Tom Udall: Skip Two Meals on Feed America Day, Donate to Hungry

The U.S. Senate has designated this coming Thursday, November 19 -- exactly one week before Thanksgiving Day -- as “Feed America Day.”

Senator Tom Udall, a sponsor of the bipartisan “Feed America Day” initiative, said that in the spirit of Thanksgiving, the bill encourages Americans to skip two meals this Thursday before Thanksgiving, and instead donate the money they would have spent or food to a local charity or food bank for the hungry. (See below the break for info on where you can donate.)

“As we approach the Thanksgiving festivities, it is my hope that individuals will take the time to think of those in their community who may be struggling to keep food on the table,” said Senator Udall in a statement released today. “To miss a few meals and make a modest donation to a local food pantry is a small thing, but if many of us join together in this effort, we can have a large impact. And a large impact is what we must have if we are to keep our families and food pantries afloat this year.”

According to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2008 nearly 50 million Americans -- including almost one child in four -- suffered from food insecurity and struggled to get enough to eat. The figure represents the highest level of hunger in the U.S. since the federal government began keeping track. In New Mexico, food insecurity impacts 14 percent of the population. Click for the full USDA report.

“As the economic downturn has struck our nation, employment rates have dropped and more and more New Mexico families have had to turn to food banks and other emergency food services to meet their day-to-day needs," added Udall. "Our emergency food providers are being stretched to their limits to try to meet the current demand for assistance.”

S. Res. 334 was introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Udall, D-N.M.; Harry Reid, D-Nev.; Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Robert Casey, Jr., D-Penn.; Richard Lugar, R-Ind.; Richard Durban, D-Ill., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

Food Banks and Charities:

One suggestion is to donate to the Roadrunner Foodbank in Albuquerque, which distributes food through a statewide network of more than 600 emergency food pantries, group homes, low-income day care centers, shelters, soup kitchens and six smaller, regional food banks. In turn, these organizations provide emergency food boxes, group meals and direct distribution to approximately 240,000 low-income people each year. Individuals needing food go to the partner agency for food, not the food bank.

The New Mexico Association of Food Banks provides info on organizations that accept donations and distribute food, as well as locations in each county where folks can pick up food.

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Its mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

The American Indian Center in Albuquerque has a great need for donations because they were wiped out by thieves this past weekend.

New Mexico Magazine provides a list of charities in the state.