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SALT LAKE CITY -- Millions of children in America don't get enough food to live active, healthful lives.
Al Roker of "The Today Show" is teaming up with Feeding America in a new campaign called "Child Hunger Ends Here."
"There are, in this country, almost one in four kids, 17 million children, who go to bed hungry each evening. That's a scary statistic to think about, that being in America," Roker told KSL's Scott Haws. "And it's not just homeless. It's not just the inner city or rural America. This is all across our country."
He said the problem isn't always obvious.
"You're talking about a group of people who on the outside may seem like they're doing well, middle class, doing alright. But maybe dad has lost his job or mom has lost her job, hours have been cut back, mortgage payments balloon, fuel prices have gone up, and all of a sudden their paychecks aren't making ends meet. They're the working poor."
Roker said people in that category make too much money to qualify for assistance but not enough to get by. "Meals get scrimped on and these kids become food insecure," he said.
"They don't know what their next meal is going to be, how much food there's going to be, if there's going to be any food," he continued. "It affects their development, mentally, physically, emotionally."
Roker said people can combat the problem with things as simple as donating food or time to the local food bank. He invites anyone to participate in a Twitter chat Saturday.
You can find more information on the subject at www.childhungerendshere.com .
