We have all seen them, dressed in rags, sitting at the corner of a traffic stop somewhere holding a “hungry, will work for food” or “homeless” sign. This is the face of poverty we see, but poverty is much deeper than those brave individuals who are not ashamed of accepting their fate and exhibiting themselves in hopes of earning a couple of dollars to feed themselves. Poverty is often a topic that is kept under the radar, kept as a myth away from civilized and developed areas.

The truth of the matter is that poverty is a real social problem. In the United States roughly 12 to 15 percent of the population is living below the federal poverty line, ranking the U.S. in 16th place on the human poverty index. Hunger is the most extreme form of poverty, where individuals or families cannot afford to meet their most basic need for food. In 2005, 35.1 million Americans lived with food insecurity; this translates to about 22.7 million adults and 12.4 million children. Most of these people are not homeless, they are neighbors, family, and friends and sometimes those you’d least expect. Many people find themselves in trouble due to lack of employment opportunities, or simply being employed at minimum wage; the high costs of living and decreasing annual household wages force working poor families to stretch dollars even farther to feed their families.

There are many resources in the Bay Area that fight to end hunger, including the second harvest of Santa Clara, the food bank of Monterey County or the San Francisco food bank. These non-profit organizations give protein-rich foods such as eggs, milk, and meat, as well as fresh produce on a monthly basis. Aside from providing hunger-relief services to many families, they also provide low-income families, seniors, and individuals with resources for improving health, nutrition, and wellness. They also cater to the elderly with the “meal on wheels” program that delivers a warm, nutritious meal to those who cannot tend to themselves any longer.

It truly is such a relief that these types of services exist and most importantly that they acknowledge the fact that the poverty and hunger are closer to home than most people think. America is thought to be free of poverty or hunger; it is often associated with a wealth and beauty image, with a rich agriculture and dominant economy. The myth is that hunger exists only in some remote undeveloped country such as Africa and since we control most of the economy, this is not the case with us. Breaking free from this myth and taking action to solve this problem is a far better idea than to mask the truth with denial.

Every human deserves to live with respect and dignity; basic necessities must be attainable, as there is no justification for something as inhumane as allowing other humans to starve. No human should ever die of starvation, compassion and kindness should always prevail and help should be given to those in need.  I firmly believe in the old saying, “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”  Wouldn’t you agree that you’d expect help if you were ever to need it.  Get fed if you were ever hungry or sheltered if you ever lost your home, I would.

This is the reason why I urge you to volunteer to any of the many organizations that cater to this need. Most of us college students can barely afford to stay in school, but there is more to be done than give money. Volunteering is great way to help the people in need and get work ethics that may be to our future benefit. Get involved and literately change someone’s life!