Amy L. Vallero

Television bombards us with ads aimed at donating money to feed a child half way across the world. While I understand that these children need help, I wonder if the sponsors of these ads realize that there are over 12 million children in the United States who are also starving. Every year we donate millions of dollars to help feed children in other countries without lifting a hand to help those in our own neighborhoods.

It goes without saying that every child deserves to have shelter over their head, clothes on their backs, and food in their stomachs. We actively reach out to the children of the world without paying attention to the ones we pass on the street on our way to work. Over 5 million kids in the United States are homeless. According to the National Center of Family Homelessness, homeless children under the age of 18 make up 39% of the homeless population in America and 40% of these kids are under the age of 5.

Where are the commercials to help these kids? Where are the donations to keep them off the streets?

I understand that all children, everywhere in the world, need to eat but how are we supposed to help these children when we don’t even take the time to help our own? The next time there is a canned good drive or fund raiser for a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, think about the hungry children in your town who hide in plain sight; the ones who don’t have anyone to speak up for them.

Should there me more commercials about helping starving kids in the United States?

Photograph Credit:
Sabrina Segal