Hunger Is A Real Story: Celebrities Team Up For Feeding America Campaign

With national hunger at its highest rate in years, and more and more families struggling to put food on the table, national nonprofit Feeding America is reminding Americans to lend a hand in tough times.

With their new star-studded "Hunger Is A Real Story" campaign, the organization is using actors to tell the tales of hungry Americans in a series of heartwarming PSAs.

Ben Affleck appears in the first video, giving a background on the hunger crisis in America.

WATCH:

Actors Taye Diggs, Ana Ortiz and Matt Damon try their hand at acting out the stories of three average Americans and the unique circumstances that leave them without enough food.

Supporters can make a donation to Feeding America or find a local food bank to drop off food donations or volunteer their time.

WATCH:

Comments

[VanessaFas]

09:53 AM on 11/22/2010

It's sad to see the PSA of the young mother of 3, with another baby on the way. One of the most surefire ways to end childhood hunger is to stop having children you cannot afford to feed. I'd like to think that people consider this, and actively choose to limit the number of children they have, but I am not so sure. I can only hope that young people see that things are not easy, even if you have a job. There are no guarantees in life, but there are choices we can make to help ourselves, our families, and our children.

[ohjodi]

02:57 AM on 11/24/2010

For many hungry families, having enough food was never a problem until a year or so ago when people started losing their jobs. It's impossible to know that you will one day not have enough food for your own family.

It irks me that people insist on finding fault with the parents of hungry children. They SHOULD HAVE KNOWN they'd be hungry one day, right?

We're the fattest country on earth. We throw away more food than we eat. But when it comes to hungry children and their families, too bad. They shouldn't have had kids.

The upshot is that children who have known hunger often grow up to be adults who UNDERSTAND hunger and are willing to do what they can to help others, without judgement.

Those who have never known hunger, however, grow up to be adults who shrug and say "sheesh, maybe you shouldn't have had kids!"

[TBera12]

03:17 AM on 11/22/2010

Wonderful cause! Wonderful actors!

[Shane Karas]

04:30 PM on 11/19/2010

the men and women these celebrities are portraying in these videos are representative of thousands and thousands across the country. Many of the people standing in lines at food pantries today were generous donors just a couple of years ago.

A big thanks to these guys for helping to make their voices a little louder.

[sktaetvhey]

03:24 PM on 11/19/2010

The folks who donate thru the year, do so because of thier faith in "you will know them by thier deeds" they do not do it for tax breaks. It is only the wealthy who use it for economic reasons.
If conservatives truely beleaved this country was founded on Christian principles they would not let one assistance program faulter. how conservative have brainwashed people in beleaving a total opposite view of charity and aid to the disadvanaged makes me, for the first time in my life beleave in a satan that sweeps the earth, whispering evil.

[baybeebluz]

01:42 PM on 11/19/2010

Well, they will have even less money in their coffers if they take away tax deductions for charities.

[Jim Elkins]

11:35 AM on 11/19/2010

From the lead by example portion of our show...

WASHINGTON — Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden and his wife gave an average of $369 a year to charity during the past decade, his tax records show.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-12-biden-financial_N.htm

[Rosewren]

01:02 PM on 11/19/2010

His tax records may not show everything. I don't declare any of my charitable giving on my return as I consider it my own business. My tax accountant thinks I am nuts but so what, I don't give just to have a tax deduction and it usually cash given on the spot.

[MissCupcake]

01:09 PM on 11/19/2010

What have YOU done to help those in need?

[Ohioan4truth]

09:40 AM on 11/19/2010

Did you know that it's better to give than receive? Especially if those you're giving to need the help?
 
Did you also know that if you help a family to have a Thanksgiving Day dinner by donating to your local food pantry that YOUR Thanksgiving Day dinner will taste that much better?
 
True!!!
 
Happy Thanksgiving Day to all!
 
P.S. Why do you think it's called "Thanksgiving Day" after all?

[Countess]

09:34 AM on 11/19/2010

We are now seeing the results of a thirty years war waged by the wealthy extreme capitalists and their political representatives against the American people. We have adopted Pinochet economics which enables a small oligarchical clique to become more and more wealthy as the meager social safety net comes under fierce attack from the ruling elites as they waste billions on useless wars and tax cuts for themselves.

[rougebaisers]

09:24 AM on 11/19/2010

More please. Can you get Angelina Jolie to play me?

[millemtu]

08:58 AM on 11/19/2010

I would give more, but the government already spent the money blowing up places in foreign lands and has devalued the money I have saved.

[Supersteel]

08:58 AM on 11/19/2010

Interestingly, studies show the rich give a high percentage to charity. The poor also give a high percentage to charity. and time.
 
the middle income people are the ones who give the least time and (percentage of) money to charity.

[millemtu]

08:59 AM on 11/19/2010

that is because they are busy working to keep themselves clothed, fed, and sheltered so others don't need to.

[Supersteel]

09:24 AM on 11/19/2010

not really. they spend the most time watching tv and other things like that.
 
Polls seem to reveal they have a much more negative view of those in need than the poor (who are in need themselves) and the rich (who may feel some obligation to help). 
 
they are very negative on both government assistance and they don't personally give much,.

[sabelmouse]

12:56 PM on 11/19/2010

if you have 50 billion and give 1 million it's not much. you have got to see it in perspective. and how did they get so much in the first place?

[baybeebluz]

01:41 PM on 11/19/2010

I think the charity receiving a million would think it's alot.

[Supersteel]

03:03 PM on 11/19/2010

I believe the studies are in proportion to income. the middle class is the least generous.
 
you would expect the poor, since they have the least but they actually give a somewhat higher percent of income.

[MissCupcake]

08:57 AM on 11/19/2010

HP friends, I challenge you all to hold a diaper drive in your area. Diapers aren't covered by any safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. Families often have to reuse diapers or leave babies in soiled ones for long periods.
I'm just finishing up with a diaper drive. All donated items went to a local homeless shelter and a domestic violence shelter. We collected diapers, wipes and diaper ointment, baby bath items, bottles and sippy cups, baby blankets and pacifiers. I sent out Facebook posts, passed out fliers and had info in the local newspaper. In 2 weeks I was able to collect over 2500 diapers! I am going to continue collecting.
If just a few of you do this too it will really blossom into something much bigger!

[jws2346]

08:37 AM on 11/19/2010

THERE AIN"T NO F**KING REASON FOR ANYONE TO GO HUNGRY IN AMERICA! (pay attention all you big bonus peeps on Wall Street)

[Jim Elkins]

11:32 AM on 11/19/2010

Or Hollywood...

[mombabytiger]

05:41 AM on 11/20/2010

Well some of us are. I found one food bank in my area and I don't have enough gas in my car to get there. True story.

[Mortifyd]

03:35 PM on 11/23/2010

Contact them and see if they can do a delivery as you don't have the gas to get there. Also call your county community services office and see what kinds of help you may qualify for in your area.

[tosc]

08:10 AM on 11/19/2010

it is about time we start taking care of our own instead the rest of the world, who could care less about us.

[bryan broome]

08:43 AM on 11/19/2010

Did your parents ever try the "starving kids in China" routine to get you to finish what was on the plate?
Do you think they say that in China now. Refering to American kids.

[sabelmouse]

12:58 PM on 11/19/2010

more hunger inindia than in china too.

[redmeat ronnie]

07:56 AM on 11/19/2010

hey it's Mat Damon! Isn't he a rich white guy??

[millemtu]

08:55 AM on 11/19/2010

why is it when someone achieves the American dream, everyone wants to cut them down. his roots were not rich. he did what he liked to do and became successful. had he been a bum I bet he would have not donated as much as he has today to charities.