UTICA, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Feed Our Vets, a nonprofit organization seeking to end hunger among struggling American veterans, is focusing attention on veterans' families and children as the school year gets under way.
More than 5 percent of all U.S. households face hunger insecurity, according to Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks like those operated by Feed Our Vets. In those homes are an estimated 16.7 million children, including those whose parents are veterans struggling with mental, physical and employment challenges as a result of their service to the country.
"We know from our experience providing food and meals to struggling veterans that many of them have children in their homes who are hungry," said Richard Synek, founder and Executive Director of Feed Our Vets. "Our desire is to help all veterans with the most basic need of food, and part of our mission is to educate the public about these American heroes – many of whom are parents doing their best to care for their children while they get back on their feet."
According to Feeding America, 50.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households in 2011, the latest year numbers are calculated, with 6.8 million of those considered very low food security. Households with children reported food insecurity as a significantly higher rate than those without children. That same year, 6.1 million households accessed emergency food from a food pantry one or more times.
The Center for American Progress estimates that 1.5 million veterans are at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing. To help, Feed Our Vets operates two food banks and a mobile food pantry serving veterans and their families in upstate New York. Feed Our Vets also works with food banks nationwide to help them address the needs of veterans, including having special food pickup times reserved at the pantries for veterans and their family members.
"We believe it's important to address the specific needs of veterans," said Synek. "As Americans, we must remember and recognize the sacrifices they have made for our country, and making sure veterans have shelter and meals is a simple yet critical way we can do that."
About Feed Our Vets: Feed Our Vets is a nonprofit organization created to provide nutritious food to United States veterans whose circumstances have left them on the battlefield of hunger. The organization operates food pantries in Utica and Watertown, and a mobile pantry that delivers food to underserved veterans in upstate New York. Feed Our Vets also provides education and outreach nationwide to call attention to the needs of struggling veterans. Food Our Vets serves not only veterans, but also men and women still enlisted in the military, along with their families. For more information, visit www.feedourvets.org.
Bill Morgan, Feed Our Vets
PO Box 1
New York Mills, NY 13417
Tel: (315) 525-9206
Email
Website: www.Feedourvets.org
Twitter: @FeedOurVets1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FeedOurVets