October 16 – World Food Day

I started out today thinking that I was going to attempt to make international food, different treats, and ways of eating from around the world. Now usually I do research on these days a week or so in advance, but I am running a little behind. So, when I got home from work I found out what World Food Day really was…

“World Food Day (WFD) is a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and informed, year-around action to alleviate hunger. It is observed each October 16th in recognition of the founding of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. The first World Food Day was in 1981. In the United States the endeavor is sponsored by 450 national, private voluntary organizations.” (source: worldfooddayusa.org)

I began thinking about how awesome it was that I even had the choice of what I wanted to eat today. In my travels I have seen many people who could not afford food. It seems like a problem so far away, even though I have been there and seen it. We are so removed from it. Even though people right down the street could be going without food, to me it is not something that I think about often. Food is taken for granted.

I decided to do what I could today, we have a great organization out here called Northwest Harvest. It is a big food bank out here. Jared and I had to go grocery shopping tonight, so we picked up a few extra bags of groceries and dropped them off.

Facts:

• In 2005, almost 1.4 billion people lived below the international poverty line, earning less than $1.25 per day. 7

• Today our world is home to 6.7 billion people.

• 1.02 billion people across the world are hungry.

• Every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes--one child every five seconds.

Look for local food banks to help those in your area, or think globally - there are a number of different organizations to help around the world!