ABC News To Highlight Hunger In America In New Series (VIDEO)

ABC News will kick off a series called “Hunger at Home: Crisis in America” on Wednesday, exploring the growing number of American families who battle hunger.

The basis for the series is a glaring statistic that some may find startling: one in six Americans does not get enough food.

"ABC World News" focused on the troubling trend last week with a segment by correspondent Jim Avila, who reported on the growing number of children living in poverty.

The upcoming segments will air on “Good Morning America,” “World News with Diane Sawyer” and “Nightline” with reporting from “ABC World News” weekend anchor David Muir, chief medical editor Dr. Richard Besser, and correspondents Steve Osunsami and Deborah Roberts.

"ABC World News" evening anchor David Muir, who was on the ground in Somalia in July, said in a statement, “While seeing first-hand how famine is stealing children from their parents in Africa, there is also a portrait of hunger hidden right here in America. We must sound the alarm for the children in our own neighborhoods and towns who frequently go to bed having survived one more day of hunger."

WATCH:

Comments

[The Contrary]

09:45 AM on 08/25/2011

"Nope! The government doesn't have the money to feed hungry Americans on home front but we have money to further cut taxes for our super- and mega-rich Americans!" said Eric Cantor (R-Va)

(Statement is not intended to be factual. Just an illustration of Republican Party national priority).

[djmarch]

07:47 AM on 08/25/2011

It would be interesting to know what our government spends in foreign aid to third world countries while our own suffer. Something needs to change...

[mcartri]

01:05 AM on 08/25/2011

Feeding the American poor interferes with the Republican plan for the destruction of the poor & the soon to be poor middle class. Feeding human beings and providing health care for them keeps them alive. Think about it. Why would the Party of ME care about the WE? They don't, unless you can fill your empty tummy with empty words.

[Bahoogas]

09:09 AM on 08/25/2011

What is even more despicable is a president who is claiming to be able to collect 1 billion in donations for a re-election campaign while Americans starve. How many families would 1 billion feed and for how long? As a conservative I feel it our responsibility to help those in need, we do this on our own without being told to do it because it is right. We also want to teach these people to become self sufficient so they can in turn assist in helping the next family or person that truly needs help. If you rely on the government to do it, they will take a cut for themselves to make sure they keep their power and their wealth. You may think you are the only party that cares, but facts are facts and neither party cares about these people and their plight. This is not a jab at our current president but for all elected officials across this great country, how much money is wasted on a run for any office? How much more effective would that money be for that family that cannot afford to eat?

[mcartri]

02:29 PM on 08/25/2011

"Neither party cares about these people and their plight." I whole heartily agree.

[pink4004]

06:48 PM on 08/24/2011

Since everyone in the country claims to be so bright, and has the answer to everything; why can't someone come up with a way to co-ordinate getting food to people that need it from grocery stores, and restaurants that threw away tons of food each and every day. It's a shame how much food we waste in the United States. Working with "Food Pantries" is essential.

[pink4004]

06:44 PM on 08/24/2011

Boy how I miss the quiet, mellow demeanor of a Diane Sawyer type on the morning news. I can't stand to watch the morning news shows. And that goes especailly for the new team on CBS. Everyone talks fast like they are on caffiene over-drive. Same goes for Fox's morning news with Kelly Megan (I think that's her name, and CNN's evening show with Anderson Cooper.....they all talk to fast and it's unsettling. I know I'm dating myself....but bring back a Walter Cronkite type.

[chuckie3]

11:56 AM on 08/24/2011

I'm sure ABC and Dianne Sawyer have good intentions but if this new series is anything like what they've offered in the past or are currently producing, it will be long on statistics and film but glaringly short on viable solutions.

[bdazz]

08:08 AM on 08/24/2011

When families wake up stressed everyday living in fear of getting sick..for several reasons..inadequate health care..unable to afford a simple trip to the doctor for a minor illness..not being able to go to the dentist or eye doctor...the middle class are feeling these effects too. It's not easy to just live anymore because of all the costs set up just to live. Wages are going down and costs for food and gas going up...people are getting angry...I feel it everyday. The public has reached it's limit.....

[bdazz]

08:00 AM on 08/24/2011

Well..it's about time. I see kids everyday who are hungry. It's a huge problem in this country that very few want to really talk about. No child should ever go without food here...not one. It's only going to get worse too...it's part of the reason kids are failing school because they come to classes malnourished and unable to function properly. Most of them go to school just to get a decent meal...it's that bad. The priorities here are so messed up...we're focusing on the wrong things...I wish it would change..somethings gotta give here.

[Marian Austin]

07:32 AM on 08/24/2011

Correction: STOPPED turning our backs.

[Marian Austin]

07:31 AM on 08/24/2011

Why does every issue have to be defined by a GOP or left wing influence? Political affiliation has nothing to do with the fact that many, many Americans are without homes and have hungry children. While there is abuse in the gov't. handout systems, this growing problem is a reality and it is time all of us started turning our backs to it.

[collettethehedgehog]

11:56 AM on 08/24/2011

"Stopped", agreed.

[Marian Austin]

07:20 AM on 08/24/2011

It is about time our American hunger problem was recognized. Just think what all of the money sent overseas for various reasons could have done to help feed and employ these Americans.

[goodtomeetyou]

06:41 AM on 08/24/2011

I wonder what heartless spin Fox will cast on this series?

[pink4004]

06:50 PM on 08/24/2011

We give too much credit to FOX. Just don't watch them and their rhetoric.

[JeanVA]

03:45 AM on 08/24/2011

The situation is disgusting. And Bravo to ABC for shining a bright light into the darkness.

[Dolores DiBiase]

03:04 AM on 08/24/2011

There is so much for all of us to do in this "wealthy" country....so many unfair practices, from health care access to food on the table to warm coats in the winter....During my daughter's internship in social work in a Philadelphia neighborhood school, she was amazed to see youngsters coming to school in the dead of winter without winter coats....There is a "coldness" in our America...and its exposure should be the first order of business for news organizations worth anything.

[bdazz]

08:03 AM on 08/24/2011

Yes...they come to school in the wrong clothes or with no proper winter attire. The media would rather talk about the Kardashians and their wealth then talk about the real issues. It's really sad.

[djmarch]

07:36 AM on 08/25/2011

Good point....

[Laugh or you cry]

11:46 PM on 08/23/2011

In relation to the fundamentalist nature of the right side, I'm reminded of George Carlin's "When Will Jesus Bring The Pork Chops".....

[pink4004]

06:52 PM on 08/24/2011

@Laugh or you Cry: I sure do miss George Carlin's humor. Every once in a while I get a bunch of his humorist CDs from the library and have a listening marathon. LOL LOL