City Harvest’s Post

This Thanksgiving season, Robin Hood and Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University’s annual Food Poverty Tracker Spotlight Report reveals stark truths about food hardship in New York City: 🔹 1 in 3 adult New Yorkers and 44% of families with children faced food hardship in 2023. 🔹 1 in 3 New Yorkers used a food pantry post-pandemic, with 2 in 3 pantry users being working adults. This report, presented at a press event, hosted by City Harvest and its food distribution partner Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, underscores the vital role food pantries play in NYC. As our city grapples with economic strains, food pantries have evolved into essential support systems, enabling families to stay fed. It’s a call to action for all of us to consider how we can support our city’s safety net and ensure no New Yorker goes hungry. https://lnkd.in/emMG6wAR #PovertyTracker #FightPoverty

⚠️ Food poverty in the UK: increasing challenges According to the latest government statistics (2021/22), a staggering 4.7 million people across the UK are living in food poverty. That's 7% of the population. Working with the local community in Foleshill (Coventry), we know this reality well. We also know that this figure is increasing. That's why community-based services are more important than ever. When people come to us, they’re often dealing with a host of complex life challenges which can include financial difficulties, mental or physical ill health, isolation, language barriers, parenting struggles and other problems. That’s why we work with members to provide a range of support to help address the issues that led them into food poverty. Our staff and volunteers help create a welcoming environment based on our values of dignity, choice and supporting people and put quality, choice and sustainability at the heart of our operations. Over the last 4 years, we've expanded operations (including over doubling our team!) to meet the increasing needs of individuals and families in CV1 and CV6. Last year, we supported 13,000 people - providing critical food support, advocacy services and a range of wellbeing activities. Thank you to the The National Lottery Community Fund for supporting this expansion and to all our staff and volunteers along the journey! Find out more about our work via our website: https://lnkd.in/eaN82FCp #foleshill #foodpoverty #coventry

Hygiene poverty is a critical yet often overlooked issue in the United States, adversely impacting the health and success of countless Americans in areas such as education and employment. To combat this pressing concern, Wellpoint New Jersey launched its “Take a Load off with Wellpoint” initiative. We are hosting events at laundromats across the state, providing free laundry bags, detergent, and complimentary access to washing machines and dryers. This initiative aims to alleviate the often-hidden burdens of hygiene poverty by offering essential laundry services to those in need. We believe that by addressing basic yet fundamental needs, we can make a positive impact on our communities and contribute to the well-being and success of individuals and families. #HygienePoverty #WellpointintheCommunity #WellpointNJ #TakeALoadOff #HealthAndSuccess

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 44 million people in the United States live in food-insecure households. With September being Hunger Action Month, it is important to recognize this devastating number and support the organizations and industries that are taking action to fight hunger. Affordable housing organizations like Conifer aim to alleviate families from food insecurity by providing safe, healthy homes, removing the impossible ultimatum that those living in poverty face: Housing or food? With quality housing taken care of, residents can allocate their financial resources to essential needs, meaning they have additional resources to obtain food for themselves and their families. September is a month to acknowledge the great strides taken to advocate for the continued fight against world hunger and we encourage you to join Conifer in our mission to support and better our community in every way. #AffordableHousing #HungerActionMonth #CommunityFocused

Another deep dive into some of the data and analyses from our updated Michigan Poverty and Well Being map 🔎 East Central Michigan The main hardship the East Central region is facing is food insecurity, despite having high rates of food assistance. Based on 2021 data from Feeding America, every county in the region except Midland has food insecurity rates above the state average of 11.7%. While some counties have very high proportions of people experiencing deep poverty, meaning their incomes are <50% of the poverty line, even those above the poverty line are struggling to access affordable and healthy foods. Beyond raising the level of SNAP benefits, addressing the food deserts in the region and helping hungry families who do not qualify for SNAP benefits will be necessary to improve food security in the region. Explore the data and more of the analysis: https://lnkd.in/dJj28iVs #FoodSecurity #FoodInsecurity #FoodDesert

Just Because You Have A Good Job Doesn't Mean You Have Enough For Everything As with most government funding, food aid from traditional food banks is calculated based upon the Federal poverty calculation, meaning a family of four with two parents working full-time can still be food insecure. By working diligently and earning a raise, that food-insecure family will not longer qualify for traditional food pantry support, as well as other government programs they relied on such as rental assistance, utility assistance, education assistance, or child care. People are working hard to support their families, but now they are put into a worse financial situation. It’s a dilemma, affecting nearly half of the food-insecure population in Washington County, but Food Helpers provides the solution. By breaking away from government-funded distributions, we are free to serve every household that needs help. Food Helpers believe that we can end hunger by creating sustainable communities through equitable access to aid, education, and resources.

59 million children in East Asia and Pacific living in food poverty are denied their fundamental right to nutritious food and a life lived with dignity. They represent the world’s failure to make nutritious and diverse foods and diets available and affordable for the youngest children and their families.    At UNICEF, we are working hard to support governments in addressing the root causes of child food poverty, but we need to do more. It's time for all of us—governments, organizations, donors, civil society, and the food and beverage industry—to step up and ensure every child has access to nutritious food and the opportunity to thrive. Learn how we can shift the dial: https://uni.cf/3R7eRcb #ChildFoodPoverty 

So, I guess I'm a #HungerWeirdo? As the Farm Bill continues its contentious debate on the Hill, some in leadership have chosen to label advocates and food access workers/organizations with nicknames that are meant to be demeaning and belittling of their work to eradicate hunger. As a hunger weirdo, I'd like to identify other things that I find even weirder: I think it's weird that we choose to cut funding for the most impactful and effective child poverty alleviation measure we've had in decades. (The Child Tax Credit) I think it's weird that we don't see a problem with 35 million households experiencing hunger in the same country where 3 people hold more wealth than 50% of the population. I think it's weird that we throw away millions of pounds of edible food each year because its more "cost neutral" than feeding our neighbors. I think it's weird that we are reducing SNAP allotments amidst the most rapid increase in food costs we've seen in modern history. I think it's weird that we choose to belittle the emergency food workers and organizations that are filling the gap caused by inhumane policies. I think it's weird that we consider hungry people the problem and not the system that has perpetuated hunger for generations. I think it's weird that people who have never experienced hunger are bullying those that experience the harmful impacts of hunger on a daily basis. If you want to know who the true weirdos are, you need look no further than your own mirror.

Hunger is more than an empty stomach - it’s missed opportunities, lost potential, and dreams put on hold. It’s a harsh reality for millions of children worldwide, and it’s one we cannot accept. Every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and thrive, free from the gnawing pain of hunger. Yet, in too many places, the next meal is not guaranteed. Food is a basic human right, not a privilege. When a child goes hungry, it’s not just their future that’s at risk; it’s a collective failure of humanity to protect its most vulnerable. At #WorldVisionUK, we are driven by the belief that we can change this story. We can create a world where every child has access to nutritious meals, no matter where they’re born. Let’s work together to build a future where no child goes to bed hungry - because the power to nourish a life is also the power to change the world. There is #ENOUGH food in the world for everyone. Who’s with me? Become a sponsor: wvuk.org/1U7P50U6b5A