Changing thinking about hunger

Another viewpoint is a column The Morning Journal makes available so all sides of an issue may be aired. Julie Chase-Morefield is president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.

I believe, as a society, we should function off the principle all children should have their food needs met.

Often when we speak of child hunger, it’s viewed as meeting the child’s need for food in that moment.

The issue of hunger reduced to a feeling.

I would challenge you to think differently -- to consider the idea of food stability – giving a child the peace of mind in knowing when it is time for their next meal, food is there.

As a parent I know what it looks like when my children have not eaten — they are tired, irritable and struggle to focus.

Still, when they open our refrigerator, food is readily available. For children who open up the refrigerator and find a cavernous space, the implication is larger than a void and more powerful than the moment of struggle.

No matter the reason, hunger invokes a scarcity mindset, it changes a child’s view of the world – little by little – day by day – eroding their trust.

Research will tell you a lack of proper nutrition irrevocably affects a child’s ability to grow and thrive.

A child without proper nutrition will be sick more frequently and have overall poorer physical health.

It will impair their cognitive ability and affect academic achievement.

When faced with an empty refrigerator, a child faces a litany of mental health issues – fear, shame, anxiety and stress.

In our region, one in five children struggles with food insecurity, a startling statistic.

Imagine for a moment, it is the familiar face of a child you know.

Speaking with adults who faced hunger as children, there are distinct moments of scarcity etched into their memory.

A friend recounted times their family received help from local groups – food, clothing and Christmas gifts. They remembered the scarcity but also the hope blossomed from the kindness of others.

Each of us in our way have opportunities to create shifts, perhaps just micro-shifts, in lives and worlds of each other. Holding a door open, retrieving a sippy cup or sharing a smile and greeting.

Small things that brighten days.

Do not underestimate the rippling power of small gestures — they lead to connection and conversation, two things necessary for tackling wicked problems like child hunger.

At Second Harvest, growing hope isn’t just a phrase – it’s our mission.

It’s why we are hosting our first Child Hunger Summit on Sept. 19, 2019, to convene the community to drive awareness of child hunger, develop strategies to address the need and empower participants to take action in their lives.

The summit shares the work of our valued partners and will give attendees an understanding of the state and federal resources available and obstacles to access and develop strategies to leverage those resources.

Be a part of evolving our community into a place where we reach out to children and their families and plant the seeds of food stability, where the future of our children belong to all of us.

The Child Hunger Summit is Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lorain County Community College’s Spitzer Conference Center. The event is free and includes lunch but registration is required.

To register, visit secondharvestfoodbank.org/event/2019child-hunger-summit

Julie ChaseMorefield