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Who Banks on Food Banks?
A recent study from Canada raises uncomfortable questions about who really benefits from poor people's reliance on food banks. Put Food in the Budget is a grassroots activist group working to hold the Ontario Government accountable on promises made-but not kept-to reduce poverty. Their broad goal is achieving social and economic justice for the growing numbers of poor people in the province.After hosting community conversations with food bank volunteers and participants, the group shared a four question survey:
- What does it feel like to go to a food bank?
- Why won't Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne set social assistance and minimum wage rates high enough that people don't have to go to food banks?
- Why don't corporations and other employers pay their employees enough so they don't need to go to food banks? (12% of those helped by food banks work, according to HungerCount 2014.)
- How do Premier Wynne and CEOs of major corporations benefit if people rely on food banks?
The report begins with an infographic that demonstrates the relative financial value of donations. It analyzes the data and includes compelling quotes from food bank stakeholders, concluding that the purpose of corporate charity campaigns is to distract us from the income inequality between the wealth of large corporations and most Canadians. The report is a must read for people interested in examining the role of donors in perpetuating hunger and poverty. Put Food in the Budget is starting campaigns to educate corporate donors. Read the full report here.
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How Hungry is America? Report
FRAC released their annual report, How Hungry is America? on food hardship. It reviews 2014 data for every state based on responses to the question: "Have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?" Important findings this year include:
- The economy is improving, but tens of millions of people are still struggling to afford the basics.
- There's not one state that is free from hunger.
- Such high food hardship rates are unacceptable, yet some in Congress continue to propose huge cuts to proven and effective programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school meals programs and other supports.
It's important to contact your elected officials. Tell your Members of Congress that you want them to solve hunger by strengthening our nation's safety net. Add your name to the Support SNAP petition.
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Our Hotline number has changed to 1-800-5-HUNGRY. Please update your records and find outreach materials here. |
Nourishing Change is meant to encourage conversation and dialogue about transforming communities, community food security and the emergency food system. We want to hear from you! Email us at nourish@whyhunger.org
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Nourish Network for the Right to Food
WhyHunger
505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2100
New York, New York 10018
212-629-8850
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Contributors: Betty Fermin and Jessica Powers.
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