Many New Mexico Families Without Enough Food

By Meghann Dallin

On Tuesday September 7, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its latest numbers on the state of hunger in America. I’m saddened by the results. 

The new figures show that 16 million kids faced hunger in 2010. That's 1 in 5 kids nationwide. With high unemployment and food and gas prices on the rise, millions of families – many in our own community - are struggling to make ends meet and children are suffering the terrible consequences. 

In New Mexico, 121,506 households are food insecure. Across the state, nearly 1 in 7 New Mexico households are unable to consistently provide enough food for their families.

The national food and nutrition programs for kids - such as the School Breakfast Program and summer food programming- can be the difference between empty stomachs and good health. We all have a stake in making sure that the children in our state and local communities have access to these programs, which can help kids learn, grow and thrive to their highest potential. 

The New Mexico No Kid Hungry Campaign, a partnership between the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger, a state-wide coalition of over 80 partner organizations, and Share Our Strength, a national anti-hunger nonprofit, focuses on connecting more children with food and nutrition programs across the state.

I encourage you to take the No Kid Hungry Pledge and be part of the great work being done to end childhood hunger by clicking on this link. If you would like to learn more about the New Mexico No Kid Hungry Campaign and find out what you can do in your community to fight child hunger, email us at nokidhungr@endNMhunger.org  You can also join the campaign on Facebook

The author is manager of the No Kid Hungry Campaign