Understanding Childhood Hunger
Strengthen Your Resolve to End Childhood Hunger in America
Why childhood hunger? Hunger impairs our children's health in significant and long-lasting ways, including physical and mental development.
All of us have at one time or another experienced hunger. We’ve all craved a midnight snack, wanted something salty or needed some chocolate. But there’s a big difference between trying to satisfy a brief craving or stomach growl and wondering where your next meal will come from.
The reality is that more than 12.6 million children in America—that’s one in six—are at risk of hunger. And it’s likely that these children will endure lifelong consequences as a result of having limited access to nutritious foods. In fact, they’re more likely to suffer:
- Weaker immune systems
- More stomachaches
- Headaches
- Colds
- Ear infections
- Fatigue
- More hospitalizations
- Behavioral difficulties
- Impaired performance in school-academically, athletically and socially
- A whole host of other lifelong consequences
And hunger doesn’t discriminate. It can affect any child—even those you’d least expect.
The good news: You have the strength to make a difference!
Share Our Strength is working hard to end this invisible hunger. But we can only do it with the help of dedicated, committed volunteers, community organizations—and strong supporters like you.
Show us your strength and together we’ll show America’s children our strong, unwavering commitment to end childhood hunger! Find out how »
