Hunger threatens millions of children’s lives and jeopardizes their futures.
But, this World Hunger Day, you can nourish their bodies, hearts and minds—helping them reach their full potential and build a brighter future.
What is World Hunger Day?
World Hunger Day highlights key drivers of hunger—like poverty, armed conflict and natural disasters—as well as sustainable solutions to ensure children, families and young people have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.
What causes hunger?
Conflict and natural disasters:
Globally, conflict is the number one driver of hunger.
In fact, according to the United Nations, two-thirds of global hunger is concentrated in just 10 conflict-hit countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen.
Violence displaces families, forcing them to leave behind food and income sources. Armed conflict destroys food systems—land where crops are grown, roads that are used to deliver food products, markets where goods are sold, etc.—and causes long-term economic instability, wherein prices soar and food is unaffordable.
Climate change and natural disasters are also a major catalyst for hunger.
In regions like the Horn of Africa—Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia—prolonged droughts devastate crops and livestock, plunging communities into food crises.
Children are the most vulnerable in emergencies, and the hunger crisis is no exception. Last year, conflict drove 63 million children into hunger, counting for more than half of the 118 million children who experienced hunger in 2025.
Poverty:
Poverty also fuels the hunger crisis—preventing families from purchasing the nutritious food they need.
An estimated 600 to 800 million people live in extreme poverty worldwide, making less than $3.00 a day. Without a sustainable, livable income, families are unable to afford essential foods, which leads to malnourishment and other severe and life-threatening health problems.
In 2025 alone, 43 million children experienced malnutrition, and malnutrition accounted for nearly half (45%) of deaths in children under age five.
Inadequate infrastructure:
Another driver of the global hunger crisis is inadequate infrastructure, which prevents millions of people from accessing the food they need.
The lack of roads, storage facilities, refrigeration systems or grocery stores can lead to food spoilage, scarcity and ultimately hunger, even in areas where food production is consistent.
And these infrastructure challenges are only further exacerbated by armed conflict or disaster, which often destroy roads and disrupt food supply chains.
How does hunger harm children?
Children’s developing bodies need more nutrients to grow and function, and they have less stored fat. Meaning: they are more vulnerable to malnourishment and starvation.
Without access to healthy food:
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Children’s physical health suffers. Without proper nutrition, a child’s growth may be stunted, and they are at increased risk of acute malnourishment. Acute malnourishment is a severe condition that can lead to muscle wasting, blurred vision, organ damage and, if untreated, death. Without nutritious food, a child’s immune system is weakened, too, leaving them susceptible to serious infections and diseases.
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Children’s long-term development is harmed. Prolonged hunger triggers toxic stress, which disrupts healthy brain and body development. Toxic stress can disrupt neural connections essential for a child’s decision-making, memory and other executive functions and even increase the risk of developing chronic illnesses throughout life.
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Children can’t achieve a quality education. Hunger disrupts learning, leading to poor academic performance and potentially exacerbating generational cycles of poverty. Research continues to show that, without the energy food provides, a child’s brain is unable to process information, concentrate or even sleep well.
How we can end hunger—together:
No child should go hungry, unable to focus during the day or sleep at night because of their aching, grumbling stomach. No parent should have to watch their child waste away, helpless to provide the healthy meals they need to grow.
This World Hunger Day, you can be the difference between starvation and survival for a child in need.
With your gift to our Full Bellies, Bright Futures Food Drive, you can send the life-saving food a child needs to fuel their body, nurture their mind and reach their full potential.
Your support doesn’t just fill a child’s plate now—it fills entire communities’ hearts with hope.
Your gift today can:
- Deliver emergency food assistance and prevent starvation.
- Equip families with seeds and agriculture training to weather climate disasters.
- Protect children’s health and futures with life-saving medical care that combats the devastating effects of malnutrition.
Together, we can turn hunger into hope. Your gift today is a lifeline—giving children the food they need to grow, learn and thrive—and parents the tools they need to rebuild with hope.
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