Walking into a grocery store this time of year can be a sensory overload. Spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin tickle our noses as bakeries produce breads, pies and other delectable pastries. Ads boast the lowest price on turkeys and prime rib by the pound and the produce section stocks up on squash, cranberries and apples.

According to the United Nations, more than 1 billion will not experience the taste bud tantalizing joys this time of year offers. Instead, those 1 billion people worldwide will face starvation this holiday season.

On Monday, the U.N. discussed the alarming issue on the first day of its world food summit in Rome, Italy. The number was shocking even to the U.N., which stated at the beginning of the summit that the 1 billion people affected by hunger is the largest number in history.

Some statistics from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: In one day, more than 17,000 children will die of hunger. That is one child every five seconds. That is six million children a year.

In an effort to combat starvation, the U.N.’s World Food Programme has launched the “Billion for a Billion” campaign, which aims to reach 1 billion people who can afford their daily meals to donate $1 to help combat hunger.

The campaign is cleverly designed to attract citizens of developed nations who use technology to participate in global issues, meaning that as you peruse social networking sites, check your e-mail, do your online banking, update your Twitter and Facebook and IM your office colleagues, you can also stop by www.wfp.org/1billion and donate $1.

In fact, a video promoting the “Billion for a Billion” campaign suggests people promote the efforts of the World Food Programme on their personal social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

“If a billion Internet users donate a dollar or a euro a week, we can literally transform the lives of a billion hungry people across the world,” said Josette Sheeran, executive director of World Food Programme in a statement on the organization’s Web site.

While the campaign aims to reach out to people starving across the world, often it is the perception of citizens from the United States that problems such as hunger do not affect such a powerful and developed nation. That is because many of us are fortunate enough to not know what it feels like to be hungry.

However, in our community, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and Evelyn Mount help combat hunger during the time it is most brought to the forefront of our minds: the holiday season.

In a 2006 study to calculate the needs of the northern Nevada community, the food bank surveyed 283 households. Out of the 283 households, 37 percent of emergency food recipients were younger than 18 years old. In addition, 5.4 percent of the households with children had children who skipped meals because of lack of money and food.

According to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada’s Web site, www.nnfb.org, “research shows that children living in food-insecure and hungry homes are sick more often, have higher rates of iron-deficiency anemia and are hospitalized more frequently. They miss more days of school, are less able to learn even when they can attend school and are more likely to suffer from behavioral disorders. Malnourished infants suffer brain damage that cannot be reversed even by better nutrition later in life.”

Hunger affects the community in more ways than one. It affects our health system. It affects our education systems. It affects the quality of life in our community.

Another alarming statistic from the same study is that nearly 20 percent of seniors, 65 years and older, receive help from the local food bank.

In the weeks leading up to this Thanksgiving, Evelyn Mount, who has opened her heart and her home for decades to provide food for those who need it, has opened up to local news stations pleading for help from those more fortunate to donate food to fill the bare shelves in her garage.†

Mount started her crusade to help the hungry in 1976. In 2009, she will face a shortage of food because of economic hardship in a community hit hard by foreclosures, unemployment and statewide budget cuts.

As with every year, both Mount and the food bank will be taking donations in the form of food. Donations can be made to Mount, who starts distributing food on Wednesday, by dropping off items at her home on 2530 Cannan St. in Reno or at selected locations that are offering to help her, including Sierra Tap House, Ole Bridge Pub, Legends Grill and Sports and Spirits.

For locations to donate to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, visit www.nnfb.org.

Even when we are all experiencing hard times, no matter how each individual is being affected by the recession, if you are able to help by donating $1, a can of food or even your time someone somewhere will be happier and healthier because of the effort made to help them.

As a community, we can help make a difference.

Cortney Maddock is a reporter for the Tribune. She can be reached at cmaddock@dailysparkstribune.com.