March 4 Hunger: Graehm Gray

Mar 12 2011

March 4 Hunger: Graehm Gray

I Just got back from the March 4 Hunger which took place on a beautifully cool morning on the Broad-walk in Hollywood, Florida. Over 400 runners, walkers and joggers took part in this great event which raises money for Feeding South Florida. People from all over the country including vacationers, residents, boot camp workoutsters , and kids ran walked and jogged the 5K (3.1 mile) course in temperatures starting in the fifties and ending in the 60’s. With the ocean breezes, salt air and sunshine, the conditions couldn’t have been better!

Feeding South Florida is an amazing not-for-profit organization that is devoted to “empowering and assisting people in need and improving their lives”. They provide food and other grocery products to the hungry and educate the community to fight hunger and poverty. With one in six adults and one in four kids in the United States alone in the hunger column daily this organization has its work cut out for it. The poverty numbers have increased over the past few years with this current economic slow down. Almost 60 million Americans are at the poverty level. There are over 21 million kids (children 18 and under) at the poverty level. In Florida alone, there are over 1 million children( 18 and under) and 2 million adults (age 19 and older) in the poverty classification.

In 2009/2010, Feeding South Florida provided over 24 million pounds of food to 800 different charitable feeding programs throughout Dade, Broward, Palm and Monroe counties. The food program distribution helps the following :

Needy Children

Working Poor

People Who Are Mentally Il or Challenged

Single Mothers

Homeless Individuals and Families

Senior Citizens

People Living With HIV/AIDs

What a wonderful morning, to wake up, run next to the beach, in absolutely beautiful conditions, and know you are helping a terrific cause-making sure we try to eliminate food insecurity. There shouldn’t be hungry kids or adults in America-there shouldn’t! The Nerdel Company is a proud sponsor of Feeding South Florida. All morning I spoke to participants, observers and bystanders about the issues of childhood obesity, improving childhood nutrition, childhood fitness and hunger. Hunger and obesity-yes they are intertwined. The problem that exists for the hungry is that when they do eat, when they are able to get a meal or food, they consume more calorie dense, carbohydrate loaded , sugary rich foods. They are not particularly concerned with “healthier” foods-just food itself. How can you complain about the food you are eating when you are not sure where your next meal is coming from? As a result, we see adult and childhood obesity in this population as well.

My friends, our goal is to remain in balance. On a daily basis, we try to eat healthy and exercise. Moderation! We can’t forget the millions of Americans, both adults and kids that have no idea when they will see a meal. It’s tragic-and we can do something about it. Please visit the Feeding South Florida web site to learn more. And see you next year at the March 4 Hunger 2012!

Stay fit and healthy The Nerdel Way.

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