"The 2020 economic collapse has certainly smashed millions of hopes and dreams, but for children, it has removed prospects for a healthy growth and a flourishing childhood, considering that one out of four American children has been suffering from acute hunger throughout this year. The U.S. has nearly 75 million children, and approximately 18 million of them are now in food-insecure households. As a consequence of the current economic recession, their parents have lost their jobs, therefore, the ability to provide for their kids most basic needs.
Many of these households are also on the brink of eviction, and as federal programs expire and food banks get increasingly overwhelmed the situation of these families is about to get much more aggravating. It's lamentable to see our great nation go down this troubled path - one that could potentially compromise the future of our next generation. In this video, we expose this incredibly concerning issue that authorities haven't been taking seriously and the mainstream media doesn't seem to be properly addressing.
Ever since the health crisis struck in America and triggered the most damaging economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s, a large chunk of our population suddenly lost their main source of income. The majority of these people have never needed external assistance to find ways of ensuring their survival, but now they are counting on government handouts, food distribution events, and the kindness of others to provide a plate of food for their kids. Unfortunately, oftentimes outside help is not enough. According to Feeding America, by December, over 50 million people could be experiencing food insecurity. The organization has warned that one in six Americans and one in four children could go hungry - a 50 percent increase from 2019.
Overall, this massive spike in food insecurity is a clear result of the record unemployment and underemployment rates. An alarming 5.6 million households have struggled to put enough food on the table in the last week of November, which means, several families didn't have what to eat during Thanksgiving.
Although the U.S. has a vast network of food banks across its territory, the demand has been so high that there simply is not going to be enough food if it continues to soar in the months ahead. According to Feeding America, food banks have consistently seen a 60 percent increase in demand compared to this time last year.
Now, as several states started to impose new lockdowns to control the rampant spread of the virus and record-high hospitalization rates, such unprecedented demand for food aid will persist as we advance towards the end of the year. In Texas, the North Texas Food Bank told that before the collapse happened, their aim was to distribute 92 million meals by 2025. But by early June, they had largely surpassed that target.
In Cleveland, where 5,000 families showed up for the pre-Thanksgiving drive-in distribution. About 54% of the food distributed was directed to children and seniors. Some states such as New Mexico and California are on the verge of a famine calamity. According to Sonya Warwick of Albuquerque's Road Runner Food Bank, one in three children are experiencing hunger this year, while in rural California, the executive director of Tulare County FoodLink Nicole Celaya disclosed that "the food cliff is looming. The food system hasn't done a very good job of meeting the increased need. As viral case numbers continue to rise, it's going to get worse."
This staggering level of hunger is something only seen before during the Great Depression. Still, almost a century later, the cracks are large enough for tens of millions of Americans to slip and fall right into poverty. As pantries are running low, and another stimulus package is out of sight, many food banks don't know how they will continue to feed Americans.
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