BLOGGING - MICHIGAN SOCCER BUDDIES AND SOCIAL COOKIE MEDIA

On the outside, Jane* looks like an average twenty-something year old – loves a good joke and hanging out with friends, goes to school, works part time to support herself, and lives in the Grand Rapids area.  

She also routinely faces food insecurity and, unfortunately, her application for food assistance was denied due to her income.

When we discussed food insecurity and equity last night, Jane told me that after bills, school expenses, gas, and rent, she usually has an empty fridge and typically relies on her employee meal or visiting family for dinners as a way to survive.

I had no idea.

Hunger is often silent and, for the average middle class American, the harsh reality that a close friend or coworker might be experiencing food insecurity seems only like a distant possibility. Because we are told that there are systems in place, such as government assistance programs and food pantries, we often also mentally check out from investigating if these systems are actually serving everyone who needs a little extra help.

The human experience is so much more nuanced and complex than what can be shown on an application for assistance. What current systems fail to address in that food inequity is fundamentally built into how we operate our food supply chain and they consistently fail to provide solutions that are sustainable and empathetic.

Subsides do keep people afloat but they often give individuals only the bare minimum. And when you have “just enough” to survive, it is extremely difficult to focus on any potential opportunity other than making it to the next day. 

Moving toward a true food equitable system requires advocacy, education, and a hard look at a food supply chain that is rooted in economic status (the assumption that you should be able to afford food) and individualism (the belief that if you are food insecure, you are choosing to be food insecure).

Advocacy and education are multifaceted. Both require helping individuals unlearn commonly held beliefs about food insecurity, educating the community of current problems faced within our food system, and also, clearly identifying where, how, and when people can access additional food resources. Jane, for example, had no idea that options like Community Food Club in Grand Rapids existed for low-income members to have access to a grocery store with healthy food options.  

Reinventing conventional food distribution systems and breaking down barriers of entry to create better access to sustainably grown produce, urban farms, and community gardens is another vital component of working toward a more equitable future. Working to change supply chains from the ground up ensures that we provide a food solution for future generations. Not simply a band-aid for a fracture.

Once we make access to affordable and healthy food an undeniable right, we as a society have the opportunity to collectively start playing on a completely different level. Let’s take this opportunity and begin to shift our mindset on food security systems away from “good enough” to “only the best.”

*Name changed for anonymity