On Weds afternoon, while flying home from another trip to D.C., I teamed up with a group of amazing women on Instagram to make the post embedded below, if you’re on Instagram I highly recommend following all of us. We are sharing this same content here for those of you who prefer this medium.
Many followers are constantly asking us “what can we even do”. Well, this is list of tangible things you can do, at different levels of time and financial investment, to help feed your community.
Please consider sharing and doing what you can. Because worrying about how you’re going to feed yourself or your kids is something no one should have to experience. Unfortunately, it is an all too common concern in the United States and around the globe.
Hunger will be getting worse.
The USDA notified states that starting Nov 1 people who rely on SNAP benefits will not receive them because of the government shutdown. This is estimated to impact about 40 million Americans if emergency funds aren’t released or the government fails to re-open.
This means more people are going to be more hungry than typical.
Food access is a public health issue. Children who experience food insecurity are more likely to develop chronic conditions like asthma and anemia. Adults in food-insecure households face higher risk of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. You don’t care about making America healthy if you’re taking away food access.
Liz has been the child worried about where the food for tomorrow would come from. Very few people helped her family. But those who did changed her life. You can be those people for other families.
Now is the time to take our anger and frustration and channel it into helping our communities where and how we can.
Here are some ways you can help your community regardless of your income level.
Donate money to your local food pantry. Even a few dollars adds up. Donate food if that’s easier. But food pantries know how to stretch their donated dollars. Please also check with them about what they actually need.
Organize a food drive at your work, school, or other community location. But connect to your local pantry to find out what food items they need and can accept.
Make a meal and drop it off to a family you know is in need.
Ask your child’s school if you can drop off extra snacks for them to distribute.
Volunteer to cook for/at a local community meal.
Call your representatives and tell them you need them to act on healthcare and food access. The government isn’t reopening because Republicans are not willing to discuss preserving healthcare access. Food AND healthcare should be part of our basic human rights. Text SIGN PKJTCO to 50409 to send an email to your representatives.
Cultivate a long-term habit of caring for your community
Food insecurity will continue to get worse with the policies this administration is enacting. We can take care of each other. Consider ways you can continue to support your community long term, not just as a one off.
Become a regular volunteer or donor to local food pantry.
Become a part of a local buyers co-op.
Support local community farms.
Budget your money to give some of it to support feeding others.
and more…
Do you need help?
If you and your family need help with food access, below are resources to help you find options in your local community.
What other ideas do you have? How will you help your community? Let us know in the comments.
Additional contributors to this post are not on Substack but are great follows on Instagram: Brit Koch and Dr. Taylor Arnold
