Think of the food-insecure during your holiday meals

There is no better place to be on Christmas Day than coastal Orange County. We will take our beaches, boat parades and 60-degree weather over snow tires, thermal underwear and icy sidewalks.

Just ask my 21-year-old son, who was thrilled to arrive home after slogging through final exams at his university in the upper Midwest, where predictions of another polar vortex this winter appear to be bearing out. He couldn’t wait to be wearing shorts again. That’s how he likes his holiday.

Now our California-style Christmas is finally here. We’re all ready to open gifts and tuck into our feasts, and we’ll no doubt be immeasurably grateful for all the bounties of the season.

But before we do, perhaps we can spare a few thoughts for those among us who aren’t so fortunate, even here, in this incomparably beautiful part of the world.

I’m referring to the 13% of adults and 24% of children in Orange County that the OC Food Access Coalition estimates are affected by food insecurity. The coalition coordinates countywide efforts to fight hunger.

Those statistics mirror those reported throughout the state. One out of every eight California residents doesn’t know where their next meal will come from. Most troubling is that one-quarter of all children in the state are at risk of going to bed hungry every night.

Granted, many of these children benefit from federal, state and local programs, such as those that provide free or reduced-price school lunches. Many are also helped by nonprofit organizations, churches and individuals who dedicate themselves to feeding the needy. No doubt many of you have donated to such efforts and contributed your time and energy to trying to ensure that disadvantaged children have a happy Christmas too.

But it’s not enough. Much more work is needed to end childhood hunger.

So let us all make a promise today that our attention to this critical issue will remain strong and vigilant throughout the year, for there is no problem more urgent.

It probably goes without saying that proper nutrition is essential to young lives, but in recent years evidence continues to accumulate that shows us just how devastating food insecurity can be to children. According to the nonprofit Feeding America, chronic hunger can have severe, long-term physical, mental and academic consequences.

Without the foundation provided by an adequate diet, pregnant mothers are more likely to give birth to low-weight babies. Children are more apt to experience delayed development, poorer attachment and learning difficulties in the first two years of life and continued health and socialization problems throughout childhood.

Hungry kids are more likely to have attention issues in school and encounter a raft of other problems, such as repeated absences, truancy, tardiness, aggression and anxiety. Grades and test scores suffer, behavioral issues rise, and children are more likely to grow into adults who remain mired in lives of reduced economic means. Once they fall behind, many of them simply never catch up, researchers say.

Just ask teachers. They know what hunger does to kids. They see it every day.

The No Kid Hungry nonprofit organization reports that three-fourths of teachers in the United States say they have students who regularly come to school hungry. Those teachers are all too familiar with how hard it is to teach children who don’t receive adequate nutrition. It’s far more difficult for those kids to focus and pay attention in class when they haven’t been properly fed.

But there’s something else we need to realize about childhood hunger. Unlike many other complicated and intractable problems, we know this one can be solved. It’s not a question of there not being enough food; the obstacle is making food accessible and affordable to those who are often forced to go without because of other life circumstances.

Solutions don’t necessarily have to be complex or earth-moving. Some schools, for instance, have reportedly achieved positive results by changing their subsidized breakfast programs so that meals are no longer served early morning in the cafeteria, and instead are given to students during school hours in their classrooms.

Another idea that’s gaining traction is to allow low-income Americans to buy for reduced prices some of the unsold grocery store food that would otherwise be thrown away.

Simple, common-sense ideas like these can make a world of difference.

Nonetheless, we know that it will take great will and unflagging commitment to end childhood hunger. Some organizations, like No Kid Hungry, are helping to lead the way by connecting with families and schools, and trying to make sure that kids don’t fall through the cracks during school holidays. We need to pay attention to what these groups are doing, and lock in on methods for achieving the best results.

Does any of this mean that we should feel guilty as we fill up on all the delicious goodies at our holiday meals?

Quite the contrary. It’s absolutely right and appropriate that we celebrate and give thanks for our good fortune.

And we should recommit ourselves to ensuring that our Christmas bounty –– and the joys that our world has to offer throughout the year –– are shared by all.

PATRICE APODACA is a former Newport-Mesa public school parent and former Los Angeles Times staff writer. She lives in Newport Beach.