On the surface, it might appear that Oklahomans don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Oklahoma is listed in the top 10 for states struggling with food insecurity in the United States, and Against Global Hunger is trying to change that.
Food insecurity in Oklahoma
Food insecurity is a major problem in Oklahoma, and it is such a problem that the Sooner state ranks No. 10 in the country. Most of the people struggling with hunger are the underserved, and most don’t have the ability or resources to feed themselves or their family. Those mainly affected are the working poor, older adults, and children. According to feedingamerica.org, 1 in 7 adults, 1 in 6 senior citizens, and 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger.
Volunteer With Against Global Hunger
Against Global Hunger has teamed up with schools, organizations, and church groups in an attempt to curb the hunger problem facing Oklahomas. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Against Global Hunger creates partnerships with volunteers and organizations to package highly nutritious food and distribute the packages locally and across the country.
Working with missionaries, humanitarian organizations, and other partners around the world, Against Global Hunger is on a mission to get much-needed food into the hands of those who need it most. Partnerships are the lifeblood of AGH, and it couldn’t be done without caring volunteers, organizations, and donors.
Here are just a few examples of how you can help Against Global Hunger:
- Filling food boxes
- Cleaning
- Filing
- Moving boxes
- Labeling bags
- Answering the phone
- Helping set up for an event
Make Sure Your Voices Are Heard
In order to end, or at least show progress towards ending hunger locally, we have to make our voices heard by the state and federal governments. They need to know how dire the situation has become and that Oklahomans are fighting for other Oklahomans. By reaching out to your congressmen, it could lead to more funding for the hungry, and it shows the severity of the issue.
Ranking in the Top 10
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 11.1 % of households in the country experienced hunger in 2019, which was also during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdowns made it even harder for food-insecure individuals to receive food. The states with the highest percentages of residents who experienced hunger are: Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Texas.
Dealing with Hunger During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Obviously, food insecurity existed long before COVID-19, but the pandemic and lockdowns made it increasingly more difficult to reach those in need of food. Limited household budgets, reduced access to grocery stores, and limited provisions from meal services have created an even bigger problem with food insecurity. The weight of COVID-19 on food insecurity varies across different communities, and Oklahoma isn’t immune.
With social distancing, vaccines, and masks, crucial decisions were made that greatly affected how people could receive food. Now that the mask and social distancing mandates have been lifted and millions of people have been vaccinated, AGH was able to start ramping back up our efforts to end hunger.
Our communities are stronger when we join together – help give your neighbors a hand up by volunteering at Against Global Hunger or your local food bank.
