Eating in Solidarity

Christians are in the middle of Lent, the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.  And for the parishioners of Central Avenue Church in Athens, last week was The Solidarity Challenge, a week-long call to eat no more than two dollars worth of food each day.  A flier sent out to Central’s members stated that The Solidarity Challenge is “As an act of solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the globe,” referring to half of the world’s population who lives on $2 a day or less.   Their diet for the week might consist of beans, rice, modest soups and tepid water.

In a letter to the Athens News,  Jordan Hermiller extended the challenge to the community, asking them to spurn consumerism and “create more” instead.  The church is encouraging the congregation to donate the food or money saved by the lean diet to a local organization.  Other churches have adopted similar “solidarity fasts” on behalf of the poor and hungry.  I skimmed Google and Google news to find out how common these week-long fasts are among churches, and Catholic parishes in particular seem to challenge the congregation to sacrifice together in order to alleviate hunger and poverty. 

Kelsey Naylor, an Ohio University student who attends Central Avenue Church, participated in the week-long Solidarity Challenge.  Her thoughts:

What motivated you to take part in the Solidarity Challenge?

I wanted to challenge myself, to see if I could really monitor my eating habits; and live through the experience of trying to function on an empty stomach.

Name a few examples of foods/meals you ate during the last week.

For lunch I usually ate a cup of rice with a piece of fruit or carrots, or a bowl of homemade soup with carrots, rice and corn (no meat)...I have also eaten one-two eggs with a piece of bread for a meal.

How was your experience overall?

This experience was a great test of self-control and reflection. It took self-control to be able to walk down Court Street and not eat from a restaurant, or snack on something in my apartment between meals. It also made me think about how other people living in this situation, particularly children, are able to function normally and focus on other parts of their lives, without letting the thought of hunger affect them.

What was the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge was not snacking between meals.

What did you learn? Will you do anything differently after this week?

I learned a little bit more about budgeting, and how much money I spend on food, particularly food that is merely a luxury (snacks, sauces, seasonings, etc). Even after just a week, I have noticed that I am not as eager to eat my next meal, but able to wait and eat what is available in my apartment. In other words, I don't feel the need so much to go out and spend money on food when I already have the ingredients right in front of me. 

“The goal — to change and be changed.”

-Jordan Hermiller, Athens News letter to the editor

PICK one week next month and try The Solidarity Challenge.

HEAR OTHERS share their experiences at Central Avenue’s Solidarity Challenge blog. 

The Plight of the Working Poor

working poor |ˈwərki ng pôr |

Those who have consistent work and fall above the national poverty guideline, but do not earn enough to afford a decent quality of life.  They often have low or minimum wage jobs that do not offer benefits and “little opportunity for advancement and economic security."

Dr. Anderson, assistant professor of sociology at Ohio University, specializes in low-wage work.  

She explained:

“[This group has] it very tough because they’re working, and they still just earn right above poverty level.  And they do not have the same access to social support services because they’re considered to be okay.  Our poverty line is set in a way that that particular group does not receive benefits but yet, they’re still not living a decent life.  And that’s the group that is growing.   That’s the group where the middle class is dropping down into the working poor group.  That’s causing the problems, and we’re realizing that something needs to happen with these people.”

Cost of Living in Athens County

According to the 2006 Poverty Report compiled by the Athens County Department of Job & Family Services. Based on annual averages. 

Rent  

-$5,628

Food  

-$3,422

Utilities  

-$2,640

Transportation  

-$1,604

Health Care (for a family) 

-$1,834

Full-Time Childcare (one child)

-$4,784

Total Cost of Living  

-$19,912

Annual Wage (Full-Time Minimum Wage Worker) 

$10,712

 -$9,200

Answers

Anderson said that “even a fifty cent raise” would help the working poor.  Some counter that this will lead to shortened hours and layoffs.  However, she does not believe that raising minimum wage will have the feared repercussions.  “If the business is doing well, hopefully they can pay the workers more and raise the minimum wage.”  Food pantries and other efforts solve momentary hunger, but “in terms of dealing with the systematic problem [of hunger—that] is only going to be alleviated by having good jobs that pay decent wages and offer good benefits.”

 

“One small thing happens and suddenly you can’t pay for food.”

Nick Claussen of the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services, summarizing the plight of the working poor.

LIKE the podcast? Read the full report. 

Housekeeping: Poor college students can make a difference

On March 2, Jeanna said:

"What a challenging concept, Taylor. I know I take my fully stocked refrigerator for granted, and I think a bit of fasting (especially during Lent) will help keep my "problems" in perspective. It's hard to imagine what true hunger looks like from my position of food security. 

What do you recommend people do, beyond sympathizing, to help those in need? Especially us college students who are financially challenged?"

Good question!  I’m not sure!  But I do have a few small-scale tips that I’ll recommend:

TAKE A WALK in someone else’s shoes and go to bed hungry.  Then raid your pantry and visit the nearest food bank.

You’re right – Lent is a perfect time (for those who celebrate it) to think about fasting.  Then take the $5 or the 2 cans you would have eaten and set them aside to donate.  It’s not much, but it will make your grumbling stomach more tolerable. 

GIVE OF YOUR TIME instead of your money.  

Offer to help pack boxes and bags at the Athens County Food Pantry, or to serve a meal at UCM on Thursday evenings or Saturday afternoons.  Drag your friends along, too.

WRITE A LETTER to someone. 

Whether it’s to the Athens News asking community members to donate food on your behalf (and on behalf of all your well-meaning but “financially challenged” peers), or to a local or state government official asking him/her to make food accessibility a priority, getting your opinion out there will make a difference.  And you’re a journalism major, Jeanna, so I know you could write a compelling petition :)

START A STUDENT ORG. because education and advocacy work! 

I’ve been thinking about this one recently.  We have student organizations dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in Africa and other parts of the world, but do we have any focusing on Appalachia?  As far as I know, no organization exists.  I am not trying to suggest that poverty in the United States is even comparable to poverty in Africa, but I still think that we as students should organize and advocate on behalf of our community, even if it is only ours for a few years. 

SPEAK UP if you have any more suggestions for Jeanna.

Housekeeping: Food waste

On March 1, jess meadows said:

“Terrific job Taylor, this post brought up both valid and disturbing points. Do you find it ironic that not only is the richest country seeing an increase in food pantry visits by the middle class but it is also the most wasteful country in the world?

I am a part-time server and can attest to the degree of waste we accumulate at restaurants alone. We throw out pounds of salad mix, cottage cheese, applesauce, bread and more every night. Not to mention a lot of food spoils. 

I feel like a program that would allow homeless and underprivileged individuals to take home or dine on this wasted food at the end of business hours could drastically reduce hunger. The government could give incentive with a tax break to restaurants who choose to participate.”

Jess, I was a server back in high school, and I completely agree - Lots of food is wasted in the restaurant industry, although grocery stores and dining halls are major culprits, too!  I am sure you have already heard about the attempts to cut back on food waste in the dining halls.  And then there’s of course the fancy new composting machine that is finally being put to use.  (Not that I am opposed to it; I think it’s a great idea.  It just took a little while for the university to get that project moving.)

Tax breaks to restaurants who donate would be great, but I think the problem begins even earlier, with liability and litigation.  A few years ago, a student started a program to donate leftover dining hall food at the end of each day.  Well all it took was one person to say they got sick and try to sue, and the program was shut down.  Many entities are too afraid of liability to give away food, and even food that is thrown away is protected – some lock their dumpsters and others (like the Kroger on East State St.) uses a compactor to make food inaccessible to dumpster divers. 

What we need are clear and articulated Good Samaritan laws so that people are protected, but companies can feel safe giving away leftover food.  But thank you for sharing your experience, and keep an eye out for my post on freeganism and dumpster diving :)  

For information on poverty and homelessness, visit jess meadow's blog.

Through the Looking Glass: My thoughts so far

This section got its name because this is where I will reflect on what I've learned so far (looking glass) and through this, learn to look beyond myself (through the looking glass). 

I have spent nearly three years in Athens, but it doesn’t feel like I’ve spent three years in Appalachia.  I love the quaint red brick and impressive Ping Center and oak trees and coffee shops and extroverted squirrels (wait no, I’m afraid of the squirrels).  But I am "comfortably numb," and oblivious to what’s going on outside of town.  

It’s ironic, really.  My specialization is in the social sciences, so I’ve taken a few extra courses in psychology and sociology.  And I’ve sat and learned about social injustice, structural inequality, Durkheim and Marx and Weber.  I’ve discussed and listened and grown impassioned by the injustice of it all.  I want to change the system and fix everything around me.  And there’s nothing wrong with academia.  But each and every time I left class, walked back to a nutritious dinner and a warm bed, and life went on as normal.

Cognitive dissonance, perhaps?

SPEAK UP and tell me why there is a disconnect between knowledge, passion and action.

 

Housekeeping: Food Insecurity

In this housekeeping post, I will address a few comments that have been made this past week.  A few of my responses will be posted in the comments box in direct response to that individual.  However, there are a few issues that I think should be addressed to everyone and these responses will be posted here.

On February 27, Joe B. said:

“I hope you provide a more clear definition of 'food insecurity.'”

Thanks for pointing that out!  I was using the term “food insecurity” based on the sources I was citing, and I had a general idea of what the term means, but you’re right – that is something I should define early on.

Simply put, as defined by the USDA

Food insecurity: the condition assessed in the food security survey and represented in USDA food security report is a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food

Hunger: an individual-level physiological condition that may result from food insecurity

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) made the distinction between food insecurity and hunger after recommendations from the Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) in 2006.  The language describing the severity of food insecurity was also renamed at this time.  The chart below provides a breakdown of the new and old terms.  I made this chart myself, but based it on the USDA’s Web site (eliminating the old labels because of size constraints).  I apologize for the format - the lines decided not to show up with the rest of the chart.  If I am able to fix this, I will repost it.

For more information, look at the USDA's website, which is listed in the new "useful links" section!

General categories	Detailed categories
	New label	Description of conditions in the household
Food security	High food security	No reported indications of food-access problems or limitations
	Marginal food security	One or two reported indications—typically of anxiety over food sufficiency or shortage of food in the house. Little or no indication of changes in diets or food intake
Food insecurity	Low food security	Reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake
	Very low food security	Reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake