4-H “Takes a Bite Out of Hunger” in Cherokee County

Did you know? 1-in-5 children in North Carolina lives in a household that is forced to reduce food intake, alter normal eating patterns, or go hungry because they lack the money or resources to obtain adequate food. Hunger and food insecurity challenge the well being of children, adults, families and communities. Children are more likely to have medical and behavioral problems, do poorly in school, require more hospitalizations and are more likely to develop chronic diseases as adults. Among the elderly, food insecurity intensifies acute chronic diseases and speeds the onset of degenerative disease, leading to decreased quality of life. Hunger is a problem hiding “in plain sight.” To help combat hunger, the NC 4-H Youth Development program and the Food Banks of North Carolina, all of which are affiliates of Feeding America, our nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, have teamed up to promote awareness of hunger in North Carolina and to make an impact in local communities through a new hunger awareness initiative entitled “Hungry to Help.” Cherokee County 4-H, MANNA Food Bank, our local Feeding America Food Bank, and myself, Samantha House, have partnered up to help “Take A Bite Out of Hunger.”
During the week of October 4-8, I coordinated a food drive held at Konaheeta Park. There was a decent turnout with many people donating items to help fight hunger in our community. Hiwassee Dam School helped out tremendously with 1,182 items donated. Challenged by high school principal, Tom Graham, to help the 4-H out, the high school students really came through with a tremendous amount of food. The Junior Civitan Club raised the most food and we want to say a big thank you to all the students who participated in the food drive. We raised 1,390 non-perishable food items that will help our local food pantries out. However, that is not enough, we want to continue the push to help those in our community that are in need of food. So to do this, we have placed red barrels at various locations for people to drop off more non-perishable items, no glass containers please. The locations where you can find the barrels are: Save-A-Lot; Macon Bank; First Citizen Bank, Murphy and Peachtree Branch; Blue Mountain Coffee and Grill; Cherokee County Court House, by the county mangers office; Murphy High School; Murphy Middle School; The Daily Grind; Green Paws Dog Grooming; Hiwassee Valley Pool and Wellness Center; and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Office/ Cherokee County Mapping Office.
These barrels will be left at these places from now through November 12th. Please leave any non-perishable items at these places to help our fight against hunger in Cherokee County.


Written By:

Samantha House
President of the Cherokee Rider’s 4-H Horse Club
Senior at Murphy High School