Today, approximately 690 million people are undernourished and do not get enough food to be healthy and lead an active life. These people—neighbors, friends, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers—are disproportionately susceptible to preventable illnesses, infant mortality, stunted physical development, and are hindered from economic growth as a direct result of their lack of adequate nutrition.

We understand that many factors contribute to the existence of hunger including social structures and unstable markets. People who rely on subsistence farming or low income jobs are disproportionately affected by changes in climate or inflation. On average, a healthy diet costs $3.75 per person per day. That is impossible to maintain for those who live at or below the poverty line, which is defined by the United Nations as living on less than $1.90/day The result is that 21.3% of children globally experience stunting due to malnutrition.

COVID-19 is magnifying a global hunger crisis. The disruptions to employment, supply chains, and access to food sources due to the pandemic may cause an additional 83 to 132 million people to experience hunger in 2021. 

We work to raise awareness and support because we know that eliminating world hunger is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. When individuals living in poverty have increased access to food there is improvement in overall health, which allows for increased productivity and eventual escape from poverty. So far our projects target core issues that attribute to hunger through sustainable agricultural development, cultivating community gardens, training and nutrition education, and food programs. ODW and our partners have pioneered effective ways to impact communities, families, and individuals affected by hunger through 28 projects and counting.