Hunger in Denver by George Cooper

I vividly recall an encounter I had a few weeks ago with a man battling hunger. As I exited a Safeway in a middle class neighborhood where I wouldn’t ever imagine residents coping with hunger, a man approached me asking for food. A bit caught off guard, I rummaged through my grocery bags looking for something to give him. I came up empty as my bags were primarily filled with soda and snack foods. Apologetic, I began to walk away. Then, in a moment of humanitarianism, I realized that the man was hungry – something that I have never experienced because frankly, when hunger strikes I can always use my parents’ debit card to shop for food. I turned around and returned to the man and give him a five-dollar bill. Surprised by my sudden change of heart, the man thanked me profusely and it dawned upon me that had I or another Good Samaritan not been so kind, the man may have gone through the day facing hunger.

While the fight against obesity is seen everyday in Denver and beyond through high-profile initiatives such as Michelle Obama’s Move Campaign, hunger has emerged as a nearly invisible but equally serious problem in our community. Just as our fast-paced fast food society gave birth to the obesity epidemic of recent years, a sour economy has served as the catalyst to today’s unprecedented hunger throughout our neighborhoods. We as Coloradoans must come together to eradicate the hunger enveloping the stomachs of the poorest in our state in order to strengthen the communities in which we live.

All too often, many in our community ignorantly assume that hunger is only the problem of the lazy and old. This is not the case given the recent recession that has thrown a broader segment of society into hunger’s unforgiving wrath. In fact, research conducted for the “Hunger in America” study indicates 1 in 8 people living in Colorado will experience the pain of hunger at some point in life. Alarmingly, 42% of these people are children. This grim fact was recently brought to light in a Denver Post editorial discussing the possibility of cutting free breakfast programs for thousands of students in Denver Public Schools. Without state subsidies, thousands of these hardworking students risk facing hunger which really goes to show that even the most innocent in our community aren’t immune to this horrific problem.

Sadly, beyond the numbers, thousands of real people like you and me face hunger on a regular basis. It’s not just the young, uneducated or unemployed that are facing a need for assistance. In fact, 23% of adults seeking food through Feed America have a college education and 36% of households have at least one employed individual. Hunger is no longer constrained to a particular demographic and can affect anybody.

Take the story of a Colorado resident named Jason. Jason seems to break every stereotype of those in need, even having gone on to complete his MBA. However, ever since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Jason has faced continual struggle. Four years ago, the disease became too much and he was forced to leave the workforce. Even with a wife who is employed, raising three children on one income has become an intense hardship. Facing huge medical bills and the expense of raising a family, Jason sometimes relies on meals from the Marian House Soup Kitchen. Without community support of such programs, Jason’s life might be much different than it is today. His next meal would always be an uncertainty and he wouldn’t be able to focus on what he has now devoted his life to – spreading awareness of MS in the community. Beyond the nutrition packed meals that the non-profit provides, Jason also receives a greater sense of community support through the relationships that have stemmed from the Marian House. Bringing together people facing similar predicaments, Marian House has become just as much a support group as a soup kitchen.

While education, healthcare and police services are crucial for creating a strong community, it is truly imperative that in the richest nation in the world everyone be given an opportunity to eat. Such a basic element of life is often overlooked because the vast majority of us are able to afford a trip to the grocery store. However, for those who cannot, the effects can be devastating. Generally harder to spot than homelessness and obesity, hunger can still be witnessed on a daily basis throughout the community.

Ultimately, there must be a governmental policy solution to bringing food within reach of even the poorest Americans. In the meantime, it’s the peoples’ responsibility to make sure that no one goes hungry. This can be done through increased support of food banks that have now become a lifeline of sorts for those who would otherwise be hungry. Even during this period of economic recession, it is more critical than ever that those who are able to support such non-profits continue to do so. One less Venti Caramel Latte a week could mark the start of a regular canned food donation to help those in need.

Admittedly, there doesn’t seem to be a cure all for the overarching problem of economic inequality in our capitalistic society. With that being said, contributing to the wellness of the less fortunate one small contribution at a time is the best way to combat hunger and strengthen our community little by little. The human cost of doing nothing to alleviate hunger in our great community is too great.