Food Assistance
Needs
Hunger is one of the nations most serious and complex health problems. Chronic hunger and malnutrition take a heavy toll on childrens lives. Days missed from school, inattention in class, stunted growth, and frequent illness detract from the education of hungry children and jeopardize their future as productive citizens. Adults who are not adequately nourished are at risk of nutrition-related disease - which in turn reduces their ability to earn and increases the costs of health care. And older adults, who require the greatest amount of costly health care, could benefit mentally, emotionally, and physically from adequate intake of safe and nourishing food.
Concerns
Most low-income families must receive food assistance from several sources, relying on federal food assistance programs (such as food stamps or WIC) as well as local emergency food programs; 90% of low-income households with at least one child under the age of 12 use food pantries and soup kitchens and also participate in the School Lunch Program. Even with federal assistance and the work of charities and nonprofit organizations, last year nearly 20% of the requests for emergency food assistance went unmet.
Community Response
Every community addresses hunger needs in a variety of ways: church pantries, soup kitchens, food drives, etc. Creating a network of these agencies to work together can have tremendous impact on the community.
It is much easier and more efficient to establish a firm partnership with a local food bank or distributing agency that already has a regular clientele or recipients.
If you are thinking of setting up a soup kitchen or a food pantry, develop local partnerships. Contact the County Health Department regarding regulations. The local Extension Service educator can be helpful regarding food safety information and other nutrition information. Contact organizations that already have programs in place and learn from them what works the best.
Strategies
1. Businesses and Corporations
Many businesses and corporations have already joined the fight against hunger by forming coalitions with community-based food assistance programs. Food banks and food pantries need volunteers, office equipment, transportation, computer help, and organizational talent. Participation in food recovery benefits the company, its customers, its employees, and the community. It increases the business visibility, and the volunteer spirit spills over into the larger society to help build a more cohesive local community. In addition, a business or company can:
• Encourage, recognize, and reward employees and other individuals for volunteer service to the community.
• Increase employee awareness of local hunger and provide training to make employees more useful volunteers.
• Sponsor radio and television air time for community organizations that address hunger.
• Donate excess prepared and processed food from the employee cafeteria or from special events to local food recovery programs.
• Donate transportation, maintenance work, or computer service.
• Prepare legal information on donor considerations such as "Good Samaritan" laws and food safety and quality.
2. Food Service Professionals
• Organize a food drive and donate food to a local food bank or pantry.
• Donate excess prepared food from restaurants or catered events.
• Help organizations train their volunteers in safe food-handling practices.
3. Nonprofit Organizations
• Work independently or with existing organizations to assist ongoing food-recovery efforts.
• Support or develop a community or regional coalition against hunger.
• Develop a community financial fund to fight hunger.
• Plan tours of food recovery facilities or arrange for knowledgeable speakers to increase community awareness about hunger and poverty problems and about what people are doing to prevent them.
4. Youth Service Groups and Volunteer Organizations
• Work on their own or with existing organizations to assist ongoing food recovery efforts. Schools could compete with each other to see who brings in the most pounds of food.
• Organize essay, speech, drama, or art contests for school children to focus on a childs view of hunger and the consequences of hunger on children.
• Sponsor a community garden that gives a portion of the harvest to food banks, soup kitchens, and other food-recovery programs.
• Supply gardening tools, harvesting equipment, seeds, and fertilizer for local gardening and gleaning efforts.
• Provide food (casserole dinners, fresh fruit, and vegetables) on a scheduled basis to half-way houses and womens shelters.
5. Individual Citizens
• Volunteer at the food-recovery program closest to you.
• Attend food-safety training sessions so you are better prepared to volunteer in a soup kitchen or shelter.
• Suggest that organizations you belong to or businesse you work for sponsor food recovery programs.
• Join or form a community walk or run to benefit a food recovery program.
