Second Harvest Heartland’s Post

Labeling a hunger relief programs as “stigma-free” is a disservice to the client, staff, and volunteers. We need to acknowledge that misconceptions, assumptions, and judgment exist even in people with the best intentions. While stima reduction should be a top priority, it is a continual work in progress and must be evaluated daily. It is never final! We cannot control the internal and external shame people experience. And we should NEVER assume our programs eliminate it. Let's work together to create a more inclusive and compassionate food system that understands the realities of hunger. #FoodDignity #InclusiveFoodSystem #FoodDignityBook

I live in Arlington, Virginia. It’s a place that's rich in diversity, food, and greenery. It’s also affected by food insecurity, with more than 23,000 people (nearly 10% of the population) not having access to enough food for an active, healthy life. These are just some of the eye-opening facts released this week as part of Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap Study (https://lnkd.in/ep7JimvB) —an annual, comprehensive view of how food insecurity varies across the U.S. As the only national study to provide county-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs, this study is a powerful tool for all of us to use to better understand hunger in our communities. It shows that food insecurity exists in every county, parish and congressional district in this nation, but it isn’t experienced equally. Food insecurity levels vary across regions, influenced by factors like unemployment and poverty rates as well as policies and practices rooted in history that continue to hold people back today. I encourage you to learn about the impact of hunger in your community. Spark conversations around the systemic factors that drive food insecurity then join the movement to end hunger (https://lnkd.in/enR6y7VC). Help us create a future where we all have access to the food and resources we need to thrive. #EndHunger

I just returned from the California Association of Food Banks Food ACCESS Conference in Sacramento. It was a full two days of taking in information, learning from my peers, and gaining inspiration to continue the work we do at Feeding San Diego. My top takeaways include: 🍓 Hunger relief organizations shouldn't just focus on hunger relief. We need to focus on the root causes of hunger alongside hunger relief. This includes affordable housing, income and safety net, and environmental justice, to name a few. 🍉 Having a regular cadence of events with elected officials, partners, institutional funders, etc. is a must. The events can be held for a number of reasons: to present research/new data, host a panel discussion, keynote speaker, to recognize stakeholders with awards, premiere a video, networking, etc. It will go a long way with relationship building. 🍍 Disaster relief remains incredibly important, especially as climate change continues to impact our state. We heard from food banks across California who regularly step up for their communities when the inevitable disaster hits. This takes massive collaboration between the entire org both internally and externally, working during "blue sky times" to set up plans for times of disaster. Anything else? Leticia Rodriguez Ali Colbran Kate Garrett #hungerrelief #conference #endhunger

Hunger Action Month 2023. I know my mother, when my brother and I were kids, went hungry so we could have something to eat. Let's not let another mother and child go hungry! Facts about hunger in America North Carolina has the 10th highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. According to the USDA, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure.  The pandemic has increased food insecurity among families with children and communities of color, who already faced hunger at much higher rates before the pandemic. Every community in the country is home to families who face hunger. But rural communities are especially hard hit by hunger. Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and visit their local food banks and other food programs for extra support. Hunger in African American, Latino, and  Native American communities is higher because of systemic racial injustice. To achieve a hunger-free America, we must address the root causes of hunger and structural and systemic inequities.

Today we're sharing our last #MDUResourcesFoundation grant recipient of the year, the Oregon Food Bank! The Oregon Food Bank's mission is to eliminate hunger and its root causes… because no one should be hungry. They cannot eliminate hunger without eliminating the root causes of hunger. That’s why they work across systems to achieve their mission, and why they center racial and social justice in everything they do. Every day, they work to: — Provide access to nutritious food for all. — Build community power to eliminate hunger and its root causes for good. — Work across systems and within our network. Hunger is not just an empty stomach or an individual experience. Hunger is a community wide symptom of exclusion, of not having enough – not having enough nutritious food, enough income, enough power, enough represented voice. Hunger is a symptom of barriers to employment, education, housing and healthcare. We all experience the effects of hunger in our communities. But together we can build communities that never go hungry. We can build communities where every voice matters. We can build communities that share responsibility for each other and the common good. Because, when we share prosperity, we all benefit. To achieve this bold vision, Oregon Food Bank will foster community connections to help people access nutritious food today, and we will build community power to eliminate the root causes of hunger, for good. Thank you for your work in our community, Oregon Food Bank! We are proud to be able to help ensure your mission is fulfilled. #OEGPowerOn

Who is experiencing hunger? Food insecurity has become a part of the lived experience for far too many people in Central Florida. It’s not an individual problem, and there is no single cause. Hunger is touching all of us, and we can’t turn away from it. What is the solution? It is us — all of us. Together, we can take on the growing challenge of hunger and ensure everyone has access to the nourishment they need to thrive. $10 = 40 meals at https://lnkd.in/eFpS5Bah.

While this picture may seem like 15 cases of apples to most, it represents something much bigger than any one of us. At Food Dignity, we invest in our local community by purchasing the surplus apples from Heller's Orchard to distribute to underserved communities in need of fresh produce. Rather than asking for free apples, we inquire about farmers' biggest risks of crop loss to prevent it and increase their profits. Our model acts as a risk buffer, taking a proactive approach to hunger relief. 🍎🍎🍎 Unlike traditional practices, our food doesn't travel thousands of miles. It goes directly from small local farms to small local nonprofits, served the same day it's harvested during the growing season. 🥬🥬🥬 By supporting our network of 43 Pennsylvania farmers, we create new markets and a food supply chain focused on equity, sustainability, systems thinking, and dignity. Food Dignity is revolutionizing hunger relief without the need for warehouses or extensive logistics. 👩🌾👩🌾👩🌾 #FoodDignity

Did you know that 1 in 5 Californians don't have enough to eat? To fight hunger, CA supports food recovery programs to make sure over 242 million surplus meals go to people in need. Learn more: https://ow.ly/3Tqv50Q7yjS #NationalHungerAndHomelessAwarenessWeek

This is a real model that speaks to what so many have spoken about: Buy American, buy local, ensure food is fresh, helps local economy, helps direct service providers, AND does not waste food or money. This is a national model that works, come join us!!! #fooddignity #farmersmatter #localmatters #pantriesmatter

📰 My article about the pressing issue of food insecurity in New York State is now available in 'Your Schenectady news. It's crucial that we come together to combat this growing crisis and ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. Read the full article to learn about the initiatives I’m advocating for in this year's state budget and how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/dwAQSMqs Let's make a difference together! 🌟 #FoodInsecurity #CommunityAction #YourSchenectadyNews