By Angela Rupchock-Schafer
I am fasting for four days this week to help raise awareness of the 1 in 6 children in Indiana who face food insecurity. Food insecurity means these kids don’t have enough food to eat. For many children, their only reliable nutrition is the free or reduced-cost meals they receive at school during the week.
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice …
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry? (Isaiah 58: 6-7)
Did you know Indiana is one of the top 10 hungriest states? As people of faith, we will continue to do our part to feed our neighbors, but we cannot match the role of the U.S. government in supporting Americans who live at risk of hunger. In fact, federal nutrition programs provide roughly 10 times more food assistance than private churches and charities.
On Aug. 22, Bread for the World, Indiana is organizing, “A Fair Shot for All Children: Feeding Children Creates Productive Citizens,” in Noblesville. So far, some 300 Hoosiers have registered to attend this event. You can still register here if you are local and interested!
Speakers will engage attendees on how important quality nutrition is for childhood development; the direct connections between proper childhood nutrition and academic success for school children; and the rising rates of hunger on college campuses.
Can’t make it? Your voice can still have major impact. Please call U.S. Sens. Todd Young, Mike Braun, and Rep. Jackie Walorski and ask them to make tackling child hunger a policy priority.
Not from Indiana? Call your member of Congress (800-826-3688) and share your thoughts with them about child hunger. It only takes 5 minutes, and your phone calls are a powerful way to tell Congress how important fighting hunger is for us all.
The Gospels call us to action to help our neighbors, to love them as ourselves.
That is why I fast.
Our children need us. You have the power to help end childhood hunger in our communities.
Volunteer. Speak out. Thank you.
Angela Rupchock-Schafer is a Bread for the World board member who lives in Plymouth, Indiana.
