Editorial: A local coalition will ensure that no child goes hungry
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Hunger was a problem before the pandemic started.
Food is one of those bills that can be scrimped and shorted. The very euphemism that we use to talk about cutting back — tightening the belt — acknowledges the corners that get cut when money is short are often meals.
So it wasn’t surprising when covid-19 and its resulting restrictions only made things worse. Food banks were suddenly at the forefront of need as businesses closed and jobs were furloughed. A mile-long line of cars for a Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank drew national attention in March 2020, becoming a symbol of the coronavirus’s impact.
Now, 18 months later, the lines might not be as long, but there are still plenty of people in need — and far too many of those people are kids.
There are about 96,000 children in the 11 counties served by the food bank who don’t have the food they need. For some, that means they don’t have enough. For others, it means they don’t have the things that make a healthy diet. Ramen noodles are cheap and available while fresh vegetables can be harder to access in some areas.
It is a void that perpetually cries out to be filled. The most recent effort to do so will kick off Jan. 1.
The Sports and Media Coalition is a partnership of local media and athletic organizations — professionals to high school and everything in between. Trib Total Media is among the partners. The first goal is putting healthy food on the tables of hungry kids.
It is a perfect marriage. Sports teams like the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins don’t just live and play in their venues. They rely on media, as well. That has made media outlets collaborators with athletic organizations from the beginning. The coalition will harness its strengths to foster awareness of food insecurity, help bolster the opportunities for children’s nutrition and exercise and work with local leaders to build policies to solve the problems.
The sports groups understand food as fuel and the value of a strong, healthy body. The media organizations know how to spread a message. Working together, they just might make a real difference.