Every year since 1981, the United Nations marks Oct. 16 as World Food Day to draw attention to food security issues around the globe. According to worldfood day.org, 800 million people are hungry as you read this. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the U.N. has committed to ‘zero hunger’ by 2030. As part of awareness building for that goal, World Food Day events are organized in more than 130 countries around the world. 

In Canada, one of the largest annual events has been taking place in Langley, B.C. – sponsored by the Food for Famine Society. 

This organization provides ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition around the world. It’s a fortified peanut paste that’s been formulated to provide all of a child’s basic nutritional needs. Not surprisingly, fruits and vegetables figure prominently in the paste, including spinach, asparagus, oranges and carrots.

Last year, students at Heritage Woods Secondary School in Port Moody, B.C. undertook an enthusiastic fundraising campaign to help hungry children in war-torn Somalia.  Working with the Food for Famine Society and World Vision, they were able to purchase and ensure the distribution of 100 RUTFs to Somalian families where they were needed. 

Sources: worldfoodday.org  

worldfooddaycanada.ca

foodforfamine.org