Written by: Amy Meijas
Editor’s Note: The following articles are written by counseling professionals from Counseling Services in partnership with the Southern Accent.
Have you or anyone that you are close to been in a situation where you had to skip meals just so that you could pay bills or other necessities?
Though more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, experience food insecurity, many victims still don’t realize that they are experiencing it. According to an article in Feeding America, food insecurity is defined as, “… a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a household or can last a long time.”
The problems with food insecurity don’t stop at the lack of nutrition or the feeling of hunger. According to an article by C. A. Myers, there are many other problems that follow, including mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks and loss of sleep. There are physical health issues that accompany food insecurity as well.
While many may assume that people with food insecurity would become underweight, often this isn’t the case. In fact, the opposite occurs. Obesity occurs due to the lack of having healthy options and settling for inexpensive, unhealthy food. According to a recent article published on Heart.org, when this happens long-term, it can result in health problems such as “heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and many cancers.”
Food insecurity doesn’t just exist in low income areas. It happens everywhere, including here on Southern Adventist University’s campus. Thankfully, for students and staff at Southern who may be facing this problem the Feed My Sheep food pantry offers help. You can learn more information about Feed My Sheep at Feed My Sheep | Southern Adventist University or contact them at 423-236-2766.
Are you looking for a way to help others? Hunger Action Day is Sept. 22, and Feed My Sheep will be hosting a food drive and campus event. Come visit the Feed My Sheep booth located near CK2 on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and donate three food items (full size, individual granola bars, for example, don’t count) to receive a ticket for a free cookie from CK2!
In addition, starting on Wednesday, Sept. 21, tiny sheep will be hidden all around campus. Find as many of these sheep as you can and bring them to our booth by 1:00 p.m. on Sept. 22. The top three participants who collect the most will receive a prize!