For Some Kids, Hunger All Too Real

Photo Exhibit "Witness To Hunger" Captures Families’ Struggles To Survive

(CBS)  Some moments best forgotten are frozen in time.

In a photographic exhibit called "Witnesses to Hunger" the message is stunningly simple, reports CBS News correspondent Seth Doane.

One picture shows Imani Sullivan's son begging for food because she can't always afford to feed her kids.

"I am a witness to hunger every day," Imani, who lives in Philadelphia, says.

Her 9-year-old son De-Mire know what it's like to go without food.

"I cry … because I'm hungry," he tells Doane.

An estimated 15.5 million American kids don't have enough food - that's 3 million more than just two years ago.

Another picture shows Marinette Roman's youngest trying to get out of the house - back when they had one.

Home now is a single room in a Philadelphia shelter for Roman and her 13-year-old son Lewis.

Lewis, who's been losing weight, says he doesn't tell his friends about not having enough food.

"I just don't like … letting … nobody know that I'm hungry," he says.

But letting people know is the point of this exhibit.

It was Mariana Chilton's idea to give cameras to 42 lower-income Philadelphia mothers.

"It's a way of saying, 'My child is hungry. I've struggled and this is what my child looks like,'" says Chilton, of the Drexel University School of Public Health.

Their senator, Robert Casey, D-Pa., brought the women and their photographs to Capitol Hill and keeps a book of the pictures in his office.

"Is there anything that seems removed for you? Sitting in Washington looking at this book?" asks Doane. "It seems like two different worlds."

"Oh it is, sure," says Casey. "You could sit in a hearing for hours and you could read every statistic that would tell the story. But there's nothing like a picture and a witness."

Like a picture of Imani's pay stub. She's a full-time janitor but has an empty fridge. She photographed that too.

"How is it as a mom to realize that at points you can't really afford to feed your own kids?" asks Doane.

"Wow, that's a good question. It's heartbreaking," she says.

It is for Marinette too. Besides losing her house last summer, she lost both of her jobs. Already living at the edge, the recession pushed her over.

"To hear your kids say they're hungry, how does it make you feel?" asks Doane

"Horrible," she says, starting to cry. "Horrible because I always try to do my best … and it hurts that I have to put my kids in this situation."

That situation is six people sharing one room. Lewis says his stomach gets so empty he feels like throwing up.

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Read Seth Doane's Blog Post On Story
"Children Of The Recession" Section

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But sometimes he just tries not to think about it.

"You just fall asleep," he says.

Chilton wants Americans to wake up and realize that a lack of nutrition at an early age can stunt both physical and mental growth.

"When regular American people think about hunger, they're thinking about a kid that has a swollen belly and flies in his eyes. That is when … that's like the point of no return. How bad does hunger have to be before we pay attention to it?"

The Obama administration vowed to end childhood hunger in America by 2015 and has proposed an additional $7 billion on food stamps next year.

Imani already receives $414 a month in food stamps now, but says a hundred dollars a week doesn't feed a family of four. Every penny of her paycheck goes to rent and utilities.

"This is a disaster," says Chilton. "So the economic downturn is affecting everyone and it's especially affecting the poor because they're already having to make more trade-offs."

Trade-offs like buying food stamps or paying the rent.

At 13, Lewis says he wants a job to help his mother out.

"I know, he's been telling me that," Marinette says as she starts to tear up. "He's been telling me he wants to help me."

Lewis didn't choose this life and is looking for a way out … just like so many other children of the recession.

[bhappy2-2]

Maybe if we could get rid of all these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS those who are homeless and want a home or jobless and want a job or hungry and want to eat could find a home, a job and have food on their table. As long as the ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS are here and willing to work for next to nothing because there are 15 of them in a two bedroom apartment to share the expenses American Citizens will continue to be homeless, jobless and hungry. Kick out the ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS. It's time to TAKE AMERICA BACK, before we become North Mexico.

[from_the_north]

I truely feel sorry for any child that goes to bed hungry! But what are these mothers spending their food stamps on??? There are a number of nutritoius and filling and inexpensive foods, potatoes, oatmeal, rice, eggs, beans etc. Yes they do have to be cooked, but what else do these women do all day if they are unemployed? Can't they cook? Of course, if the kids only get MacDos and pizza it is expensive!!!! Maybe the mothers should think about giving up some of their luxuries and taking care of their kids.

[dreameryoung38]

the simple fact is that this problem is surreal and thank cbs for bringing this to light even though I see some crticism just because the people that you interviewed had her hair and nails done.It's you bringing this to light that the segment on the kids and the affects from recession people are getting help.I've been touched and am going through something in that it's scary how I went from having my own place and losing everything because of a injury.I have kids ,both in college and we are affected thats why I'm so interested in this segment

[jcotto421]

I just want to thank those who have reached out to help my sister Marinette Roman ... It means a lot to her, her children & our entire family ... Thanks again and god bless those with their hearts of gold !!

[postmaniac1]

It is so nice to see our nations wealthiest aiding to curb this dilema. Who would think that a child in America is hungry. Perhaps the "Democratic" Congress can do something other than worry about where they will vacation this year. As stated in the above posting; looks like once again our elected leaders have steered a situation straight into the toilet! Keep up the fine work Congresswoman Pelosi, and her old hat Senator Reid (dynamic duo) you'll eventually sicken us all!

[quapawsix]

The tragedy is that as a Nation who is supposed to be among the richest but yet our own people are living and starving in the streets and all that some can find to do is ask where are the fathers, who cares this is a fellow human are we just going to turn our backs on these people, or is America that cruel.

[Virgil25-06]

My question is where are the fathers of these children? Why aren't they helping to feed their kids? It used to take two people to make children- so where are these men? Until more males act like men the problem of single unwed mothers will continue.

Both women in the story sounded like responsible young women- not just junkies who don't care about anything except the next fix. One even had a house and two jobs. As sweet and pretty as Marinette seemed in her interview, there would be no way I would have left her on her own. Not where I'm from or the way I was raised. No way.

I've seen the interviews twice and didn't hear how either one ended up single, so I went to www.witnessestohunger.com and read about some of their family problems. It apears that there is more than one way to end up single and alone. Until you know how they arrived in their individual circumstances I think all you holy-rollers and politico-bashers ought to keep your traps shut! The problem has been around for centuries and no-one person or entity has put an end to hunger yet. Not any religion, church, governing style or political party in history. Think about it. The question is "What can we do about it in our lifetime?"

I thank God & the Second Amendment that I live in the Midwest where I can feed myself or a family with or without a job. I have before. I may have to again. Even though I'm widowed I raised my step-children after my wife passed. Two children with differen't sperm donors that I love un-conditionally. That kind of love needs to be taught & re-learned by many young men in this day & age.

Maybe we should go back to some old traditions- like staying married until death do us part, stand up & be a man, stand beside your heterosexual partner in sickness and in health, and not judging lest we be judged ourselves. Walk a mile in someone elses shoes.

[Joygirl123l]

Being a retired single woman and have no family left, I and some of my friends
would like to hear from some of these families in need. Where I live in the Midwest
I don't see hunger as shown in pictures in Philadelphia. I think there would be
more people like me that could help out and want to hear from some of these
people in the shelters. Lewis' family's story is a real tear jerker and reminds me
of my childhood when my mother worked her fingers to the bone and gave us
her food. People took advantage of us . No cildren or grandchildren to hear from
and would like to help out Lewis' family. Don't know how.

[differnet]

Wow... What a bunch of hatred and selfishness. It is no wonder our country is in the shape it is. By the way, for those of you who say these women should use WIC or Food Stamps. They probably do. WIC, however, is only for women who are pregnant or have children under age 5 and it does not supply ALL the food you need it is a supplemental program and was cut 3 different times under Bush. Food stamps provide you with 3 dollars a day to purchase food and what if you want luxeries like food. To paraphrase the immortal words of Dickens, If they be like to die, they had better do so and decrease the surplus population. I wonder where your Marley is?

[Tahoe1952]

I was so saddened, and miffed, to see these children going hungry. I teach, in Phoenix, in a public school. Every child can receive a free breakfast and lunch each day. The form goes home at the beginning of each school year. Many schools in our area offer free breakfast and lunches all summer, too. I volunteer weekly at Andre House, a dining room where we serve 500-600 meals a night, 6 nights a week. We have a family dining room. It is hard to believe that in an urban setting, like Philadelphia (The city of Brotherly Love??) that similar programs and facilities are not available. I am curious to know.