May 30 – Food Insecurity in America
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The statistics for this country indicates that 2 out of 3 Americans are overweight or obese. Obviously, we didn’t get to this point with lack of food.
However, there’s yet another horrifying statistics on the opposite end of food chain:
In most states 1 in 6 American kids is “food insecure” – their parents don’t know where their next meal is coming from
Eating less is not a weight loss strategy for many. It is survival – saving the food you would eat so your children can eat.
The effects of malnutrition lead to the irreversible changes in child’s life for the rest of her or his life!
Just think about it. A child not receiving enough food grows up with all kinds of health challenges, behavioral challenges, and being put on the verge of the “outcast” when it comes to the opportunities this country may present in life. ALL DUE TO NOT ENOUGH FOOD WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE.
I would like to bring this issue up as a reminder and a step forward in our support of the programs that help families to grow their kids with more nutrition for the sake of their future. For the sake of OUR future as a country.
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• DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO NEEDS FOOD ON THE REGULAR BASIS? WHO USES FOOD BANKS, STAMPS? HOW DO YOU RELATE TO THIS SITUATION?
Good morning…I know lots of people who are getting food stamps
Good morning everyone… Yes, I know several people who use food banks and food stamps, us included in this… We were off Food Stamps for over a year and now have had to apply again since my husband is unemployed and the doctors don’t want him working.. What else is there to do? 🙁
We did for a while too..my husband is unemployed now too, has been for the past 2 months. .luckily his step dad owns a pest control business and he has been helping out there. I do get WIC for my 3yo twins..and it helps a lot
Yeah, my husband lost his job in April and it’s been a struggle for us but we’re managing
We are very fortunate to have his mom and step dad in times like these
WIC is a good thing because I think health department gives it out and the kids get a free exam also when you get it. It has been years since I had mine.
WIC is good… I know many moms who use it
Good morning all. I am actually one who uses food bank and food stamps etc.
good morning wow I just found you all I have missed this for a couple days now and yes I know a few ppl who could use this
Welcome back 🙂
Haha, this is what I get for being on mobile and not knowing the date. I just went through all of yesterday s and comment ed.
Good Morning! Glad I could join today … no work! YEAH! Fortunately, I don’t know of anyone is such a dire situation that they need food stamps. I do, however, see some people using them when at the grocery store.
Hello 🙂 There are plenty of people here in Flint, Michigan that fall under poverty level. I can relate for sure.
Hi everyone! I know a lot of people that need food. We live in an area where we see a lot of homeless people and people in extreme poverty. My own family has had to use food banks. We’d map it out throughout the year so we could go to one about every other months or so (they had yearly limits). We’ve also had to wait in long lines for hours to get a brown paper bag of food weekly from Salvation Army. We were so excited and thrilled with what they would give us. That was before my son was born. When we found out I was pregnant we decided to go on food stamps as my fiances income could feed the 2 of us but not the 3 of us in a healthy aspect. We are very grateful for the assistance and hopefully my fiance can somehow find a job with higher pay so we don’t need EBT anymore.
Katrina,
Thank you for sharing this personal story of yours with us all.
There NOTHING to be ashamed of to use Food Bank or Food Stamps.
There are circumstances, like not enough pay, to cover expenses. And many other, of course.
I am first-hand familiar with how medical expenses can easily make you send to a well-to-do space of living to something like struggling. It’s another story to share.
The assistance to our families, children, and elderly has become a hugely debated political issue. That is what so SHAMEFUL.
IT IS PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING AND/OR GROWING WITH HEALTH ISSUES DUE TO FOOD SHORTAGES.
Yes I’ve known people who use food stamps or go to food banks. We donate whenever possible.
Good day, I’m late I was at my daughter’s kinder graduation.
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For many losign weight is the problem. And it is true: due to many factors, people gain weight and have a hard time to shed extra pounds off. Extra pounds convert into many chronic diseases that many deal on the daily basis.
There’s another side of the equation.
For many, Eating less is not a weight loss strategy – it is not an option. It is brutal reality.
It is survival – saving the food you would eat so your children can eat.
Please go to this post and check out the story of Ramona and her weight gain battle due to quite a different reason – not having enough to eat.
My mother would not eat much when me and my sister were younger. No wonder her weight fluctuated so much. Makes you think.
It’s very close to heart.. Our food bank isn’t setup where we can “shop” and pick out our foods.. They have workers that do that for you.. which I think it kinda lame… often we end up with food we can’t eat b/c of food allergies or have no idea how to prepare or can’t prepare b/c we lack other ingredients. Then there are the times we’ve gone and end up with 8 bags of green onions and 5 bags of collards… This doesn’t help..
I get frustrated with friends who HAVE the ability to eat and go out to eat but rather starve themselves to “lose weight”..
Our food banks are the same. You get what they give you. A lot of the time we just donate a good amount of it back because it’s things we cannot eat. And when they OVER give (like with the onions) it’s counter productive. How would you eat all that? We were excited to get a big box of asparagus one time only for it to be already rotten. Frustrating. They try but could go about it a bit better.
It is true about a lot of the food at the food banks are high in starch and sugar. Now though here anyway they give you some real fruits and veggies. You sometimes can get a frozen meat and eggs too.
With my wic I get vouchers to the farmers market for july and Aug
I must say as moms we do let our children eat first and this makes scence to me I used wic for my grandson it was great to have it for hime and he is a real healthy eater
I know the farmers market here used to take food stamps or EBT card but I don’t know if they do anymore.
I never tried to use my ebt at the farmers market when I had it..the ones who take wic will have a sign on their table saying they do
I wonder if our farmer’s markets would take the EBT
I would love to use EBT or WIC at the Farmers Market! Awesome idea!
My weight issues came about when I started eating my kid’s leftovers along with my healthy meal portion. I hate to waste.
Our local food bank works closely with the local farmer’s market to help. Various city events charge a can of food to be donated to the food bank also. I donate regularly, both $ and time. It takes a village to raise a family!
Good story but I like to point out all kinds of families faces this. Times are tough for alot more people than mainstream thinks.
Katrina,
Quite agree with you on that one!
Almost every family has their own struggles.
It’s just impossible to cover every single issue with one post.
Doing one post at a time, sweetie.
NB: The paradox is that a Middle Income Family is at times in more need than anybody else —> due to their inability to Qualify for help and support, as their income is over Poverty Level.
But these families need as much help as anybody else.
Thank you for your caring here.
Love your idea about personal gardening and growing things for ourselves.
We grew in that environment, but many now do not even know where apples come from! From the store, they say.
Makes you really think. I’m not sure how food banks here are set up. I try to donate when they have food drives. I know with the economy it’s rough for alot of people.
This is WHY we MUST make an effort to make sure that EVERY child in this country has enough food from the early stages of development! If that DOES NOT HAPPEN —>
Childhood malnutrition has long lasting effects –> IN HEALTH, IN ACADAMICS, IN RELATIONSHIPS.
Basically, we are raising people for our society to take care of for the rest of their lives in this or that way: More healthcare money, more assistance funds, more of everything to keep their lives going on.
HUGE MORAL QUESTION: WHY DON’T WE DO THE ELEMENTARY THINGS FROM THE BEGINNING, LIKE MAKING SURE THAT FOOD IS ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY OF WEALTH?
YOUR THOUGHTS, PLEASE, HOW AND WHY WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS WAY OF THINKING AND DOING.
First of all, we are in a society of waste and greed. There’s such an availability of foods now that families are extremely wasteful. People no longer purchase what they need but they purchase what the “might” need and so often that food spoils… then there are those who cook or prepare a lot of foods and then dump it in the trash vs saving leftovers.
We are struggling with finances and food… but we still managed to donate over 8 full bags of food to a local food bank.. we held a food drive at our house with friends and participated in the Outnumber Hunger campaign. It was a great success!
Grocery stores need to be less wasteful as well. My husband worked for 2 giant grocery stores in the past 3 years and worked in Produce Department. He watched them toss out so much food it made him sick. Nothing was WRONG with most of it.. a lot of it was just too much stock!! So instead of donating the food or letting employees take some home, they went in the dumpsters.
oh Angle so true wasting food that can help others
I have to agree Angel.
We used to be very wasteful when we were first married and my husband was in the airforce..we would just go and buy whatever and if it went bad we just toss it. After having kids and money problems it didnt take long for us to learn..now I make list and use coupons. I always make a little extra for leftovers the next day.
My husband also worked at a grocery store in high school and said they would through out perfectly good food
Yeah, I really wish grocery stores would step up more and just donate their extras or soon-to-be-old foods..
Some of them do around here which is very nice. We are seeing more and more of this happening which is a good thing.
This is a tough one to answer. There is a lot of people out there that sometimes forget were they came from like rag to riches. Another never knew what it was like to have nothing so they don’t see a problem. There is always different reasons people are poor or they can’t work. They don’t always want to just live off the government like a lot of people ASSUME. May be a lot of people are assuming to much about others or judging them.
I knoiw when we grow our garden here and we have more food then we need we donate it all I don’t believe in wasting it I want some one to benifite from it and its good food to so if we know of ppl in need we give it to them no question asked
I don’t assume anything about people and their circumstances b/c I know what it feels like.. heck even in this topic here… WE get SNAP and go to the food bank once a month… yet we donate food and go out to eat… people think it’s hypocritical… when in truth… we’re donating back the foods we can’t eat vs allowing them to go to waste and… we go out to eat on FREE gift cards I win from sweeps.. lol .. 🙂 So yeah, I know how it feels to be judged
Well said Angel. That is one reason I started the sweeps.
Me too Rebecca. .
It boggles my mind that the US will overextend themselves to aid foreign countries, but when it comes to helping the needy in our own country there are so many pieces of red tape that they are lost in the shuffle. Why is that? I can’t for the life of me understand that.
I dont understand either
USA! Buy local, keep it close to home & take care of each other. Is that so hard to ask?
Things are so twisted nowadays. People don’t even know how to farm or grow there own food. If everyone had a small garden you’d save tons of money and eat a heck of a lot healthier. Also the country is so money hungry they would rather make millions than redirect that money into food education or local community farms, ect. We live in a world were it’s dog eats dog. Nobody cares about their neighbor.
I know our schools have a program during summer that gives kids breakfast and dinner. Which is great, I read a article that said some kids only meals are at school.
Five Shocking Statistics About Hunger: Jilly Stephens
1. According to the USDA, 50 million people, or 16.6% of Americans, live in households at risk of hunger.
2. The Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, now puts food on the table for one in seven Americans. A family of three (one adult, two kids) earning over $23,900 would not be eligible for food stamps.
3. In most areas of New York City, a family of three (one adult, two kids) would need to earn over $60,000 to basic needs like rent, medical care and food.
4. One in eight Americans rely on City Harvest or a similar program for food and groceries.
5. City Harvest helps over 300,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal each week.
It’s really tragic there are people needing food in our states and we see TV shows like Hell’s Kitchen where they waste thousands of dollars a DAY on trying to please the head chef.
I so agree. My daughter was on that show and she saw a tremendous amount of waste.
It is sad how many people are struggling but yet trying so hard to keep a float.
yes I to agree they base it on income but bills come first and with the way gas prices are its so crazy you don’t know the situation a person is in a lot of ppl are struggling
I can’t afford to get my car fixed so I have to pay for rides and sometimes that can be more expensive.
Yes it is Angel, I know a few ppl who take advantage of the system and go to food banks who dont need the food or who sell their food stamps..it is so frustrating when there are ppl out there that really need the help and cant get it because of ppl like that
and that’s so sad that they do this sell them not good
Yeah, we are still waiting for our approval or denial and it’s been 2 weeks..
I hope you get approved soon..I am thinking about calling my self
Red tape they call it Angel. You get to get through all the red tape. We always had the saying in the Army “Hurry up and wait”.
Dont I know it Rebecca. .everything takes forever in the military. .my husband was in the airforce and you would have to wait so long for the simplest of things
I’m disabled and it took me over a YEAR to be approved……. what happened to common sense? I mean… I’m in a wheelchair, one leg, missing arms… WTH?
We have a local food bank in our area and there is a tremendous need. Restaurants should donate unused food instead of throwing it out.
I never understood throwing out perfectly good food..I worked at Arby’s when I was in high school and they would just throw fine food out at night
Maybe I am a optimist, but every day is a bit better for you, me and the world. Put on a smile & play it forward!
If we made 23k a year it’d feel like we were kings! When you grow up never having extra you get used to it. We live off of 16k a year. It’s tough but doable. We cut out whats not needed. My one luxury is the internet. No cell phone, the last pair of shoes I bought was 2 years ago. We’d rather pay rent, bills and eat than live the big life.
This is so sad, when there is so much food wasted daily around the world.
WITNESSES TO HUNGER is A PROJECT about the participation and action of those who know firsthand the experience of raising a child on a limited income.
“All too often, policies and programs are created without the participation of the people who are most affected. The true experts on maternal and child health and poverty are the mothers of young children. These moms focus their lenses on their children, on their neighborhoods, on their daily grinds at work and on welfare. They are teachers with valuable lessons to impart. Each of us is invited to look and listen for their guidance.”
CHECK OUT THEIR STORIES, BE INSPIRED AND REMINDED, SO YOU, TOO, CAN MAKE A CHANGE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
I am always going to do my part to make a difference somewhere, somehow… we need to BE the change we want to see!
I have a couple friends on food stamps who are working and it is like a little group because we all help each other when needed by cooking meals for everyone etc. People who don’t think there is a problem need to be put in others shoes for a month to see the struggles other face.
I to help out family members who struggle by offering any thing we have more than we need and give it to them I was raised on food stamps and as a child of 6 it was hard
It is a good thing to do because it makes you feel good along with them feeling good. Sometimes you have to let go of your pride for your children.
We always had family showing up when we were younger at supper..it was annoying to my them bc we would have to eat less. My mom was always the to eat.
The OB/GYN docs and pediatricians should promote those programs. Get the moms involved in understanding the programs out there before they are experiencing the panic of need!
Carol,
It would be so cook, if every OB/GYN office could do it!
A difference in local communities right there!
I would be in the group that needs “help”. The thing is people need to be more proactive and try to help themselves first. If you need programs seek them out. You can’t sit around and wait for it to find you. So often I see families doing this. Word of mouth. Tell your neighbor. Help eachother out.
One more Statistic: During the past few years with our economy collapsing in many areas, the number of kids who do not have enough food daily DOUBLED!
If you would like to help feed a family through challenging times, donate to your local food bank
Our news station always helps with this when there is a food pantry or food bank low on food. They announce it so people will donate more. The different kids groups/ clubs also hold door to door collections every so often.
and it really makes me wonder sometimes because I SEE a lot of the collected foods donated like when my dad was a Postal Worker… I volunteered to help sort the stuff.. but when you’re AT the food bank, the food you receive is of MUCH lower quality… I also know that food banks will always have a few bad volunteers who like to keep stuff for themselves.
Oh yah I have seen it at the food bank with the volunteers also.
That is so sad
What is sadder is there have been fist fights at the food bank because I have seen two myself. It both times was because of cutting in line.
Wow that is crazyness
I know and they still let the guys go through.
Yes, we’ve witnessed that before as well ….. people go crazy when they’re basic needs are threatened
I do this every summer at harvest time we give it all to our food back and family
Our church has a program called FUEL. We collect food for kids to take home for weekends so they have food to eat when they arent in school
That’s cool 🙂
That is an awesome thing you are all doing. Kodos to you all.
Our church collects food stuff for the bank every week. Most organizations only seem to do it around Thanksgiving time. There is a need all year long.
Yeah, people forget the other days of the year we all need to eat… lol, we’re not bears!
I need to go through my cabinet and donate they stuff we arent going to eat that others might…I have a ton of beans bag and can from wic
Maybe I should start a collection in our neighborhood, I’m sure we all know someone who is struggling. We could donate the food personally.
And donate to the smaller places too!! Lots of small churches will have their own neighborhood food banks setup. 🙂
That is so great when our local organizations step in and do it on the REGULAR BASIS. It DOES make a difference.
Absolutely! You don’t only get hungry at Thanksgiving!
Good morning glad I’m off work to join in 🙂 yes I know friends and family who use food banks and good stamps when they need them. No one should go hungry kids or adults and I remember plenty of times I wouldn’t eat so my kids were fed when they were younger
I am considered “poor” and I still do what I can to help out. We donate food. A little bit goes a long way. Esp when I coupon and can get extra for less. Sharing is caring.
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