When we think of a hunger crisis, it’s often something far away, intangible. In reality, it's much more concrete and it's looming in our own backyards.
Misty Wishall has seen it firsthand. Even the memory of it brings quick tears.
The little boy with a dirty backpack.
Misty fills backpacks with food at the outreach center she runs in eastern Oklahoma. Children who rely on school lunches often go hungry once summertime comes around. Misty works to fill the gap.
Kids come in with their backpacks during the summer break, and Misty and her volunteers fill them with food. The bags need to be clean, so the food stays sanitary and healthy.
“Buddy, you need to keep your backpack clean,” she remembers saying to a small boy who came in for the nourishment he couldn’t get at home.
What happened next broke her heart.
“Sorry,” he explained. “I have to dig a hole in the backyard to hide it so no one steals my food.”
This is what the hunger crisis looks like for some of our most vulnerable neighbors across the U.S. — and around the world — right now. While many children look forward to the freedom of summer, those living in poverty fear the months without a reliable source of food.
Hunger has a deep impact on a child’s ability to learn as well, including problem-solving, concentration, memory and brain function. It also has social and long-lasting consequences. Children chronically experiencing hunger have a hard time developing friendships or practicing self-control and may have more limited career prospects and future opportunities. The cycle of poverty continues.
With supplies running out and empty shelves in many small towns such as Misty’s, there is more need than ever.
A food pantry in eastern Oklahoma where children fill backpacks with food they can’t get during the school break. With a greater need than ever, many items are in short supply.
Misty is just one of a committed network of volunteers and faithful supporters who works tirelessly to fill backpacks and food pantries. But they can’t do it alone.
Your generous support today can be the answer to the prayers of children and families who are scraping by and don’t know where to turn.
We’re working closely with partners across the U.S. and around the world to reach the most vulnerable neighbors when they need it most.
You can be the difference between a clean backpack full of food or a dirty backpack hidden by a hungry child.
OTHERS WAY TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Education is one of the strongest tools a community has for breaking the cycle of poverty. And while children need to have access to food in order to have the best chance of success at school, that’s not all. They also need to have the required materials. Without the proper supplies, students have higher rates of absences and are less likely to stay in school for the long term.
Want to help school age children succeed? Make a school kit. Lutheran World Relief School Kits contain essential supplies to help children — and in some cases, adults — continue learning in the face of serious obstacles. That learning leads to a better life for them, their families and their communities. Learn how here.
Thank you for your faithful compassion.
