Sinha-Roy reports: "Recent US Department of Agriculture data estimates that 17 million American children have limited or uncertain access to food. And 9.6 million of these children are under the age of 6, which prompted Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind 'Sesame Street,' to launch a 'Food For Thought: Eating Well on a Budget' initiative."

Rosita, Lily, and Elmo learn how growing food in a community garden is a great way to get food and give back to neighbors in need. (photo: Children's Television Workshop)

Hungry Muppet to Appear on Sesame Street

By Piya Sinha-Roy, Reuters

05 October 11

new poverty-stricken Muppet will highlight the issue of hunger struggles on an episode of "Sesame Street", the show said in a statement on Tuesday.

Pink-faced Muppet Lily, whose family deals with food insecurity, will join Big Bird, Elmo and other favorites on a one-hour prime-time special featuring country star Brad Paisley and his wife Kimberly Williams Paisley called "Growing Hope Against Hunger," to air Oct 9.

The new Muppet will bring awareness to the ongoing hunger struggles that families face in the United States, the show said.

"Food insecurity is a growing and difficult issue for adults to discuss, much less children," the Paisleys said in a statement.

"Sesame Street" is seen in either the US or local TV versions in more than 140 nations and has won multiple awards for its educational content for pre-schoolers.

The special will see children tell personal stories of their families struggling with hunger, and will also show how some families find innovative and community-driven solutions, including food drives and assistance programs.

Recent US Department of Agriculture data estimates that 17 million American children have limited or uncertain access to food. And 9.6 million of these children are under the age of 6, which prompted Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind "Sesame Street," to launch a "Food For Thought: Eating Well on a Budget" initiative.

(Editing by Christine Kearney.)

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+9 # Byronator 2011-10-05 20:40

Interesting and responsible use of the public airways to educate children about the real-world economic and social crises that will occupy their generation's zeitgeist for the rest of their lives.

+1 # Kootenay Coyote 2011-10-06 06:58

Good Lord! Teaching toddlers Economics! Dangerous sedition, eh?

+2 # michelle 2011-10-07 09:21

Are we 'normalizing' hunger? This is my fear. The "Food For Thought: Eating Well on a Budget" sounds good but are we accommodating the crashing economy? We need good wages and jobs if we are to 'eat well' in this culture not suggestions and stories for limping along. It remains to be seen how this will play out but I hate to see it presented as normal part of life.

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