User:Isabellalunads/Hunger in the United States

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Hunger in the United States

The article I will be working with looks at why hunger exists in the United States, how long it has been a problem and ways of working to solve this problem. The additions or changes I have made are highlighted by << >>

1) In the 'Private sector hunger relief' section it lists hunger relief agencies. I wish to make the food pantry section more descriptive, I will add facts about why food pantries are beneficial.

2) I also plan to add a subsection under college students talking about food pantries specifically on college campuses.

Article body

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The oldest type of formal hunger relief establishment used in the United States is believed to be the almshouse, but these are no longer in existence. << A couple decades after WWII a notion was spread that hunger had been alleviated in Western countries. One man in the U.S, John van Hengel, was frustrated with the little attention towards food insecurity and in 1967 established the first food bank in Phoenix, Arizona ***add citation***. Named St. Mary's food bank alliance, it worked by collecting food that has been thrown away by grocery stores because it was no longer salable but was perfectly good for human consumption. Around the same time, from 1969 through the 1980s, the renowned Black Panther party established a very effective free breakfast program ***add citation***. Launched in January 1969, Bobby Seale started this program at Father Earl A. Neil's St.Augustine episcopal church in West Oakland.>> In the 21st century, hunger relief agencies run by civil society include:

• Food pantries are the most numerous food aid establishment found within the United States. The food pantry hands out packages of groceries to the hungry. Unlike soup kitchens, they invariably give out enough food for several meals, which is to be consumed off the premises. A related establishment is the food closet, which serves a similar purpose to the food pantry, but will never be a dedicated building. Instead, a food closet will be a room within a larger building like a church or community center. Food closets can be found in rural communities too small to support a food pantry. Food pantries often have procedures to prevent unscrupulous people from taking advantage of them, such as requiring registration. <<Unlike soup kitchens, food pantry relief helps people make it from one paycheck to another when their funds run low.>> ***move food pantries so section comes after soup kitchens***

add the following sentence to the Food pantry section of the article "Food insecurity of college students in the United States" <<Within the younger generations we have seen much grassroots organizing, such as at UC Berkeley's student-run food pantry, established as a non-profit in 2014 ***add citation***. This pantry works with the Alameda Food Bank, with UC Berkeley's student farms, with local donations and some purchases to provide a range of nutritious food for students and university staff. The pantry also offers Calfresh application assistance, emergency housing, a basic needs emergency fund, and case management. This thriving free grocery store supports many on campus and teaches young volunteers and interns the value of community resource pooling and offers experience too students in grassroots community leadership.>>

---Also add in---Foods such as cereal, rice, pasta, fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, oils, eggs, milk, soymilk, almond milk, and bread are provided. ***citation*** Furthermore, efforts to meet all culture’s dietary needs have been made. Foods such as tofu and canned bamboo shoots ensure that the food pantry meets the entire community's needs as best as it can as there is a large Asian community that comes through.***CITAATION**** While the food pantry aims at direct discourse with those in need over what types of food and of what quantity is needed, it understands that clients are not always wanting to have direct conversations. A new app system was created by students in which, upon exiting the food pantry, the items in one’s cart are scanned and entered into the app’s system in order for inventory to be taken.**CITATION**** Through survey methods such as this the food pantry is able to assess the direct needs of its participants. But many students are passionate about the conversations that enable the food pantry to best benefit the community, and so the space is created with an overwhelming sense of welcome and respect with a board where students can write on post its for what produce or changes they wish to see in the pantry. The relief that the food pantry offers helps many people make it from one paycheck to another when their funds aren’t enough to cover the board of their needs. The issue with providing direct resource aid is that it creates a band-aid effect. The relief only lasts a certain amount of time until the food has run out. Food pantries specifically engage with social power, as the focus is to work within the community with fellow volunteers to provide for the rest of that very same community.***citation*** Action that promotes human rights, the right to nutrition.

References

Momo Chang (2018) Inside UC Berkeley’s Food Pantry     

            https://eastbayexpress.com/inside-uc-berkeleys-food-pantry-2-1/

Forefront Group. Food insecurity on college campuses: The invisible epidemic. (2022).

https://doi.org/10.1377/forefront.20220127.264905

Jan Steyaert (2009) 1967 John van Hengel & food banks philanthrophy for the hungry

           https://historyofsocialwork.org/eng/details.php?cps=20&canon_id=172

Nadia Kim (2016) Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast for children program

https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Black_Panther_Party%E2%80%99s_Free_Breakfast_for_Children_Program

Jan Steyaert (2009) 1967 John van Hengel & food banks philanthrophy for the hungry

           https://historyofsocialwork.org/eng/details.php?cps=20&canon_id=172