Heifer International Observes World Hunger Day

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (May 28, 2013) – Heifer International on World Hunger Day joins with individuals and organizations around the world to raise awareness of the scourge of world hunger and celebrate the millions of people who have overcome its hardships.

One in seven people will go to bed hungry tonight, a tragic and unnecessary number. World hunger is an invisible catastrophe, affecting hundreds of millions, persisting over the decades despite its widespread nature. With greater awareness and involvement, vast improvements can be made and many people can be helped.

Hunger is the world’s No. 1 health risk; it contributes to more deaths than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Hunger debilitates the body and corrodes the soul, but Heifer International believes that with robust food systems and strong communities, self-sufficiency is possible for all.

Heifer International’s gifts of livestock and training help smallholder farm families to boost their nutrition and gain valuable income through the sale of products like milk, meat, eggs and wool. The changes that occur over the course of a Heifer project are profound, and lead to new self-reliance.

On World Hunger Day, Heifer International calls for greater awareness, more engagement in sustainable solutions and recognition that each of us has a role to play in ending hunger and poverty forever.

About Heifer International:
Heifer International’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in more than 40 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities become more self-reliant. For more information, visit www.heifer.org, read our blog, follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or call (800) 696-1918.