In America, today the hunger issue is something we often hear about but rarely actually see in our day to day lives.  But it’s a real issue and while we may not see it, there are millions of people in America and around the world that deal with hunger every day.  This year one in six Americans will go through food insecurity. Around the world 16,000 children die of hunger-related causes every day.  That means a child dies every five seconds from hunger. In the year 2011, a billion people went without sufficient food.

            When you hear these numbers they may sound daunting, or you may think there is no way I can actually help change those numbers. But by being an FFA member you have many opportunities to contribute to help fight hunger. This year at National Convention FFA members from around the country came together and packaged meals in the “Rally to Fight Hunger” at the Lucas Oil Stadium.  There they packaged over a million meals to be distributed to hunger victims in Indianapolis and in Haiti.  Each and every member that participated in this event had a hand in helping to fight hunger in America and in the world.

            So my challenge to you is, how can you find a way to fight hunger in your community, county, or even your high school? Many FFA chapters hold canned food drives and donate the proceeds to a shelter in their area. Another possible way is to volunteer at your local soup kitchen.  There are many other ways that you or your chapter can help in the cause to fight hunger, and I encourage you all to take part in fighting the hunger epidemic.