By Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, Chair of the Conference of Mayors- Hunger and Homelessness Task Force
May 12, 2003

Can nine million hungry kids inspire a nation? They have inspired the U.S. Conference of Mayors and me.

In honor of Hunger Awareness Day, June 5, I am issuing a challenge to every one of my colleagues in cities across America to work with your local hunger-relief charities and America's Second Harvest to hold a media event that draws attention to the problem of child hunger.

Here are a few ideas for events that you could hold under the theme "Can nine million hungry kids inspire a nation?"

• Announce a collaborative, comprehensive program to feed hungry kids in your city during school vacations.
• Participate in your local America's Second Harvest affiliate's public event.
• Volunteer at a local food bank.
• Celebrate and present an award for anti-hunger achievement in your community (e.g. 20th anniversary of food bank, 10 million pounds of donated food, new partnership).
• Announce a food drive in conjunction with local schools, businesses, and community groups.

To find solutions to the growing problems of child hunger in Nashville, I will be working closely with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee as they help families who cannot afford to feed their children. During the first week of June, I will be urging the people of Nashville to join me in our commitment to finding a solution to child hunger and volunteer to prepare weekend feeding boxes for children who participate in our local Kids Cafe program.

While the slowing economy, international upheaval and the looming federal and state government deficits are creating stress among the charities that assist these families, we can join with others to make sure our nation's children are adequately nourished. It will take more than the support of the city of Nashville. It requires a commitment from organizations such as ours, food producers and manufacturers, generous financial donors and strong support from federal, state and local governments.

A study released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors last December found that demand for emergency food assistance increased an average of 19 percent over the past year. America's Second Harvest serves more than 23 million Americans who depend on a charitable network of food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens to feed themselves and their families. This number is nearly two million more people than those who sought similar services in 1997.

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you will mark Hunger Awareness Day in your city and help increase public awareness about hunger in America. When we meet in Denver next month for the Conference's 71st Annual Meeting, I hope we will be able to share with each other our successes in bringing to the attention of citizens across this country the National Hunger Day and the 9 million hungry children who inspired our actions.

For more information about National Hunger Awareness Day visit www.hungerday.org.