Look around you. If you’re hungry, can you imagine with ease where your next meal is coming from? Is it a meal swipe away at the dining hall? A home cooked meal waiting for you on the kitchen table? A quick snack from the cupboard down the hall? For Americans facing food insecurity, those without reliable access to an amount of food that is both affordable and nutritious, wondering where their next meal is coming from remains a daily concern. It might surprise you to know how many people around you face food insecurity. It might surprise you even more to know that there are several ways you can get involved and make a difference in the battle against hunger.
Hunger does not discriminate; children are also at risk in low income families. According to Feeding America’s 2012 Food Insecurity and Food Costs in the US report, “The number of children living in extreme poverty – roughly $9,500 a year for a family of three – rose an alarming 32% from 2008 to 2012. For 81% of these families, housing costs consumed too large a share of family budgets, leaving less for other necessities such as food, clothing, or transportation.” Some families that struggle with food insecurity do not qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) the government assistance formerly known as Food Stamps. Although SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger, many citizens, (including those who do receive SNAP) still rely on food banks and soup kitchens.
According to Feeding America In the state of New Jersey, roughly 1 in 8 people struggle with hunger. Although food insecurity is an issue that is often a private struggle hidden from the surface, it is real and it is prevalent. Jessica Mazzola highlights the New Jersey counties struggling the most with hunger in her article for nj.com. In Mercer County, 12% of the population faces food insecurity. The city of Trenton, the state’s capital, is included in this battle against hunger. The once thriving city associated with the phrase “Trenton Makes The World Takes,” has remained strong in the battle against hunger, but deserve assistance to ease their efforts in the fight. By becoming more informed on the issue of food insecurity, we encourage you to take the initiative to get involved.
The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) has helped to feed the hungry and offer support to citizens beginning in the early 1980s. TASK has successfully prepared tens of thousands of meals throughout the years and additionally support an Adult Education Program. You visit their official webpage to learn more, or find 30 ways to help by clicking here . Whether you are capable of donating food, toiletries, or your time, any contribution is extremely valuable and appreciated. We are striving to fight hunger and provide support for the men, women, and children facing food insecurity every day. To find out more ways to get involved and learn more about hunger in Trenton, please stay tuned as we work to develop our website.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” —Aesop