thank you all for coming today and thanks to the university ......thank you all for coming today and...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
ThankyouallforcomingtodayandthankstotheUniversityofSouthernMaine FoodStudiesprogramforhavingmehere.IwillbesharingsomeinformationabouttheproblemofhungerinMaineandtheprogramsthatexisttocombatthisproblem.
1
![Page 2: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
ManyofyouhavealreadyheardthestatisticsofhungerinMaine– justover16%ofMaine householdsarefoodinsecurity,accordingto theU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture.This includes1in5children.Thisnumberhasbeenlargelyunchangedsince2010.Thisranksus9th inthecountryandthirdinthecountryforverylow foodsecurity.
OnlyAlabamaandLouisianahavehigherratesofverylowfoodsecurity.
Thesearemorethanjustsadstatistics, theyareshameful.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=84972http://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2015/overall/maine
2
![Page 3: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Asyoucansee,Maine’sfoodinsecurityrateiswellabovethenationalandNewEnglandaveragesandtrendinginthewrongdirection.FoodinsecurityinMainehasgrown20%since2008.
Theothertrend youcanseehereisthatacrosstheboard,we’restillatlevelsoffoodinsecurityhigherthanpre-recessionlevels.
3
![Page 4: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Who ishungryinMaine?Thesearestatisticsaboutpeopleaccessingservicesatfoodpantriesacrossthestate.
Arepeopleworking?Thosewhocanworkareworking,theyarejustworkinginthelowwagejobmarket.Manypeoplestringtogethermultipleparttimejobsthatdon’tofferbenefits.We’llhearmoreaboutthislater.
Source:https://www.gsfb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Food-Pantry-Report-2-6-171.pdf
4
![Page 5: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
WhydowehavehungerinMaine?Hungerisanincomeissue,peoplearehungrybecausetheydon’tearnenoughmoneytocovertheirbasicneeds.
Maine hashighratesofunder-employment. Thedeclineinunemploymentismaskingwhatisreallyhappening– peoplestringingtogether2,sometimes3part-timejobsinordertoworkatleast40hours.Oftenearningjustoverminimumwageandwithnobenefits.
Medianincomein2017was0.1%belowthe2007level,afteradjustingforinflation.
Thisisnotaboutfood– wethrowaway40%ofourfood– thisisaboutaccess
MainealsohasHighcostsofmanyinelasticexpenses:healthcare,utilities,housing,evenfoodprices inMainearehigherthanmostofthecountry.
Thisforces peopletomakeunthinkabledecisions
5
![Page 6: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
DoIheatmyhomeorbuyfood?DoIpayformymedicationorbuyfood?
Havingtomakeregulardecisionsliketheseputstoxicstressonpeoplelivinginpoverty.
6
![Page 7: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Beyondjusttheimmediateimpact,foodinsecurityisasignificanthealthcareandeducationissuethatcostsallofusmoneyandcontributestothecycleofpoverty.Hungerisnotjustasymptomofpoverty,itperpetuatesit.Ahungrychildcannotlearn;amalnourishedseniorcannotageinplacewithdignity,especiallywhentheycan’taffordtheirmedication;andaworkingparentwhohastoregularlychoosebetweenawarmhouseorawarmmealfacesdebilitatingtoxicstress.Aslongaswecontinuetoignoretheimpactthathungerhasonhealthandeducation,wewillneverbreakthecycleofpoverty.
7
![Page 8: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
TheFood StampProgramwascreatedinthe1960sandexpandedtobeanationwideprogramin1974.
NewresearchfromtheUrbanInstituteshowsthattheaveragelowcostmealinMaineiscloserto$3.00
In2014,Mainehadmorethan200,000enrolledinSNAP,soourrollshaveshrunkinthepastseveralyearsandthat’sdueinlargeparttoseveralpolicychangesthatweremadeatthestatelevel,imposingthingslikeassettestsandtimelimits.
35%offoodinsecureMainersactuallymaketoomuchtoqualifyforassistanceprogramslikeSNAP,buttheyarestillfoodinsecureandmustrelyonthecharitablehungerreliefnetwork.
Andsowhilethebenefitsdonotgofarenoughtocoverpeople’sfoodneeds,SNAPisanincrediblyimportantresourceforpeoplestrugglingwithfoodinsecurity.
Source:CenteronBudgetandPolicyPriorities
8
![Page 9: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
GoodShepherdFoodBank,asthefoodbankforthestateofMaine,servesasthegrocerystoretothehundredsofendinghungerpartnersacrossthestate.Throughournetwork,weprovideover24millionmealstoover178,000Mainerseveryyear.Ourjobistosourcelargevolumesoffoodfromretailers,wholesalers,farmers,andmanufacturers.Mostofit’sdonatedandthenwemakethatfoodavailabletoendinghungerorganizationswhoaremembersofthefoodbank.Soourpartnersarefoodpantries,communitymealprograms,homelessshelters,andafter-schoolandothercommunityprogramsthatservelowincomeMainers.
Whilethesecharitable foodprogramsaresoimportant,it’salsoimportanttotalkabouthowmuchbiggertheSNAPprogramisincomparison.Forevery1mealprovidedbyfoodbanksandpantriesinthiscountry,SNAPprovides12.
9
![Page 10: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Somewhere around15%ofourstate’spopulationislookingtothecharitablehungerreliefnetworkasaregularsourceoffood.Thenetworkisbuiltarounddonatedfood,volunteers,andfinancialdonations.WhilethesegenerouseffortsarecrucialtomakingsureMainershaveaccesstoadequatefoodandthissystemalsogreatlyreducesfoodwaste,wehavebuiltanentiresecondaryfoodsystembasedoncharitytofeedpeopleexperiencingpoverty,includingsomeofthemostvulnerableamongus.Charityvs.justice.
10
![Page 11: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Weknowwemustdomore.Theproblemofhungerisgrowingandchanging.Inadditiontothegrowingimportanceofnutrition,wehavealsoseenatransitionfromourworkasthe“emergencyfoodsystem”,whichiswhatwehistoricallyhavebeencalled.Over80%ofthepeopleweservegotothefoodpantryatleastonceamonth.Thisisnotemergencyrelief,thisischronicandpersistenthunger.Andweareincreasinglyseeingpeoplewhoareworkingandyetstillnotabletoaffordtoputamealontheirtable.
Giventhesetrendswerecognize:Treatingthesymptomsofhungerisnotenough.Wehavebeendoingthisworkfor35yearsandtheproblemistheworstit’severbeen– wearenotgoingtofoodbankourwayoutofthis.Atleastnotifwekeepdoingthingsthesameway.Becausewearenowaregularsourceoffoodforthepeopleweserve,Foodbankscanbeapowerfulpreventativehealthcaretoolforlow-incomepopulations.Andbecausepeopleprioritizefoodaccess,wehaveregularcontactwithlowincomefamilies.Wecanuseourworktoconnectthesefamilieswithother
11
![Page 12: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
resourcesthatcanhelpthemstabilizetheirlivesandfindapathwayoutofpoverty.
11
![Page 13: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
• Soinadditiontochangingthekindoffoodwedistribute,we’vealsobeenchanginghow wedistributefoodandincreasinglyarecollaboratingwithorganizationsthatareservingthesamepopulation.
• Fortoolongfoodpantrieswereoperatinginsilosanddisconnectedfromotherorganizationsthatservethesamepeople.
• Peoplelivinginthecrisisofpovertyprioritizefoodbecausetheymust,it’safundamentalneed.However,theyoftenarenotabletoprioritizeotherresourcesthatcanhelpthembuildresiliencysuchasdiseasemanagement,jobtraining,orothereducationalopportunities.
• So,ifwecombinefoodaccesswithotherresources,thenwecanmakeiteasierforthepeopleweservetobenefitfromtheseprograms.
So,ifwecombinefoodaccesswithothercommunityresources,thenwecanmakeiteasierforthepeopleweservetobenefitfromtheseprograms.Anexampleofthisisourschoolprogramswherewe’velearnedthatputtingafoodpantryinaschoolimprovestherelationshipbetweeneducatorsandparentsandcreatesopportunityforparentstobemoreengagedintheirchild’sschoolcommunity.Similarly,manyofourpartnersareafter-schoolprogramsliketheGameLoft inBelfastandMyPlaceTeenCenterinWestbrook.Theseprogramsareliterallysavingsthelivesofsomeofourmostat-riskyouth.DonnaDwyer,thedirectorofMyPlaceTeen
12
![Page 14: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Centersharedwithmethatformanyofthesekids,theydon’ttrustadultsandit’shardtogetthemtoattendtheprogram.Butwhatwillgettheminthedoorwillbethefood.Andafterafewmeals,thewallsstarttocomedownandDonna’sstaffcanstartsavingthesekids.Andournewestcollaborationiswithhealthcarecenterswhereweareworkingtointegratehealthcarewithfoodaccessforlow-incomeMainerswiththegoaltoimprovehealthoutcomesandlimittheeffectsoffoodinsecurityasacontributortochronicdisease.
12
![Page 15: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
MaptheMealGap:http://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2015/overall/maine
13
![Page 16: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Butwealsorecognizethatwedon’tjustwanttomeettheneedtoday,wemustfindpathwaystoamorefoodsecurefuturesowealsodecreasetheneedtomorrow.AsImentionedearlier,foodinsecurityisnotaboutfood– wehaveenoughfoodtofeedeveryone– it’saboutaccess.Weneedtogrowoureconomytogetmorepeopleworkingandearningalivingwage.Fromourcollaborativeworkwithschoolsandhealthcarefacilities,we’velearnedthepowerfulleveragethatwehavesimplybecauseofourscopeandscale.Sowhatifweusedthisscaletohaveourworkserveasaneconomiccatalystforourstate?
14
![Page 17: Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University ......Thank you all for coming today and thanks to the University of Southern MaineFood Studies program for having me here](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062611/6126773260803a231925cc17/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
15