Freedom from Hunger facts for kids
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| Non-profit | |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Headquarters | Davis, California, United States |
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Key people
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Steve Hollingworth |
| Services | Microfinance Public Health Ending Poverty |
Freedom from Hunger is an organization that helps people around the world. It started in 1946. Now, it is part of the Grameen Foundation. This group works in many countries. Their main goal is to help poor women. They do this by giving small loans. They also teach women how to run businesses. This helps families get out of poverty.
Contents
History of Freedom from Hunger
Starting as Meals for Millions
The organization began in 1946. It was first called Meals for Millions. Henry Borsook, a scientist from Caltech, helped start it. Clifford Clinton, a restaurant owner, also helped. Dr. Borsook and a French cook, Soulange Berzceller, created a special food. They called it Multi-Purpose Food (MPF).
What was Multi-Purpose Food?
MPF was a food supplement with lots of protein. It was very cheap to make. Each small meal cost only about three cents. This food helped many people. Clifford Clinton paid for the first few years of the organization. After that, it relied on donations from the public.
In its first ten years, Meals for Millions sent out a lot of MPF. They distributed over 6.5 million pounds of it. This was enough for 36 million meals. The food went to help people in 129 countries. This included places in the United States.
Changes to the Food and Focus
The first MPF had soy, dried vegetables, and seasonings. Later, in the late 1950s, the recipe changed. It became mostly toasted soy with added vitamins and minerals. This new food was half protein. Just one serving gave an adult more than a third of their daily protein needs. It also provided ten important vitamins and minerals. General Mills made MPF until 1980.
By 1965, Meals for Millions started to do more than just provide food. They began to focus on education. They also worked on sharing new technologies. This was a way to help reduce hunger for good. They set up MPF factories in Japan, Brazil, Mexico, and Korea. Local people ran these factories. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) started giving money to Meals for Millions in 1973. In 1976, they even made a special low-cost machine. This machine helped make MPF more easily.
New Programs and Mergers
In 1976, Peter Davies became a technical advisor. Meals for Millions started new programs. These programs focused on the health and nutrition of mothers and children. In 1979, Meals for Millions joined with another group. This group was called the American Freedom from Hunger Foundation. The organization stopped making MPF in 1980.
In 1988, the group officially changed its name. It became the Freedom From Hunger Foundation. In the same year, they started a new program. It was the first of its kind. It combined small loans, called microcredit, with health and nutrition lessons. They called this program "Credit with Education."
In 1991, the organization changed its name again. It became simply Freedom From Hunger. In 2016, it joined with the Grameen Foundation.
Freedom from Hunger Day
In October 2006, Yolo County in California made a special announcement. They declared September 28 to be Freedom from Hunger Day. This was to celebrate the organization's 60 years of work. They recognized Freedom from Hunger for helping people fight hunger. They praised their self-help programs. These programs help end hunger for good. They also help women and families living in poverty. The State of California also made this date an official day of awareness. In the Sacramento area, this event won an award for public relations.
Other Organizations Helping with Hunger
- Bread for the World – This is a Christian group. They work to help hungry people around the world. They do this by talking to lawmakers.
- Empty Bowls – This project helps raise money for hunger. People make ceramic bowls. Then, they serve a simple meal of soup and bread. Guests give a donation for the meal and the bowl. The money goes to groups that fight hunger.
- Food First – This group is a "think tank." They study why hunger and poverty happen. They also look for solutions to these problems.
- World Bank PovertyNet – This website is run by the World Bank. It offers information and help. It is for people who want to understand and reduce hunger.
- World Food Programme – This organization works to make hunger a top issue for countries. They create plans and actions that help poor and hungry people directly.
- World Hunger Relief – This group has programs that teach about farming and related skills. These skills help meet the needs of hungry people.
