A hot button issue for politicians right now is Obamacare and whether health care should be mandatory. One factor of the healthcare debate that is often overlooked is the effect food insecurity is having on the near term and long term cost of healthcare. What is food insecurity? The Agriculture Department defines it as a “lack of access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial resources.”The lack of access to healthy foods can have a devastating effect on an individual’s health. It is no surprise that poor communities have higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other illnesses than communities with better food security.  Not enough food? In 2012? Surely this is an issue that only affects a tiny, negligible portion of Americans, right? Try at least 15%. 15% of Americans don’t get enough food or enough nutritional food. You can point fingers and assign blame OR you can be part of the solution. There are many ways to make a difference and getting involved is alot easier than you think.  Start by  donating food to your local food bank . There are organizations such as  Mobile Market, a group that brings fresh food to underserved communities that are always in need of volunteers. 

Take part in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games isn’t just the most popular movie in America. It’s a mission. The movie teamed up with the World Food Programme and Feeding America to turn the film event of the year into the biggest food drive of the year. If you were moved by the fictional starving children of District 12 as you read Suzanne Collins’ fantastic book, contribute to help some non-fictional children. You can find more information here: http://hungergames.wfp.org/ May the odds be ever in your favor.

For more information about the Hunger Games, World Food Programme, and Feeding America’s fight against hunger, click here: http://hungergames.wfp.org/#a-9 

For more information about Mobile Market, click here: http://www.cityharvest.org/programs/healthy-neighborhoods/mobile-market/