Information Regarding Racial Equity and Hunger
Dear Supporters and Friends,
Since its founding in 1996, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has chosen to advocate on behalf of children across the country.
Now more than ever, we will continue to advocate on behalf of all children, which is why we cannot remain silent on the racism plaguing African American communities across the country. We support racial justice and we believe black lives matter. We support equity of opportunity, especially as it relates to food security. I feel proud that since the Foundation’s inception, we have always worked to increase equity, ensuring all children and their families have access to healthy food every day.
Over the past few weeks, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has dedicated our time to listening, educating and supporting. Our focus has been on sharing information about racial equity and hunger, especially as it relates to black lives matter. As an anti-hunger organization, we understand that structural racism is a root cause of hunger and poverty, and that rates of hunger are at least twice as high in communities of color. Getting enough to eat is a consistent struggle for 1 in 4 African American children. COVID-19 has exacerbated these disparities with African Americans, Latin Americans, and Native Americans experiencing higher death rates, food insecurity, and loss of employment. The clear connections between race, wealth, and health are unavoidable and unacceptable.
The only way we can continue our mission to ensure that all children have what they need to play, learn and thrive is to strengthen our efforts to dismantle systemic injustices and serve the communities that need us the most. As we move forward, the Foundation is committed to working with our Sodexo Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRGs), nonprofit partners and youth leaders to ensure that we are all united. To learn more more information about this issue, review the links to external resources below this message.
We have a long way to go – we’re continuing to listen, learn and show up. We know there is more we must all do to make a difference and improve the quality of life for African Americans.
Thank you,
Roxanne Moore
Executive Director, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
More information on racial equity and hunger:
https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/hunger-and-nutrition
https://alliancetoendhunger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ZeroHungerBackgroundJuly2017FINAL-6.pdf
