Vicki B. Escarra

If a society is judged by the way it treats the most vulnerable among them, we may be headed for a failing grade. With Older Americans Month upon us, it should remind all of us that after having worked hard for a lifetime, our seniors should not have to worry...

March is National Nutrition Month and what better time to look back at the New Year's resolutions that we've already let slide. Perhaps we haven't kept up our promises to eat healthier, cut back on sugar, or skip that afternoon cup of coffee we learned we can't make...

There are hungry people in every congressional district in the nation. Every single one.

So why is it so hard to get a conversation started about how nearly 49 million people don't have enough to eat? Why is it so difficult to get our political leaders to understand that...

I must say that I was disappointed by many of the comments I read in response to yesterday's NYTimes.com feature story about the dramatic rise in the number of children who qualify for free lunches through the National School Lunch Program.

The recession was a devastating event for...

The holidays, for me, are bittersweet. I love getting together with my daughters and our family and friends, and I particularly look forward to making my grandmother's cornbread stuffing -- but at a time when most Americans are celebrating abundance, one in six of us is not getting enough to...

For 40 years, Sesame Street has been a staple in American households. It has been a member of our family, a best friend, a teacher, a mentor. It has taught us the alphabet, brought music into our lives, guided our social development, and even helped us cope with...

The USDA just released their annual U.S. food-insecurity rates -- which held steady in spite of the stagnant unemployment rate and high numbers of long-term unemployed. Household Food Security in the United States, 2010 revealed that nearly 49 million Americans, including 16.2 million children, are struggling...

Childhood hunger is invasive and real in America today. Sadly, hunger affects our children in all too staggering numbers, quietly eroding the hopes and dreams of America's youth before they can even learn about the opportunities in this, our "land of plenty." The stark reality is that nearly one of...

Staggering. Irresponsible. Indefensible. Those are just some of the words that describe the cuts to safety-net program that the House Appropriations Committee approved on Tuesday when they marked up the House version of the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

With more than 50 million people facing hunger, the...

The news of another devastating tornado this past weekend stopped me in my tracks.

The people of Joplin, Mo., are now reeling in the aftermath of one of the worst tornadoes to ever strike a community. The twister did not discriminate -- homes, churches, hospitals, almost...

There is a palpable sense of concern spreading around the country as our leaders contemplate significant cuts to vital programs. Feeding America member food banks are watching closely to see whether Congress' decision will affect safety-net programs and are urging their elected officials to protect the programs that protect hungry...

In order to feed 37 million Americans each year, the Feeding America network must secure food from a diverse range of sources. While our food banks receive approximately 25 percent of their food from the USDA in the form of nutritious government commodities, the majority of our food...

Last week, Feeding America released "Map the Meal Gap," a groundbreaking study of hunger at the county level. And guess what the research showed... Hunger exists in every single county and every congressional district in the nation.

To estimate food insecurity at the county level,...

In Chicago, the snow has melted and winter is finally giving way to spring. One indication of the new season is the number of children playing outside in Chicago's many parks. I love seeing them and hearing their voices, their excited shouts and laughter. I hope that these children are...

In the last few days, the House of Representatives and the President released their proposed funding cuts for the 2011 and 2012 federal budgets respectively. In addition to proposed cuts to nutrition programs beginning this year, the proposed cuts to other safety net programs will affect millions of low-income people,...

In the State of the Union Address and the Republican Response that followed, President Obama and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (WI) both spoke about the difficult choices the Administration and Congress will need to make about cutting spending and raising taxes as they try to balance the federal...

Today we pause to reflect and remember the legacy and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 82nd anniversary of his birth.

Dr. King once said, in a challenge to our nation, "Why should there be hunger and deprivation in any land, in any city,...

For most people, the holidays present us with a time for celebration and for reflection upon the people and good things we have in our life. I must admit that I have been blessed with a loving family, many true friends, a prosperous career, and a happy outlook.

And during...

Very soon, children across the country will begin their long holiday break from school. But for too many of them, being out of school will mean not getting enough to eat. For 19 million children who rely on school meal programs for nutritious lunch and breakfast during the week, extended...

Infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers: more than half of the 17 million American children who regularly face hunger are under the age 6.

We all know that very young children need proper nutrition to fuel this rapid period of growth and development, and that the lack of adequate food during this...