Experiencing Hunger
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink”.
-Matthew 25:35
Most of us know what it is like to be hungry on occasion, but chronic hunger is a serious issue that millions of families face in the United States every year. Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the U.S., estimates that nearly 1 out of every 6 children faces hunger and food insecurity each day. That number is staggering and I believe our faith calls us to both empathy and action for anyone who is experiencing hunger in our country and our world.
One powerful practice that I think helps to engender empathy in both children and adults is the SNAP Challenge. SNAP is an acronym for ‘supplemental nutrition assistance program’ and refers to a government stipend that low-income families receive for food each month. The goal of this challenge is to help families experience the reality that millions of low-income individuals and families face every day: limited food options on tight budgets, the cost of affording nutritious food, and how difficult it can be to avoid hunger. With just $4 per person, per day, your family will be asked not only to make tough choices about what you eat, but to learn how hunger sticks with you and affects your overall well-being. It is a tough experience, but a powerful one; my annual SNAP week is part of why I continue to engage in hunger relief efforts!
How You Might Go About This:
Discussion Questions:
-Matthew 25:35
Most of us know what it is like to be hungry on occasion, but chronic hunger is a serious issue that millions of families face in the United States every year. Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the U.S., estimates that nearly 1 out of every 6 children faces hunger and food insecurity each day. That number is staggering and I believe our faith calls us to both empathy and action for anyone who is experiencing hunger in our country and our world.
One powerful practice that I think helps to engender empathy in both children and adults is the SNAP Challenge. SNAP is an acronym for ‘supplemental nutrition assistance program’ and refers to a government stipend that low-income families receive for food each month. The goal of this challenge is to help families experience the reality that millions of low-income individuals and families face every day: limited food options on tight budgets, the cost of affording nutritious food, and how difficult it can be to avoid hunger. With just $4 per person, per day, your family will be asked not only to make tough choices about what you eat, but to learn how hunger sticks with you and affects your overall well-being. It is a tough experience, but a powerful one; my annual SNAP week is part of why I continue to engage in hunger relief efforts!
How You Might Go About This:
- Decide the length of your SNAP Challenge: a day, a week, or a month.
- Calculate your budget for your challenge - $4 per person, per day – this $4 should cover all food and drink that you would consume each day; no cheating!
- Explain the idea behind this challenge to your children – Even in the U.S., 1 out of every 5 children experience hunger. Doing the SNAP Challenge helps us understand what true hunger is like, and inspires us to help others in need.
- Enlist older children’s help with your grocery list/meal plan/shopping –this will help them understand the level of choice that goes into the challenge.
- Check in with your children before, during, and after the challenge.
Discussion Questions:
- How much does your family spend on food each day? Estimate the cost and then compare it to your SNAP Budget – are you surprised by the difference?
- How did it feel to be limited with where, when, or even how much you could eat each day? What would it be like for this to be your daily reality? Would it even be possible to eat at a restaurant, or would that cost too much?
- The Bible says “If you offer your food to the hungry, then your light shall rise in the darkness” (Isaiah 58:10) – what are some ways that you can serve the poor and hungry in your neighborhood or city?