CALORIE DEFICIENCY ATTACKS MERCEDProblem and Solution by Laura Hernandez

OUTLINE: What Calories are, why they are important to the human body

Statistics about child hunger in Merced CountyReasons why children are having to suffer through thisProblems children face due to being calorie deficient

What can UC Merced students due to helpWhat are the steps that need to be taken How everything is going to be achievedWhat impact will UC Merced Students create

WHAT ARE CALORIES ?

A calorie is a form of energy for the body

Calories are burn all the timeRunningExercisingSleeping!

THEY ARE TWO TYPES OF CALORIES.

Calories Measure Energy, NOT Nutrition

Calories are not good nor bad, the difference between them is the nutritional value they offer

REASONS WHY CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING CALORIE DEFICIENCY

Unemployment rate has been low for the entire nation

Merced’s unemployment rate is found at 14.2 % since December 2013 according to the Bureau of Labor statistics

Merced is in the top 5 agriculture sales

Also in the top 10 counties with food insecurity

EVERYONE IS AFFECTED BY THE ECONOMY, WHY ARE MERCED CHILDREN MORE AFFECTED?

According to “No Kid Hungry”, 22 % of children under the age of 18 live in poverty

17,775 of a population of 80,793 struggle to obtain the daily calorie suggestion

WHAT EFFECTS DOES THIS HAVE ON MERCED’S CHILDREN?

One: Calorie deficiency has a negative effect on children’s health and growth

Children need to eat healthy to promote proper growth, and development

Calorie deficiency affects toddlers and young children the most

“Signs and Symptoms of a calorie deficient diet” states that “Eating a diet deficient in calories can produce various side effects such as;• Fatigue• Extreme weight loss• Muscle mass loss• Developing nutritional deficiencies (anemia)

WHAT EFFECTS DOES THIS HAVE ON MERCED’S CHILDREN?

TWO: Calorie deficiency affect’s children’s immune system and their ability to fight off diseases

Not getting enough food is not getting enough calories

Little calories means that the body is barely getting enough energy to last for the day

There are not enough energy to fight off disease or illnesses that come to them

“Child Hunger and long Term- Adverse Consequences for health” published by the JAMA Pediatrics, discovered that “higher odds of chronic conditions and of

asthma were observed among youth who experienced multiple episodes of

hunger compared with those who were never hungry”.

“Calorie Slashing and Overexertion Can Stress the Immune System” published in the United States Department of Agriculture, the author enforces the point by stating that, “Week after week of little sleep and extreme overexertion can put

even a young, physically fit body at higher risk of infection when that body isn't

getting enough calories to replace those it burns each day”

WHAT EFFECTS DOES THIS HAVE ON MERCED’S CHILDREN?

THREE: Children who do not get enough calories often suffer from hunger and it is difficult for them to focus and reflects in their academic achievements

A constantly hungry child can not function properly, can’t study, can not work, and can it has a hard time staying healthy

Hunger and food insecurity are factors positive correlated to poor health, and malnutrition, higher levels of behavioral problems, and lower academic achievements

The Study; The Relationship of Food and Academic Performance found out that “Adequate and sufficient healthy intake of food is essential to brain. Moreover, maximizing brain function is a prime factor in seizing appropriate cognitive capability – for example, ability to focus, comprehension, evaluation, and application – in learning”.

That is because, “missing out on a particular nutrient at the time when the brain is still growing and needs that nutrient will cause a specific problem there”.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT TO US?Hunger is no longer just a developing world problem, it is occurring in Merced, in our city.

Having insufficient daily calorie consumption has negative long term effects

Merced’s children are the future of the county, when their opportunities are being cut short because of hunger, their opportunities to succeed are also decreased.

WHAT CAN UC MERCED STUDENTS DO TO HELP?

CREATE A CLUB.

CLUB’S MISSION AND VISION: To create an organization that seeks out the welfare of children in Merced through the distribution of hot meals, food and transportation to the university every first Saturday of the month.

STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN

According to the Office of Student Life under the Clubs and Organizations section in the UC Merced website:

four students one on-campus advisor constitution that can be uploaded

attend mandatory training pay an annual registration fee of $25

THE PLAN:

EVERY FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH:

Provide hot mealsDistribute food and groceries

Provide transportation to the university and back

HOW WILL IT BE ACCOMPLISHED?

OBTAINING GROCERIES: Food Pantry in Tri College every third Friday of the month “The program is made possible under a partnership with the Merced

County Food Bank and the United States Department of Agriculture” according to the Merced sun star

The Merced Food Bank website states that “Currently there are 80 pantries located throughout Merced County although only 70 are currently active”

There are not enough volunteers but the donations are there In order for there to be a food drive there needs to be those to distribute it

and a location to do so

OBTAINING HOT MEALS: “Last year, nearly 28 tons of UC Merced garbage was turned into compost”…” Federal officials say food is the single largest type of waste dumped into landfills” according to UC Merced working to help wipe out food waste article in the Fresno Bee newspaper.

student manager in the UC Merced Dining Center states “A lot of food is thrown away but there are policies we have to follow that keep us from donating the food”.

No way to transport No people to do it Liability issues

SOLUTIONS: The food will stay on campus

The club members will handle the food. No ned to pay workers

“The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (the “Emerson Act”) provides protection for food and grocery products that meet all quality and labeling standards imposed by Federal, State and local laws and regulations even though the food may not be “readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplus, or other conditions.”

TRANSPORTATION:ASUCM website states that every club is “eligible for $ 2,500 per event and up to $5,000 per year”

First Student Charter Bus Rental in the charterbus.com website charges 1.50/person/hour 80 people/1.50/5 hours

10 months = $1,200 $300 for reusable bags and plates

CONCLUSION.

When children do not consume enough calories, they don not only show effects in their development, but their immune system and cognitive abilities are weakened.

Calorie deficiency should not be a reason to keep kids from living a normal and unstable life.

When UC Merced was built, it brought hope to the county instantly, let’s show them that there is no reason to see us as enemies, in the other hand lets become heroes and finally make them feel some change one step at a time.