Engaging Communities in the Fight Against Hunger
by Bob Stern, President, Sodexo Foundation & Group Chief International Counsel, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, North America Sodexo
Engaging Communities in the Fight Against Hunger
“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” –Mother Teresa
One in five children is at risk of hunger in the United States—that’s 16 million children going to bed and waking up without regular access to food. Children concerned about where to find their next meal are not capable of focusing or performing well in school. While the numbers are staggering, the real issue is the impact food insecurity has on our nation’s youth. Proper nutrition is critical to a child’s development. Not having enough of the right kinds of food can have serious implications for a child’s physical and mental health, academic achievement and future economic prosperity.
While the issue of hunger and food insecurity is complicated, feeding a child is not. With that idea in mind, the Sodexo Foundation was created to tackle the issue. Since its inception in 1999, the Sodexo Foundation has made significant strides in establishing its place as a leader in the fight against child hunger—but, we still have a long road ahead and we cannot do it alone.
