In 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that 49.1 million Americans lived in “food insecure” households which is the official measurement of food deprivation in America. Seven years later, in the midst of a global health and economic crisis, those statistics have more than doubled. Food insecurity is defined as not having adequate or consistent food supply for an active, healthy life for all members of the household or a limited uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods throughout the year. Simply put, they are hungry or at-risk of hunger. Poverty and resources such as transportation are the leading causes of food insecurity. Unfortunately, people in the U.S. go hungry every day. Unfortunately, Prince William County will see about 14,000 children go hungry every day if the resources aren’t there to feed them.
As a response, Dr. Vanessa Gattis and the Prince William County Community Foundation launched the C.H.O.W. Initiative and put the C.H.O.W. Wagon on the streets. Aiming to help eradicate hunger in the Prince William County area for minors ages 18 and under, they’ve partnered with the Prince William County Public Schools system and set up a haven for children to receive meals, up to two times a day and on the weekends.
Burden & Purpose’s Derreck Smith caught up with Dr. Gattis for another #GreatConversation
