Faces of Hunger

Thank you for spending your time with us for Blog Action Day.   We believe hunger is a solvable problem.  We hope the stories and facts you learned today inspire you to get involved in your community.   If you need some ideas on how you can help, please visit our website at http://www.austinfoodbank.org.

Presidential Candidates have Plans for Addressing U.S. Hunger and Poverty

Today, the Obama campaign released the document “Obama and Biden: Tackling Domestic Hunger,” at the Iowa Hunger summit where representatives from the Democratic and Republican party, including Rep. Jim McGovern and Sens. George McGovern and Bob Dole spoke about public policy initiatives to address the growing problems of domestic hunger and food insecurity. The document below outlines his plans for improving and expanding federal food assistance and nutrition programs and his commitment to ending childhood hunger by 2015.  Read the PDF. Learn more about the Obama/Biden plan to combat poverty .

Senator McCain issued this statement in April 2008

“Some people lament privately, others are brave enough to take their call for change to the public arena. Martin Luther King III has done his father’s legacy proud this week by courageously insisting that our nation’s next leader do something about the poverty that ensnares over 36 million of our citizens. I will answer his call, and tell him and the American people today that I will make the eradication of poverty a top priority of the McCain Administration. A strong and vibrant America, one in which people can move up into the middle-class, put their kids through college, work hard and one day retire in dignity, is critical not only to our economic future but to the very security of our nation. As President, I will set aside the needs of the special interests to advance the interests of the American people, especially those 12 million children who deserve every opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”

Mary Kay Caldwell

Mary Kay's daughter, Rickeetra, and granddaughter

Mary Kay Caldwell fell twice at fifteen-feet and once at thirty-feet while installing telephone poles for the US Army. She sustained permanent injuries to her spine, and has been wheelchair-bound four times. Even though she is a disabled veteran, Caldwell says she didn’t receive disability compensation from the government for 23 years. Without this compensation, it was hard for Caldwell to buy food for herself and her nine children. “I joined the army when I was 17 years old. I was pursuing a career with benefits for my family. I never thought I’d be disadvantaged with them not compensating me.”

Caldwell held various desk jobs, but her income wasn’t enough to be self-sufficient. She turned to food pantries, government sponsored programs, such as food stamps and WIC, and her family for additional assistance. “I wait for contributions from family members, usually after they received their income tax return. But usually I go to the food pantries.”

For the last six years, Caldwell relied on the Church Food Pantry on Loyola Lane, which serves residents of Northeast Austin. Depending on the monthly cost of her utility bills, Caldwell may come to Church Food Pantry once-a-month or once every two weeks. Unfortunately for many people with limited incomes, money allotted for groceries is a low priority. Now that she receives a veteran’s disability compensation, she no longer qualifies for other forms of government assistance. “I’m in the middle. I get enough benefits to not qualify for food stamps, and at the same time, I don’t get enough to suffice. The pantries help a lot.” Today, Caldwell lives with her two sons, ages 13 and 14, whom she describes as having “tremendous appetites.”

Mary Kay parks using her handicapped tag

Her other children are now young adults and some have babies of their own. Caldwell says she has five “grands,” her affectionate nickname for her grandchildren. She teaches her children about food pantries and different resources that are available to them. “I find a lot of adolescents in my community are in similar situations and some are making poor choices in order to get money.  I don’t want this to happen to my kids. I’m teaching them to go to the pantries and get the produce and canned goods to help balance their budgets. I encourage those with children to get assistance from WIC prior to buying groceries. This helps to stay within a budget.”

Places like Church Food Pantry are feeding the adults and children in poverty stricken neighborhoods. What would these areas look like without the generosity of food pantries? The answer to this question might come soon. Because of the lack of funding, Church Food Pantry is in danger of closing. Jaime Gonzalez is a volunteer at Church Food Pantry and says that more and more people are coming every week. “Jobs are diminishing and families aren’t able to pay for food. In fact, people ask me if there is a place where they can go to work,” he said. “There aren’t many construction jobs anymore (which is where the majority of the Latino men in this neighborhood are employed.) Women are coming in and needing food for their families because their husbands are losing their construction jobs. People are losing jobs across the community.”

Many Church Food Pantry clients are able to walk from their homes to the pantry to get bags of groceries. If the pantry closes down, the families without cars and without jobs will have an even harder time finding ways to feed their families. But for now, clients such as Caldwell are thankful for Church Food Pantry’s ten years of existence. “I’m grateful that this pantry is a part of the Capital Area Food Bank’s process to help this community and I feel they really go far beyond the call of duty.”

Just the Facts

Texas has some of the highest rates of poverty and food insecurity in the nation – well above the national average. Texas ranks third in the percentage of food insecure families and fifth in the percentage of families with very low food insecurity. One in five Texas children lives in poverty. One-in-four Texas children lives in a household without enough food.

In 2006, CAFB, in association with Feeding America, surveyed more than 200 emergency feeding programs (food pantries and soup kitchens) in Central Texas in an effort to better understand the urgency of hunger and food insecurity in the Food Bank’s service area.  This study is the largest, most comprehensive hunger study ever completed in the area. Our study revealed that hunger affects not just those technically defined as “poor” but also working families struggling to make ends meet.

While the child poverty rate in Texas is 23.2 percent, for the CAFB service area, 35 percent of the household members receiving food are children. Seventy-six percent of households report incomes below the federal poverty level.  Eighty-two percent of recipients are food insecure. Forty-nine percent of recipients experience outright hunger (or high food insecurity).
A recent Texas Food Bank Network study revealed 31 percent of low-income Texans have difficulty feeding their families balanced meals. These families “cope” with skyrocketing food prices by sacrificing quality before quantity. While food prices have risen across the board, the report finds the price of healthy food is quickly rising. When healthy food costs more than ten times as much on a per-calorie basis, there is little choice for Texans with limited means. The report finds that households served by the Food Bank Network spent $466 less on healthy foods than the average Texas household in 2006.

Social Safety Nets are Just Part of the Solution

Lisa Goddard -

No man is an island, entire of itself… John Donne (1572-1631)

Beyond relying on charities, and the goodness of our neighbors, our community’s ability to address the issues of food security and hunger must take into account the complex nature of acquiring, consuming and disposing food.   Most recently, a perfect storm of factors including rising fuel prices, economic downturns, droughts in foreign countries, conflicts and trade imbalances, has driven up the price of basic food items.

For food banks and their partners, there has been a shift from clients needing one-time and emergency assistance to year-round or multi-year reliance on charities.  This past year, CAFB and its Partner Agencies have seen a 20 percent average increase in clientele.  Even if the poverty rate remains constant, the population growth projected in Central Texas means more hungry and food insecure families and children.

Not only is there an increased demand overall, but also a demand for varied, nutritious foods as more families turn to pantries for their nutrition.

In a recent Texas Food Bank Network study, 31 percent of low-income Texans have difficulty feeding their families balanced meals. These families “cope” with skyrocketing food prices by sacrificing quality before quantity. While food prices have risen across the board, the report finds the cost of healthy food quickly rising. When healthy food costs more than ten times as much, on a per-calorie basis, there is little choice for Texans with limited means. The report finds that households served by the Food Bank Network spent $466 less on healthy foods, than the average Texas household in 2006.

Traditionally, food banks provide a necessary relief for hunger, especially during emergency situations. But the charity model has not, and in many cases, is not systemically designed to reduce long-term need.  This shift in demand now requires food banks and other charitable organizations to examine its increasing role in the food system for so many Americans. The danger: we begin to accept what should be unacceptable.

Comfort, in knowing there is a social safety net through charities, and to some extent, federal food assistance, is not the same as addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty.

Creating a food-secure community requires the active participation of for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies and volunteers.

Are you ready?

J.R. Flournoy

JR Flournoy cares about people not judging others. His vibrant personality and engaging speaking voice evoke the famous scholar and social activist, Dr. Cornel West. Flournoy is unable to work because of a ruptured disk and pancreatitis, and although he says he is often in pain, from the sound of his robust laugh, one would never guess he had any ailments at all. “Physically looking at me, it’d seem as though I can go out there and do anything,” Flournoy said. “I wish that more people would be sympathetic as far as the needs of people—one can’t judge by face value.”
Flournoy hasn’t been able to work for his lawn service in the last few months due to a recent back injury. His wife is also not working because she is preparing for back surgery. Flournoy does not receive food stamps, but when he is in need he visits food pantries to get groceries for his family. They have five children, all under the age of seventeen, living at home and in school. “As far as using the food bank system, I try my best to not overdo it. I get what I need and what I don’t need, I don’t bother with. Right now I am in need. I am medically disabled and have a house-full of hungry folks.”

An injury can be devastating to people who work in manual labor, especially if that’s their only source of income. There aren’t too many jobs that allow you to sit down all day, unless you have clerical or computer skills. Flournoy knows firsthand how difficult it is for people with disabilities to gain employment. But bills still have to be paid, and sometimes it is not possible for groceries to be a priority item to purchase.
“Food pantries are extremely important because in the event that they’re not here, one can’t provide food for his family. We have to rely on places such as this.”

When Flournoy does get food from pantries, he said he loves to make spaghetti because it goes far in feeding his multiple family members. When Flournoy runs out of food, “I search for a way to do better. With my lawn service, I’ll try to get a person to do my job for me and I pay him a percentage. This way, I can receive something in order to take care of myself.” Flournoy emphasized the personal importance of trying to be self-reliant, but acknowledges that sometimes it is impossible.

“We all can’t help our situations just as I can’t at this moment. Pantries are vital. I’m happy you guys are here for us. It’s a good thing.”

David Davenport Welcomes You to Blog Action Day

Ready, Set, Start Blogging!

October 15th is Blog Action Day and we’re inviting you to join us.

On this day, Austin bloggers, podcasters and videocasters will devote 24 hours to capturing the face of poverty in Austin today, focusing on the personal story behind the facts of living in poverty.

Check out this video.

Did you know that 20% of our community live in what is considered poverty conditions – approximately 200,000 of Travis County residents are classified as “working poor” by the Texas Department of Human Services.  The estimates are that 41,000 children under the age of 18 in Travis County are confronted with food insecurity every day.

Join us on October 15th and share your perspective and thoughts on poverty in Austin – it’s your opportunity to change the conversation. To register your blog, click here. For more info, feel free to visit: Blog Action Day and Mobile Loaves and Fishes.