Food for Thought: What is Hunger in America?

The Faces of Hunger competition called for young filmmakers to capture what hunger looks like in America. It seemed straightforward enough; all I had to do was go down to a homeless shelter or a food bank, ask some questions about their stories, and I'd have my video. Right? Wrong.

In the film, Food for Thought, I discovered through the process that the true issue of hunger did not only lie among the homeless population as many assumed, but with the people around us — middle-class families, and most humbling of all — my own family. Let me tell you, it was not easy to admit.

When I came to terms with this difficult fact, my first reaction was to drop the film. This was not what I expected to discover and it was far too personal to share publicly. But as I reflected more and realized that there could be 35 million stories of hunger hidden under blankets of pride, I found myself with no choice but to speak out. I needed to share the fact that families like mine are only able to get through those tough times with the help of others. Hunger is so much more than just a need for food — it is the need for community.

With the help of my fellow filmmaker Shelby Barnes, I decided to go forth and finish the film. And so we invite you into this journey.

- dolce wang

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Palms
• for
• Life
• hunger
• america
• pride
• homeless

[Rockfordsurf1]

I am speechless...and even feel quilty for the way I live when so many go to bed hungry every night. I know it is not my fault, and I would not turn a blind eye to this. My heart is very sad right now. We as a country must do better to make sure in this land of wealth...at least there is food and warmth for all who live within our boarders.

[BetterABleedingHeart]

Great work. Haunting and sobering. Nobody in America should be going hungry. It's deplorable that we allow it to happen.

[dreamihad]

Of course Ms Wang is quite wealthy in comparison to the hungry since she's been on fantastic trips to China, ect, the true poor don't know such things like vacations

I seriously want to see a movie like this coming from someone who has actually lived it

[Joelleluvshorses]

:)

WOW. No one is immune.

[kawola17]

@BetterABleedingHeart Americans are so clueless sometimes. If I was hungry and short on food, I would go down each option as follows:

1) Go to FoodBank

2) Go to Costco/ Retail Foods looking for all the left over food that's thrown away, that is still fresh

3) Plant some fucking seeds in my Garden

4) Maybe steal some food from local Grocery store ( or just ask for donations)

5) And if all else fail, I would take a kitchen knife, go out into the wilderness and be

prepared to do some "thrashing"

[kawola17]

@BetterABleedingHeart Interesting perspective. But I don't think there should be shame around hunger. There seems to be a stigma around it. It's a basic human need. 

[vivi44]

Hunger is Millions of Illegal Latinos on welfare

[MrHoppers002]

hunger is you're going to imminently die due to malnurishment.

[themaniusedtob]

@melanieguentherger Right, it is just so sad to see this in America.. and to me (just my opinion) its even worse outside of America so its even more sad (to me).... what is so bad about acknowledging that its even worse somewhere else? I hope you dont think i made an attempt to devalue American hunger.. cause i sure did not. hunger is bad anywhere it exist, but outside of America hunger is indeed much muuuch worse. think about it... the most obese in the world? americans.. a tad PC but true

[melanieguentherger]

@themaniusedtob Okay, so are you comparing America with Third World countries? None of the European countries, neither Australia or Canada - pretty much any Western industrial country - has hunger issues in these dimensions. It's just so sad to see this in America.

[forgiven61]

Thank you for the great video.

[themaniusedtob]

I know hunger in america may be bad but.... when i see what hunger is like outside of america i practically have to pick my jaw up from the ground