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https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2026/01/05/nx-s1-5655254/hidden-hunger-food-insecurity-us-brain-development-psychological-scars-shame>
“Hunger in America looks very different from the stereotype of malnourished
children trying to survive a famine in a low-income country far away.
In the U.S., hunger is often much less obvious, but it's there — in the
disruptive behavior of a third-grader who missed breakfast or the chronic
anxiety of parents carefully rationing out boxes of cheap macaroni for their
children.
You can also see hunger in long lines at a pop-up food pantry at a community
center in Easthampton, Massachusetts.
That's where Marilyn Vargas found herself in November, pushing a grocery cart
past a table of free food just after the season's first snowstorm. She threw in
large packs of chicken breasts, some cookies, a giant box of Cheerios, rice,
beans — all for her household of six.
The family's sole income comes from her federal disability check, Vargas said,
supplemented by government programs like SNAP, and food donations. When the
Trump administration delayed November's benefits during the government
shutdown, "I was very worried," Vargas said.
She couldn't stop thinking about a difficult time a few years ago when they
lived in North Carolina, far from any food bank. When her transportation fell
through, she couldn't get to her retail job, 20 miles away. There was no
paycheck and therefore no money for groceries.
"I felt terrible — I was crying. I was desperate," she recalled. "The only food
I had, I gave it to my kids."
Eventually, Vargas' sister learned about the crisis and helped her move the
family to western Massachusetts, where food programs are easier to access.
But Vargas remains anxious about food, and she doesn't expect politicians to
look out for her.
"I don't think they've ever been hungry," she said. "Especially Trump. He's
never been hungry because his father was rich."”
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
