political landscape for poor seniors and recommends a course of action.

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Sodexo Foundation Helps Jumpstart Bridge the Learning Gap

The Sodexo Foundation was founded on the premise that ending hunger in the United States was more complicated than simply feeding hungry people. With a mission dedicated to fighting the root causes of hunger, the Foundation has sought out partners like Jumpstart that share the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty.

Jumpstart is a leader in the field of early education for at-risk children. It seeks to build literacy, language, social, and initiative skills by pairing college students with preschool children in year-long, one-to-one relationships. Since 2002 the Sodexo Foundation has funded Jumpstart’s efforts to eliminate the achievement gap, which leads to future social and economic disparities. In 2007, the Foundation became Jumpstart’s newest national partner.

Sodexo Foundation President Stephen J. Brady said his organization is especially supportive of Jumpstart’s role in encouraging college students to contribute to their communities now and throughout their lives. “Sodexo provides food and facilities services to more than 1,400 elementary schools and universities nationwide. Our employees are fully integrated into their schools’ culture, and partnering with Jumpstart lets us reach out to students at all levels of their development.”

Read for the Record Campaign
Most recently, Sodexo supported Jumpstart’s Read for the Record campaign, which broke a world record for the most children reading the same book on the same day. On September 20, 2007, 258,000 children read “The Story of Ferdinand” with adults at nearly 2,000 reading events nationwide.

Along with record-breaking participation, the campaign raised more than $1 million through donations and sales of a special-edition campaign book, with proceeds going directly to Jumpstart to support its early education programs for at-risk children in communities across the nation. Additionally, more than 100,000 copies of the official campaign book were donated to children in low-income communities.

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Article Archives

STOP Hunger eZine
The Sodexo Foundation issues an electronic newsletter designed to provide updates on the issue of hunger in the United States and to promote the mission and the work of the Sodexo Foundation. The newsletter offers informative summaries of research and news related to breaking the cycle of poverty in the United States in an effort to make this information more widely known and used.

Issues
Vol. 2 Issue 2: STOP Hunger eZine – November 2007
Vol. 2 Issue 1: STOP Hunger eZine - February 2007
Vol. 1 Issue 1: STOP Hunger eZine - November 2006