when I was 26 my husband and I bought our first
our first
our first it had a big open floor plan a formal
it had a big open floor plan a formal
it had a big open floor plan a formal dining room a soaking tub it was in the
dining room a soaking tub it was in the
dining room a soaking tub it was in the new neighborhood where all my friends
new neighborhood where all my friends
new neighborhood where all my friends are moving I had a three year old son
are moving I had a three year old son
are moving I had a three year old son and a baby on the way
and a baby on the way
and a baby on the way it was mostly a stay-at-home mom money
it was mostly a stay-at-home mom money
it was mostly a stay-at-home mom money was tight sometimes but I had never
was tight sometimes but I had never
was tight sometimes but I had never known hunger it looked an awful lot like
known hunger it looked an awful lot like
known hunger it looked an awful lot like the American Dream and yet somehow
the American Dream and yet somehow
the American Dream and yet somehow within two years my marriage had ended I
within two years my marriage had ended I
within two years my marriage had ended I was emotionally and physically broken
was emotionally and physically broken
was emotionally and physically broken left with only minimum wage income from
left with only minimum wage income from
left with only minimum wage income from a part-time job in retail I had sole
a part-time job in retail I had sole
a part-time job in retail I had sole custody of my two kids no child support
custody of my two kids no child support
custody of my two kids no child support I was losing my house my car and thanks
I was losing my house my car and thanks
I was losing my house my car and thanks to stress and poor nutrition my hair my
to stress and poor nutrition my hair my
to stress and poor nutrition my hair my family didn’t know this but many times
family didn’t know this but many times
family didn’t know this but many times in our beautiful suburban house we were
in our beautiful suburban house we were
in our beautiful suburban house we were without electricity when the water would
without electricity when the water would
without electricity when the water would get shut off we’d stay with my parents
get shut off we’d stay with my parents
get shut off we’d stay with my parents when I gone too many days only eating
when I gone too many days only eating
when I gone too many days only eating what was left over all my kids plates
what was left over all my kids plates
what was left over all my kids plates would eat with friends or family now my
would eat with friends or family now my
would eat with friends or family now my church group bought me groceries and a
church group bought me groceries and a
church group bought me groceries and a new coffee pot when mine broke when I
new coffee pot when mine broke when I
new coffee pot when mine broke when I ate ate I ate cheaply
ate ate I ate cheaply
ate ate I ate cheaply I knew hunger and I gained weight I
I knew hunger and I gained weight I
I knew hunger and I gained weight I developed an autoimmune disease I got
developed an autoimmune disease I got
developed an autoimmune disease I got another job and worked nights I was
another job and worked nights I was
another job and worked nights I was working hard sometimes multiple jobs but
working hard sometimes multiple jobs but
working hard sometimes multiple jobs but even with all that support things were
even with all that support things were
even with all that support things were still so hard now I had had a great
still so hard now I had had a great
still so hard now I had had a great upbringing I never used drugs never
upbringing I never used drugs never
upbringing I never used drugs never abused alcohol grew up in a beautiful
abused alcohol grew up in a beautiful
abused alcohol grew up in a beautiful house in a safe neighborhood through all
house in a safe neighborhood through all
house in a safe neighborhood through all this my kids never did without they were
this my kids never did without they were
this my kids never did without they were never dirty they were healthy they had
never dirty they were healthy they had
never dirty they were healthy they had clothes and toys and a network of people
clothes and toys and a network of people
clothes and toys and a network of people who loved them we were some of the lucky
who loved them we were some of the lucky
who loved them we were some of the lucky ones
ones
ones we had a support system and a way out
we had a support system and a way out
we had a support system and a way out but in the worst times my family still
but in the worst times my family still
but in the worst times my family still didn’t fit the narrative the meaningless
didn’t fit the narrative the meaningless
didn’t fit the narrative the meaningless harmful narrative we cling to about what
harmful narrative we cling to about what
harmful narrative we cling to about what food insecurity looks like that stands
food insecurity looks like that stands
food insecurity looks like that stands in the way of actually making a
in the way of actually making a
in the way of actually making a difference because in America hunger
difference because in America hunger
difference because in America hunger doesn’t always look like hunger but that
doesn’t always look like hunger but that
doesn’t always look like hunger but that doesn’t mean we aren’t suffering just a
doesn’t mean we aren’t suffering just a
doesn’t mean we aren’t suffering just a few miraculous years later I found
few miraculous years later I found
few miraculous years later I found myself on the other side of things
myself on the other side of things
myself on the other side of things running a local nonprofit with a food
running a local nonprofit with a food
running a local nonprofit with a food pantry now this was entirely new
pantry now this was entirely new
pantry now this was entirely new territory for me and I spent the first
territory for me and I spent the first
territory for me and I spent the first few months
few months
few months wrapping my mind around pretty much
wrapping my mind around pretty much
wrapping my mind around pretty much everything once I’d gotten my head
everything once I’d gotten my head
everything once I’d gotten my head around the magnitude of the issues and
around the magnitude of the issues and
around the magnitude of the issues and all the things we were doing about them
all the things we were doing about them
all the things we were doing about them I started doing what I’d learned and
I started doing what I’d learned and
I started doing what I’d learned and doing my best and doing everything the
doing my best and doing everything the
doing my best and doing everything the way I thought it was supposed to be done
way I thought it was supposed to be done
way I thought it was supposed to be done only I was starting to sense that it
only I was starting to sense that it
only I was starting to sense that it really wasn’t working
really wasn’t working
really wasn’t working not my efforts none of it when I broke
not my efforts none of it when I broke
not my efforts none of it when I broke it down I could only think of two major
it down I could only think of two major
it down I could only think of two major problems one we were doing absolutely
problems one we were doing absolutely
problems one we were doing absolutely everything wrong and two nobody cared
everything wrong and two nobody cared
everything wrong and two nobody cared now when I say nobody cares I know you
now when I say nobody cares I know you
now when I say nobody cares I know you get this gut reaction that says of
get this gut reaction that says of
get this gut reaction that says of course somebody cares because I care and
course somebody cares because I care and
course somebody cares because I care and maybe you really really do but how often
maybe you really really do but how often
maybe you really really do but how often do you think about the fact that some of
do you think about the fact that some of
do you think about the fact that some of your neighbors are struggling to feed
your neighbors are struggling to feed
your neighbors are struggling to feed their families because statistically
their families because statistically
their families because statistically that is an unavoidable truth but it’s
that is an unavoidable truth but it’s
that is an unavoidable truth but it’s not your fault that it’s so hard to
not your fault that it’s so hard to
not your fault that it’s so hard to connect to there’s a pretty significant
connect to there’s a pretty significant
connect to there’s a pretty significant mass of reasons why people don’t care
mass of reasons why people don’t care
mass of reasons why people don’t care about hunger and some of them are
about hunger and some of them are
about hunger and some of them are political and some are cultural and many
political and some are cultural and many
political and some are cultural and many are beyond the scope of this discussion
are beyond the scope of this discussion
are beyond the scope of this discussion but from where I sit some of them are
but from where I sit some of them are
but from where I sit some of them are pretty straightforward for instance when
pretty straightforward for instance when
pretty straightforward for instance when I was as green as Green could be in the
I was as green as Green could be in the
I was as green as Green could be in the nonprofit world and that was Green
nonprofit world and that was Green
nonprofit world and that was Green I attended a fundraising seminar about
I attended a fundraising seminar about
I attended a fundraising seminar about marketing in a way that was really
marketing in a way that was really
marketing in a way that was really supposed to get people to open up their
supposed to get people to open up their
supposed to get people to open up their wallets for a cause I could distill this
wallets for a cause I could distill this
wallets for a cause I could distill this entire hour long seminar into one point
entire hour long seminar into one point
entire hour long seminar into one point this expert panel recommended we use
this expert panel recommended we use
this expert panel recommended we use something called poverty porn poverty
something called poverty porn poverty
something called poverty porn poverty porn unfortunately that’s a real term
porn unfortunately that’s a real term
porn unfortunately that’s a real term that exists and basically it just means
that exists and basically it just means
that exists and basically it just means using sad evocative imagery on our
using sad evocative imagery on our
using sad evocative imagery on our website and our materials to you evoke
website and our materials to you evoke
website and our materials to you evoke this this emotional response
this this emotional response
this this emotional response specifically though we were told that
specifically though we were told that
specifically though we were told that using pictures of diverse sad children
using pictures of diverse sad children
using pictures of diverse sad children outperformed any other category of image
outperformed any other category of image
outperformed any other category of image in terms of raising money now certainly
in terms of raising money now certainly
in terms of raising money now certainly this is exploitative underhanded cynical
this is exploitative underhanded cynical
this is exploitative underhanded cynical but the panel reasoned that the ends
but the panel reasoned that the ends
but the panel reasoned that the ends justified the means and the room seemed
justified the means and the room seemed
justified the means and the room seemed to agree now if you’re appalled I’m with
to agree now if you’re appalled I’m with
to agree now if you’re appalled I’m with you but I also have to admit to you that
you but I also have to admit to you that
you but I also have to admit to you that I’ve done this myself because it can be
I’ve done this myself because it can be
I’ve done this myself because it can be so hard to make people care because of
so hard to make people care because of
so hard to make people care because of this we have cultivated a very specific
this we have cultivated a very specific
this we have cultivated a very specific image of poverty and
image of poverty and
image of poverty and hunger and here’s where I’m gonna break
hunger and here’s where I’m gonna break
hunger and here’s where I’m gonna break a rule and ask you to get out your
a rule and ask you to get out your
a rule and ask you to get out your phones keep them on silent but get them
phones keep them on silent but get them
phones keep them on silent but get them out I’m really serious about that
I’m gonna keep talking but I want you to
I’m gonna keep talking but I want you to do a Google image search of the word
do a Google image search of the word
do a Google image search of the word hunger so if you don’t know what that
hunger so if you don’t know what that
hunger so if you don’t know what that means just type in the word hunger in
means just type in the word hunger in
means just type in the word hunger in your search bar find where it says
your search bar find where it says
your search bar find where it says images and look at those have a look at
images and look at those have a look at
images and look at those have a look at what that looks like you’re gonna see
what that looks like you’re gonna see
what that looks like you’re gonna see that some of these are stock photos many
that some of these are stock photos many
that some of these are stock photos many are journalistic and grainy and they
are journalistic and grainy and they
are journalistic and grainy and they seem authentic and in their way they’re
seem authentic and in their way they’re
seem authentic and in their way they’re beautiful and heart-wrenching tell me if
beautiful and heart-wrenching tell me if
beautiful and heart-wrenching tell me if I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure it’s gonna
I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure it’s gonna
I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be exposed ribs distended bellies big
be exposed ribs distended bellies big
be exposed ribs distended bellies big sad eyes children sitting in the dirt
sad eyes children sitting in the dirt
sad eyes children sitting in the dirt hands outstretched reaching for that
hands outstretched reaching for that
hands outstretched reaching for that single bowl of rice now this is reality
single bowl of rice now this is reality
single bowl of rice now this is reality in many places and I don’t want to
in many places and I don’t want to
in many places and I don’t want to undermine or make light of that but in
undermine or make light of that but in
undermine or make light of that but in America that’s not what it looks like
America that’s not what it looks like
America that’s not what it looks like hunger doesn’t even look like its own
hunger doesn’t even look like its own
hunger doesn’t even look like its own Google search now probably a good time
Google search now probably a good time
Google search now probably a good time to put your phone away our collective
to put your phone away our collective
to put your phone away our collective efforts to fight hunger have curated an
efforts to fight hunger have curated an
efforts to fight hunger have curated an image so particular so familiar and yet
image so particular so familiar and yet
image so particular so familiar and yet for most Americans so unrealistic that
for most Americans so unrealistic that
for most Americans so unrealistic that it is completely unrelated now just for
it is completely unrelated now just for
it is completely unrelated now just for a moment close your eyes and try to
a moment close your eyes and try to
a moment close your eyes and try to conjure an image of one hunger might
conjure an image of one hunger might
conjure an image of one hunger might really look like here you don’t actually
really look like here you don’t actually
really look like here you don’t actually have to close your eyes but do contour
have to close your eyes but do contour
have to close your eyes but do contour that image or try how many of you found
that image or try how many of you found
that image or try how many of you found that difficult
that difficult
that difficult yeah thank you good it should be it is
yeah thank you good it should be it is
yeah thank you good it should be it is and the reason is that hunger looks like
and the reason is that hunger looks like
and the reason is that hunger looks like young adults coming out of foster care
young adults coming out of foster care
young adults coming out of foster care it looks like young families single
it looks like young families single
it looks like young families single parents the elderly the disabled
parents the elderly the disabled
parents the elderly the disabled veterans people who’ve lost their jobs
veterans people who’ve lost their jobs
veterans people who’ve lost their jobs or face bankruptcy or divorce or student
or face bankruptcy or divorce or student
or face bankruptcy or divorce or student loans or accidents or medical bills and
loans or accidents or medical bills and
loans or accidents or medical bills and get the idea unfortunately it’s the
get the idea unfortunately it’s the
get the idea unfortunately it’s the pictures of children in third-world
pictures of children in third-world
pictures of children in third-world poverty that move us that may not be
poverty that move us that may not be
poverty that move us that may not be reality but it’s a heck of a lot more
reality but it’s a heck of a lot more
reality but it’s a heck of a lot more intriguing than a picture of me the
intriguing than a picture of me the
intriguing than a picture of me the thing is there’s no one race gender size
thing is there’s no one race gender size
thing is there’s no one race gender size ability that hunger picks on exclusively
ability that hunger picks on exclusively
ability that hunger picks on exclusively but if I can’t inundate you with backlit
but if I can’t inundate you with backlit
but if I can’t inundate you with backlit mobile-optimized images that tell got
mobile-optimized images that tell got
mobile-optimized images that tell got your heartstrings how am I supposed to
your heartstrings how am I supposed to
your heartstrings how am I supposed to tell you that I need you to care about
tell you that I need you to care about
tell you that I need you to care about this I’m seriously asking if you have an
this I’m seriously asking if you have an
this I’m seriously asking if you have an answer find me
answer find me
answer find me I think another another reason it’s hard
I think another another reason it’s hard
I think another another reason it’s hard to make people care about this is that
to make people care about this is that
to make people care about this is that frankly it’s really difficult to give
frankly it’s really difficult to give
frankly it’s really difficult to give you good data and I’m gonna catch heck
you good data and I’m gonna catch heck
you good data and I’m gonna catch heck for telling you that but right now we
for telling you that but right now we
for telling you that but right now we are so hot for data and rightly so we
are so hot for data and rightly so we
are so hot for data and rightly so we want to see proof that what we’re doing
want to see proof that what we’re doing
want to see proof that what we’re doing what we’re giving our money to is
what we’re giving our money to is
what we’re giving our money to is working but the nature of this work
working but the nature of this work
working but the nature of this work makes it difficult to collect the kind
makes it difficult to collect the kind
makes it difficult to collect the kind of meaningful data you’re looking for
of meaningful data you’re looking for
of meaningful data you’re looking for for local food pantries we aren’t
for local food pantries we aren’t
for local food pantries we aren’t talking about month long or year long
talking about month long or year long
talking about month long or year long sustenance we’re talking about providing
sustenance we’re talking about providing
sustenance we’re talking about providing food in emergency circumstances those
food in emergency circumstances those
food in emergency circumstances those times when there’s more month than money
times when there’s more month than money
times when there’s more month than money who hasn’t been their health outcomes
who hasn’t been their health outcomes
who hasn’t been their health outcomes would be interesting if we could track
would be interesting if we could track
would be interesting if we could track them right but on a local scale that
them right but on a local scale that
them right but on a local scale that would be prohibitively expensive and
would be prohibitively expensive and
would be prohibitively expensive and complex but what about quality of life
complex but what about quality of life
complex but what about quality of life factors like crime rates you’ve got to
factors like crime rates you’ve got to
factors like crime rates you’ve got to know that at best we could imply
know that at best we could imply
know that at best we could imply correlation and I’m just not interested
correlation and I’m just not interested
correlation and I’m just not interested in that what we can and should do is
in that what we can and should do is
in that what we can and should do is tell you how many people we serve how
tell you how many people we serve how
tell you how many people we serve how much food we give away and what kind of
much food we give away and what kind of
much food we give away and what kind of food we give away and offer you some
food we give away and offer you some
food we give away and offer you some window into what life looks like for
window into what life looks like for
window into what life looks like for those facing hunger I know that’s not
those facing hunger I know that’s not
those facing hunger I know that’s not sexy data I know it’s not information
sexy data I know it’s not information
sexy data I know it’s not information that is conspicuously leading towards
that is conspicuously leading towards
that is conspicuously leading towards you a solution for this problem and
you a solution for this problem and
you a solution for this problem and that’s what we really want right but the
that’s what we really want right but the
that’s what we really want right but the greater socio-political economic and
greater socio-political economic and
greater socio-political economic and cultural issues that allow poverty to
cultural issues that allow poverty to
cultural issues that allow poverty to exist in a first world nation aren’t
exist in a first world nation aren’t
exist in a first world nation aren’t that simple and they aren’t going away
that simple and they aren’t going away
that simple and they aren’t going away anytime soon and if we focus solely on
anytime soon and if we focus solely on
anytime soon and if we focus solely on sorting them out while ignoring the
sorting them out while ignoring the
sorting them out while ignoring the physiological need for good food we’re
physiological need for good food we’re
physiological need for good food we’re going to keep seeing people suffering
going to keep seeing people suffering
going to keep seeing people suffering and dying from poor nutrition the last
and dying from poor nutrition the last
and dying from poor nutrition the last reason and the hardest one for me to
reason and the hardest one for me to
reason and the hardest one for me to talk about is the fact that the people
talk about is the fact that the people
talk about is the fact that the people suffering the most aren’t necessarily
suffering the most aren’t necessarily
suffering the most aren’t necessarily emaciated or exceptionally thin in many
emaciated or exceptionally thin in many
emaciated or exceptionally thin in many cases quite the opposite as a culture we
cases quite the opposite as a culture we
cases quite the opposite as a culture we find it a lot more difficult to
find it a lot more difficult to
find it a lot more difficult to empathize with someone who appears to be
empathize with someone who appears to be
empathize with someone who appears to be obese we blame the individual we
obese we blame the individual we
obese we blame the individual we associate obesity with poverty and
associate obesity with poverty and
associate obesity with poverty and laziness while we’re in undated with a
laziness while we’re in undated with a
laziness while we’re in undated with a message that thinness equals health
message that thinness equals health
message that thinness equals health equals wealth equals intelligence equals
equals wealth equals intelligence equals
equals wealth equals intelligence equals success you get the idea so if we bother
success you get the idea so if we bother
success you get the idea so if we bother to care at all
to care at all
to care at all we might be tempted to think that the
we might be tempted to think that the
we might be tempted to think that the solution is to fight obesity instead of
solution is to fight obesity instead of
solution is to fight obesity instead of fighting food insecurity it’s like we
fighting food insecurity it’s like we
fighting food insecurity it’s like we keep wanting to put hunger on a diet
keep wanting to put hunger on a diet
keep wanting to put hunger on a diet never mind the fact that 95% of diets
never mind the fact that 95% of diets
never mind the fact that 95% of diets fail now those of us who consider
fail now those of us who consider
fail now those of us who consider ourselves enlightened about things like
ourselves enlightened about things like
ourselves enlightened about things like food access and food deserts wring our
food access and food deserts wring our
food access and food deserts wring our hands and we hope for policy changes we
hands and we hope for policy changes we
hands and we hope for policy changes we seek these high-level solutions for the
seek these high-level solutions for the
seek these high-level solutions for the fact that Mountain Dew and Funyuns are
fact that Mountain Dew and Funyuns are
fact that Mountain Dew and Funyuns are cheaper than an apple if you’re lucky
cheaper than an apple if you’re lucky
cheaper than an apple if you’re lucky enough to find one here and we should we
enough to find one here and we should we
enough to find one here and we should we are but while we wade through those
are but while we wade through those
are but while we wade through those swamps of bureaucracy our research shows
swamps of bureaucracy our research shows
swamps of bureaucracy our research shows that 75% of our clients have recently
that 75% of our clients have recently
that 75% of our clients have recently had to choose between keeping their
had to choose between keeping their
had to choose between keeping their power on and buying food of the 25% who
power on and buying food of the 25% who
power on and buying food of the 25% who hadn’t most answered that it was never a
hadn’t most answered that it was never a
hadn’t most answered that it was never a choice that they got food assistance
choice that they got food assistance
choice that they got food assistance because they knew once their power was
because they knew once their power was
because they knew once their power was turned off the fees would cause an
turned off the fees would cause an
turned off the fees would cause an avalanche of expenses that would set
avalanche of expenses that would set
avalanche of expenses that would set them back even further now last year my
them back even further now last year my
them back even further now last year my husband and I did a fitness boot camp
husband and I did a fitness boot camp
husband and I did a fitness boot camp you know about those we were given
you know about those we were given
you know about those we were given shopping lists for each week and for
shopping lists for each week and for
shopping lists for each week and for just one week we spent about 400 dollars
just one week we spent about 400 dollars
just one week we spent about 400 dollars on food in a month that’s it’s right
on food in a month that’s it’s right
on food in a month that’s it’s right it’s really healthy in a month that’s
it’s really healthy in a month that’s
it’s really healthy in a month that’s $1,200 not to mention the cost of the
$1,200 not to mention the cost of the
$1,200 not to mention the cost of the boot camp so to make this positive
boot camp so to make this positive
boot camp so to make this positive health change it would cost a couple
health change it would cost a couple
health change it would cost a couple roughly fifteen hundred dollars a month
roughly fifteen hundred dollars a month
roughly fifteen hundred dollars a month now no matter who you are that’s a lot
now no matter who you are that’s a lot
now no matter who you are that’s a lot of money but the average family we serve
of money but the average family we serve
of money but the average family we serve has a monthly income of less than $1,200
has a monthly income of less than $1,200
has a monthly income of less than $1,200 and yet we mock and shame and shake our
and yet we mock and shame and shake our
and yet we mock and shame and shake our heads at the results of hunger well we
heads at the results of hunger well we
heads at the results of hunger well we spend twenty billion dollars a year on
spend twenty billion dollars a year on
spend twenty billion dollars a year on weight loss as a nation maybe it’s
weight loss as a nation maybe it’s
weight loss as a nation maybe it’s because we have to work so hard to lose
because we have to work so hard to lose
because we have to work so hard to lose a pound that we find it hard to feel bad
a pound that we find it hard to feel bad
a pound that we find it hard to feel bad about people facing hunger which
about people facing hunger which
about people facing hunger which candidly brings me to what we as an
candidly brings me to what we as an
candidly brings me to what we as an industry we’re doing wrong the fact that
industry we’re doing wrong the fact that
industry we’re doing wrong the fact that folks who are stretching a miniscule
folks who are stretching a miniscule
folks who are stretching a miniscule amount of money have to settle for
amount of money have to settle for
amount of money have to settle for purchasing cheap unhealthy food I can
purchasing cheap unhealthy food I can
purchasing cheap unhealthy food I can understand but food pantries
understand but food pantries
understand but food pantries traditionally have served food that is
traditionally have served food that is
traditionally have served food that is just as bad shelf-stable processed foods
just as bad shelf-stable processed foods
just as bad shelf-stable processed foods we’re talking shelves of instant ramen
we’re talking shelves of instant ramen
we’re talking shelves of instant ramen marshmallow fluff nuclear orange cheese
marshmallow fluff nuclear orange cheese
marshmallow fluff nuclear orange cheese puffs I wish I was kidding
puffs I wish I was kidding
puffs I wish I was kidding I wish I was kidding but that’s what I
I wish I was kidding but that’s what I
I wish I was kidding but that’s what I found when I came into the industry a
found when I came into the industry a
found when I came into the industry a few years ago when we decided that for
few years ago when we decided that for
few years ago when we decided that for the five days a month when we provide
the five days a month when we provide
the five days a month when we provide food for our clients we wanted to
food for our clients we wanted to
food for our clients we wanted to contribute to their lives and not their
contribute to their lives and not their
contribute to their lives and not their deaths we set reasonable nutritional
deaths we set reasonable nutritional
deaths we set reasonable nutritional guidelines we quadrupled the fresh food
guidelines we quadrupled the fresh food
guidelines we quadrupled the fresh food we served we created a free mobile
we served we created a free mobile
we served we created a free mobile farmers market to take produce into
farmers market to take produce into
farmers market to take produce into neighborhoods with low access and low
neighborhoods with low access and low
neighborhoods with low access and low income
we thought the community would come out
we thought the community would come out in droves to support this health is such
in droves to support this health is such
in droves to support this health is such a part of the conversation these days
a part of the conversation these days
a part of the conversation these days but aside from a few notable exceptions
but aside from a few notable exceptions
but aside from a few notable exceptions we were wrong in the same era when fat
we were wrong in the same era when fat
we were wrong in the same era when fat is the enemy we are also encouraged to
is the enemy we are also encouraged to
is the enemy we are also encouraged to believe that healthy delicious food is a
believe that healthy delicious food is a
believe that healthy delicious food is a luxury I get asked will they even know
luxury I get asked will they even know
luxury I get asked will they even know what to do with it do they even want
what to do with it do they even want
what to do with it do they even want healthy food isn’t that expensive first
healthy food isn’t that expensive first
healthy food isn’t that expensive first of all we all have the same internet and
of all we all have the same internet and
of all we all have the same internet and you can google an eggplant recipe just
you can google an eggplant recipe just
you can google an eggplant recipe just like I can and no the community didn’t
like I can and no the community didn’t
like I can and no the community didn’t rain down dollars and yes it was
rain down dollars and yes it was
rain down dollars and yes it was expensive but it’s making a difference I
expensive but it’s making a difference I
expensive but it’s making a difference I can see it’s exposing children to
can see it’s exposing children to
can see it’s exposing children to healthy food it’s filling nutritional
healthy food it’s filling nutritional
healthy food it’s filling nutritional gaps it’s creating cultural capital so
gaps it’s creating cultural capital so
gaps it’s creating cultural capital so that our clients and their families can
that our clients and their families can
that our clients and their families can know the way you or I do that we belong
know the way you or I do that we belong
know the way you or I do that we belong at a farmers market that we have a right
at a farmers market that we have a right
at a farmers market that we have a right to delicious fresh food and that we are
to delicious fresh food and that we are
to delicious fresh food and that we are worth caring for
now we’re working with the community
now we’re working with the community towards bringing exercise that’s
towards bringing exercise that’s
towards bringing exercise that’s accessible to folks who can’t afford the
accessible to folks who can’t afford the
accessible to folks who can’t afford the gym who feel outside the fitness culture
gym who feel outside the fitness culture
gym who feel outside the fitness culture we’re reading support groups for body
we’re reading support groups for body
we’re reading support groups for body acceptance and intuitive eating to
acceptance and intuitive eating to
acceptance and intuitive eating to places we’re carrying one for oneself
places we’re carrying one for oneself
places we’re carrying one for oneself has long been an out of reach luxury
has long been an out of reach luxury
has long been an out of reach luxury when we made that surprisingly
when we made that surprisingly
when we made that surprisingly controversial switch to fresher foods a
controversial switch to fresher foods a
controversial switch to fresher foods a few years ago we learned that our
few years ago we learned that our
few years ago we learned that our clients weren’t eating terrible food
clients weren’t eating terrible food
clients weren’t eating terrible food because that’s what they wanted but
because that’s what they wanted but
because that’s what they wanted but rather because that’s what we were
rather because that’s what we were
rather because that’s what we were offering cooking classes and education
offering cooking classes and education
offering cooking classes and education can help anyone develop a healthier
can help anyone develop a healthier
can help anyone develop a healthier relationship with food and themselves
relationship with food and themselves
relationship with food and themselves but healthy food wasn’t something we had
but healthy food wasn’t something we had
but healthy food wasn’t something we had to force on anyone our clients were
to force on anyone our clients were
to force on anyone our clients were literally starving for it all we had to
literally starving for it all we had to
literally starving for it all we had to do is make it available hunger doesn’t
do is make it available hunger doesn’t
do is make it available hunger doesn’t look like a stock photo fighting obesity
look like a stock photo fighting obesity
look like a stock photo fighting obesity is not the same as fighting hunger data
is not the same as fighting hunger data
is not the same as fighting hunger data isn’t reality it’s an important tool but
isn’t reality it’s an important tool but
isn’t reality it’s an important tool but there are things that we just know and
there are things that we just know and
there are things that we just know and you and I know that we need nutritious
you and I know that we need nutritious
you and I know that we need nutritious food to do our best thinking and
food to do our best thinking and
food to do our best thinking and learning and performing the food pantry
learning and performing the food pantry
learning and performing the food pantry in your local church school or that
in your local church school or that
in your local church school or that rundown business in the part of town you
rundown business in the part of town you
rundown business in the part of town you never visit is doing just that in the
never visit is doing just that in the
never visit is doing just that in the long run this thing we do facing hunger
long run this thing we do facing hunger
long run this thing we do facing hunger and the tedious day-to-day ways we do
and the tedious day-to-day ways we do
and the tedious day-to-day ways we do it’s making a difference in people’s
it’s making a difference in people’s
it’s making a difference in people’s lives it enables people to focus on the
lives it enables people to focus on the
lives it enables people to focus on the daily work of being human of learning of
daily work of being human of learning of
daily work of being human of learning of growing of improving their own lives of
growing of improving their own lives of
growing of improving their own lives of living out their golden years without
living out their golden years without
living out their golden years without the pangs of starvation health is a gift
the pangs of starvation health is a gift
the pangs of starvation health is a gift we may only be able to offer one grocery
we may only be able to offer one grocery
we may only be able to offer one grocery sack at a time but fortunately for us
sack at a time but fortunately for us
sack at a time but fortunately for us it’s a cumulative effort that creates an
it’s a cumulative effort that creates an
it’s a cumulative effort that creates an environment for health please also give
environment for health please also give
environment for health please also give your money to think tanks and
your money to think tanks and
your money to think tanks and initiatives that are working to solve
initiatives that are working to solve
initiatives that are working to solve world hunger run for office open a
world hunger run for office open a
world hunger run for office open a grocery store in a food desert I pray
grocery store in a food desert I pray
grocery store in a food desert I pray for the day when my job becomes obsolete
for the day when my job becomes obsolete
for the day when my job becomes obsolete but keep in mind that in a universe with
but keep in mind that in a universe with
but keep in mind that in a universe with world-class physicians and no emergency
world-class physicians and no emergency
world-class physicians and no emergency rooms people will die of bug bites and
rooms people will die of bug bites and
rooms people will die of bug bites and broken bones local food pantries are the
broken bones local food pantries are the
broken bones local food pantries are the emergency rooms of food security to
emergency rooms of food security to
emergency rooms of food security to truly eradicate hunger in America it
truly eradicate hunger in America it
truly eradicate hunger in America it will take nothing nothing less than
will take nothing nothing less than
will take nothing nothing less than systemic wholesale change but while
systemic wholesale change but while
systemic wholesale change but while people in white hats argue about numbers
people in white hats argue about numbers
people in white hats argue about numbers and initiatives and collaborative forces
and initiatives and collaborative forces
and initiatives and collaborative forces small food pantries have an important
small food pantries have an important
small food pantries have an important job to do
job to do
job to do we can’t stop treating the symptoms
we can’t stop treating the symptoms
we can’t stop treating the symptoms while we look for a cure but we can’t do
while we look for a cure but we can’t do
while we look for a cure but we can’t do it the way it’s always been done we must
it the way it’s always been done we must
it the way it’s always been done we must ignore the conventional wisdom that says
ignore the conventional wisdom that says
ignore the conventional wisdom that says we serve whatever is cheap and
we serve whatever is cheap and
we serve whatever is cheap and shelf-stable and never turn away a
shelf-stable and never turn away a
shelf-stable and never turn away a donation of food and provide food
donation of food and provide food
donation of food and provide food instead that we would feed our own
instead that we would feed our own
instead that we would feed our own families we must restore dignity by
families we must restore dignity by
families we must restore dignity by eliminating red tape and bureaucracy by
eliminating red tape and bureaucracy by
eliminating red tape and bureaucracy by allowing grassroots efforts to become
allowing grassroots efforts to become
allowing grassroots efforts to become entangled with our status quo by working
entangled with our status quo by working
entangled with our status quo by working on the assumption that our clients are
on the assumption that our clients are
on the assumption that our clients are intelligent to know how their to know
intelligent to know how their to know
intelligent to know how their to know how their bodies want to be fueled we
how their bodies want to be fueled we
how their bodies want to be fueled we must acknowledge that access matters
must acknowledge that access matters
must acknowledge that access matters then until grocery stores return to poor
then until grocery stores return to poor
then until grocery stores return to poor neighborhoods or convenience stores that
neighborhoods or convenience stores that
neighborhoods or convenience stores that accept EBT also sell vegetables that we
accept EBT also sell vegetables that we
accept EBT also sell vegetables that we must provide the access we must consider
must provide the access we must consider
must provide the access we must consider that our neighbors are thinking feeling
that our neighbors are thinking feeling
that our neighbors are thinking feeling spiritual beings whose needs for
spiritual beings whose needs for
spiritual beings whose needs for pleasure and joy and respect are as real
pleasure and joy and respect are as real
pleasure and joy and respect are as real as our own
as our own
as our own we must innovate ways to bring health at
we must innovate ways to bring health at
we must innovate ways to bring health at every size intuitive eating mindful
every size intuitive eating mindful
every size intuitive eating mindful movement and delicious nurturing food to
movement and delicious nurturing food to
movement and delicious nurturing food to our neighborhoods food insecurity
our neighborhoods food insecurity
our neighborhoods food insecurity affects 12 million people in America and
affects 12 million people in America and
affects 12 million people in America and that means that if you leave your house
that means that if you leave your house
that means that if you leave your house you look it in the face every single day
you look it in the face every single day
you look it in the face every single day it’s not some disembodied ethereal
it’s not some disembodied ethereal
it’s not some disembodied ethereal threat facing only sad-eyed children in
threat facing only sad-eyed children in
threat facing only sad-eyed children in remote villages it’s hiding in plain
remote villages it’s hiding in plain
remote villages it’s hiding in plain sight it looks like me it may look like
sight it looks like me it may look like
sight it looks like me it may look like you
you
you you can’t fat shame it into submission
you can’t fat shame it into submission
you can’t fat shame it into submission you can’t bootstrap it into compliance
you can’t bootstrap it into compliance
you can’t bootstrap it into compliance you can’t measure the breadth of its
you can’t measure the breadth of its
you can’t measure the breadth of its effects on your neighbors with a
effects on your neighbors with a
effects on your neighbors with a questionaire hunger isn’t a romantic
questionaire hunger isn’t a romantic
questionaire hunger isn’t a romantic notion it’s not a sexy cause it’s
notion it’s not a sexy cause it’s
notion it’s not a sexy cause it’s insidious and secretive urgent and
insidious and secretive urgent and
insidious and secretive urgent and persistent I am living proof that it
persistent I am living proof that it
persistent I am living proof that it doesn’t fit the narrative we’ve
doesn’t fit the narrative we’ve
doesn’t fit the narrative we’ve constructed we have to stop trying to
constructed we have to stop trying to
constructed we have to stop trying to define it in a way that makes it more
define it in a way that makes it more
define it in a way that makes it more palatable more solvable and do the hard
palatable more solvable and do the hard
palatable more solvable and do the hard things to mean it where it is because if
things to mean it where it is because if
things to mean it where it is because if while we play political and intellectual
while we play political and intellectual
while we play political and intellectual chess with solutions we abandon the
chess with solutions we abandon the
chess with solutions we abandon the urgent work at the frontlines we will
urgent work at the frontlines we will
urgent work at the frontlines we will sacrifice an entire generation to
sacrifice an entire generation to
sacrifice an entire generation to suffering in the process now give to
suffering in the process now give to
suffering in the process now give to your local food pantry
”
Be First to Comment