OPIS Foundation

When most of us think about people being hungry in our great nation, we think about the homeless people we see on the street corner holding up a sign, or we think about the television coverage of people being fed in "soup kitchens" on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Make no mistake about it, those are correct visions of Hunger in America.  The true picture of Hunger in America is much broader and affects a large population of America, and goes un-noticed by us. The two stories above are examples of the much larger picture of Hunger in America. 

Food Insecurity

In determining what may be called the real picture of Hunger in America, the US Department of Agriculture, researchers and social services agencies refer to the terms Food Security and Food Insecurity.  Food security is a term used to describe what our nation should be seeking for all its people - assured access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life, with no need for recourse to emergency food sources or other extraordinary coping behaviors to meet basic food needs. In a nation as affluent as ours this is a readily achievable goal. Food insecurity refers to the lack of access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial resources. When we talk about hunger in America, we refer to the ability of people to obtain sufficient food for their household. Some people may find themselves skipping meals or cutting back on the quality or quantity of food they purchase at the stores. This recurring and involuntary lack of access to food can lead to malnutrition over time.

According to the latest statistics, over 36 million Americans lived in households which were considered to be Food Insecure in 2008.  Over 12 million of hungry Americans are children.  According to USDA estimates, that number calculates to nearly one in five children.  Nearly 20% of all US children go hungry and do not get enough to eat to grow and prosper.  That is a staggering statistic.

What Can You Do?

We at The Opis Foundation are working with local food retailers and distributors to generate steady contributions of healthy food products to the local food banks.  We have initiated an information campaign aimed at local churches to spread the word about the existence of the food banks and other aid to the hungry.  Again, working with the churches and other agencies, we are distributing educational materials about healthy diets and food requirements.  Our goal is to help the hungry in our community have access to available food resources and be better educated on what foods are best for a healthy growing family.  Our campaigns have been carefully designed to not only get the word out, but also to put to rest any fears or concerns that there is a stigma attached to seeking help for a food insecurity environment.

The donations from the food retailers and distributors have gone a long way toward helping us relieve hunger for some citizens in our community.  However, there are many more who need our help.  Your generous donation to The Opis Foundation will be used in one of our educational campaigns, for food vouchers for needy families, or for purchase of discounted foodstuffs to be delivered to the local food banks.  We could really use your help. 

Won't you please send a donation for as much as you can today?