WhyHunger believes that nutritious food is a human right, protecting the right for all people to live in dignity, free from hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. It is both an idea that inspires action and a global legal framework for coordinated reform in food and agriculture. After 39 years of work to combat hunger in the U.S., WhyHunger is renaming its signature program working with emergency food providers to Nourish Network for the Right to Food (formerly National Hunger Clearinghouse). Using the language “right to food” reinforces and reinvigorates our understanding of how to end chronic hunger in the U.S. We invite you to join us in the movement toward the right to food for all.
Along with this change, we are unveiling a new national number, 1(800) 5HUNGRY, to help connect families in need with emergency food services via the WhyHunger Hotline. No longer under government contract to operate the Clearinghouse, we are leveraging this opportunity to use the national WhyHunger Hotline and Nourish Network database to better serve our broader goals of healthy, affordable food for all.
The long-term goal and vision of the program revolves around transforming the charitable response to hunger in the U.S. into a more equitable and inclusive social justice movement that recognizes nutritious food as a human right.
Our goals are to continue to improve health outcomes, support grassroots leadership and organizing, and build power to strengthen the food justice movement through information sharing, capacity building, advocacy, technical support, financial assistance and networking. As we continue to develop these goals, we will keep you updated via the Nourishing Change newsletter. You can sign up for our monthly e-newsletter here.
We recognize that many of our readers are innovative emergency food providers who are interested in sharing resources and who are concerned about social justice and community food security. Thank you for all you do. We look forward to continuing this journey to end hunger with you. Onward!
