Food Insecurity in Canada and the United States - Research Paper Example

and Number of the Teacher’s FOOD INSECURITY AND SOUP KITCHENS Summary This paper investigates food insecurity, compares food insecurity in the United States and Canada, and identifies government food programs and their success in reducing the burden of food insecurity in the United States and Canada. Further, private means of addressing food insecurity through soup kitchens and other mechanisms are examined. The problems concerning food insecurity are conceptualized on the basis of survey data and census track information related to Binghamton area of New York, and methods of resolving the problems are formulated. Introduction Food security is the “consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life” according to Nord, Hooper & Hopwood (p.1). On the other hand, “very low food security” refers to a reduction of food intake and disruption of eating patterns in households due to a lack of money and other resources for food during particular times of the year (Nord, Andrews & Carlson 5). Adequate food is essential for good health and good nutrition. Economic policy and program regimes that support the fundamental factors related to food security are capable of reducing health inequalities. On comparing Canada and the United States on the impact of food insecurity, it was found that in Canada’s levels of food insecurity are lower than that of the U.S., indicating that Canada’s is more food secure as a result of various measures, and the success of governmental and private programs in alleviating hunger. Further, problems and solutions related to food insecurity conceptualized for Binghamton area of New York will be conceptualized on the basis of a survey conducted and census information. Food Insecurity in Canada and in the United States Canada and the United States significantly differ in the proportions of their populations that have consistent access to sufficient food for active, healthy living. Overall, there is a higher prevalence of food insecurity in the United States as compared to Canada. Nord et al (p.15) found that social, economic and policy differences between Canada and the United States have the greatest impact on food insecurity in households with children, as compared to those without children, with U.S. households twice as likely to be food insecure in relation to Canadian households with children. The important parameters that impact food insecurity across the world include income adequacy, education, household structure, presence or absence of children, residence area, and other factors. Nord et al (p.16) state that these parameters should be considered in the context of the different social, economic, program and policy systems of Canada and the United States, to achieve a better understanding of the impact of these factors on household food security. Canada’s Action Plan for Food Security in response to the World Food Summit commitment to reduce food insecurity by 2015, builds on several existing international commitments which affect food security. These emerge from current domestic programs such as Canada’s own “Nutrition for Health: An Agenda for Action; Gathering Strength: Canada’s Aboriginal Action Plan; revisions to legislation including the Fisheries Act” (Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada 5) and Canada’s evolving economic, social and environmental programs and policies. A Joint Consultative Group (JCG) composed of both government and civil society representatives have developed the Action Plan. In 2009 the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) “announced food security as a priority theme and pledged an additional $600 million over 3 years in support of this theme” (CFSPG 1). The government’s program has been successful to a certain extent. To augment the work of the government, there have been private organizers rallying forces under the banner of food security. Thus, local efforts in Canada include the setting up of food pantries, treatment of chronic diseases related to malnutrition, increase of public awareness on the dangers of obesity, and support provided to farming and fishing communities that have declined economically (Kirbyson, 2006). On the other hand, in the United States, the evidence indicates that 59 percent of food-insecure households reported using one or more of the three largest Federal food and nutrition programs by late 2010. SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program also known as the Food Stamps Program assisted 40.9 percent of food-insecure households, and WIC the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provided food vouchers to 13.6 percent of the target population (Coleman-Jensen et al 26). The National School Lunch Program reached 30.5 million children in 2008, states the World Hunger Education Service (2011). These government food programs have been successful in eliminating hunger to some extent. To supplement the government’s food programs, local initiatives such as food pantries, and emergency kitchens also known as soup kitchens help to alleviate hunger among those lacking access to adequate food. In the year 2006, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) “supplied 360 million pounds of commodities to community emergency food providers” (Nord 27-28). TEFAP commodities accounted for 14 percent of all food distributed by food pantries and kitchens. According to Glasser (p.1), soup kitchens are community-based feeding programs focusing on serving meals one or more days per week. Some soup kitchens permit the individuals to stay in the dining room, using it as a day center. Staff being limited in number, soup kitchens often function mainly with the help of volunteers. The arguments against the operation of soup kitchens includes that public policy should not rely on minimally funded, informal organizations such as soup kitchens to feed homeless and other people living in poverty. The present day increase in soup kitchens originated in the 1980s, coinciding with the general withdrawal in United States society from cash welfare programs. Further, the current policy of giving poor people assistance only in kind as against cash aid, is a reflection of the pre-Social Security Act era of ‘poor houses and poor farms, in which individuals and families eked out a meager existence in an institutional-like setting, separated from their own abode (Glasser 1). Additionally, soup kitchen staff, volunteers and shelter workers are left to see to the well-being of formerly institutionalized individuals with chronic mental illness. Conceptualization of the Problem and the Solutions Poverty, location, transportation and income are the four important factors to be identified when conceptualizing soup kitchens for the poor in a particular area. Location and transportation are important factors, keeping in view the areas where the maximum population below the poverty line reside; transportation is a requirement for the volunteers who assist in the soup kitchens. For this reason, recruiting volunteers from the same geographical area would be beneficial at each of the kitchens. Soup kitchens’ concerns with sufficient funds for running the facility, for procurement of supplies, and sufficient storage and preparation areas have to be met by the federal or state governments, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations with missions to help feed the poor. Coordination of all the processes and activities as well as keeping in time for the scheduled meal times have to be planned and implemented. Food insecurity problem among those in poverty in Binghamton, New York, as well as resolution of the problems will be conceptualized with the help of the survey data and census track information. From the Broome County census tract, it is clear that the greatest concentration of whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics is in geographical id. 36007014302, where blacks are in their highest numbers as compared to other geographical locations. The lowest number of population are in geographical id.36007001200. Further, the percentage of unemployed over 18 years is very small in all the categories, and increases in the category of those over 20 years. This indicates that the percentage of unemployed over 20 years is high, which leads to the problem of poverty and reliance on community measures such as soup kitchens. Similarly transportation and geographical locations play a crucial part in accessing soup kitchens or food pantries by those who need them. Among all the geographical areas in Binghamton, New York, a significant section of the population has no access to automobiles. Thus, the census data reveals the geographical locations with greater concentrations of the poorer sections of society. This indicates the areas most vulnerable for people to face food insecurity. The government should take action accordingly, making facilities available in these areas to alleviate hunger among the poor. Usually, volunteers are found readily, since many people from the middle class sections of society wish to participate in some kind of social service, and engage in working for the poor. When conceptualizing soup kitchens, it is also vital to include some work that the poor can do in return for the food they partake of. For instance, they can be organized to take turns on a daily basis to do the dishes, clean the facility, and help maintain the area. The poor who visit the soup kitchens can be given suitable employment through tie-ups with employment agencies. Other options include teaching them some skills by which they can help run government sponsored cottage industries, or for the city’s municipality in keeping the roads and sidewalks clean. With adequate monetary compensation and better opportunities, some of the beneficiaries may put street life behind them, and become a part of the mainstream. Generally, food pantries and soup kitchens whether they are located at churches or community centers offer food only at particular times. Further, the food items offered are limited in quantity, usually supplies and provisions are given for one or two days, and the facilities also sharply restrict the number of families who can receive assistance. Even the most generous food pantries do not permit the poor to use them more than once a month. “Thus, families who used pantries often had to expend a good deal of time for a rather meager benefit” (Clampet-Lundquist, Edin, London, Scott & Hunt 227). Food hardships were commonly reported, with the respondents of the study resorting to extreme measures such as stealing, selling plasma, blood, or visiting the food pantries in different locations under various names and addresses, and on different days. To avoid similar occurrences, the system has to be improved, to accommodate the users more frequently for availing of provisions from the food pantries. They can be made to compensate in some way for the benefits, either in the form of services rendered for the upkeep of the facility, or by running errands for procuring supplies. The Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW, 2011) in Broome County operates a network of 30 food pantries located in Broome County Congregations and over 35 soup kitchens and community meal programs. There is distribution of about 2 million pounds of food each month. In the early stages of its inception the food pantry operated on donations from individuals, churches, businesses, and community organizations. This was later followed by fund raising twice a year at the local Giants Markets. Next, Round Up for CHOW was initiated with Giant Markets, and is being continued with WEIS markets, similar to the Hunger Walk as fund raisers. The program has developed greatly, with Broome Bounty “serving soup kitchens and churches that have no cost meals for those in need” (CHOW, 2011). Further, the coupons from Round Up give people who come to the pantries the opportunity to have fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, bread and dairy products in addition to the canned foods and other staples. The most critical and highly effective part of the CHOW project is the community aspect. The community participates in food drives at local schools, with several hundred walkers at the annual Hunger Walk, people fill the CHOW barrels throughout the county, and children in the community turn their birthday parties into CHOW food collections. “These grassroots food drives augment the outstanding involvement of local businesses in raising food and funds to keep CHOW operating” (CHOW, 2011). Thus, the Broome County community helps to feed its neighbors in need of assistance. The Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse is an ideal case study of how food pantries can operate to fulfill the needs of those at an economical disadvantage. The organization has developed to the point of having four trucks to keep the food circulating into and out of the warehouse. The hundreds of volunteers as well as the continued support of several people who generously contribute both food and money regularly, form the basis of the the facility’s success “as a community response to hunger” (CHOW, 2011). Conclusion This paper has highlighted food insecurity among those who are economically disadvantaged. Food insecurity has been compared between Canada and the United States. Government food programs and the extent to which they are successful in lowering the impacts of food insecurity among the poor, have been examined. The evidence indicates that various governmental food programs help to some extent to alleviate hunger among those living under the poverty line. The private soup kitchens and food pantries created locally by the public with government’s assistance, are vitally required for meeting the shortcomings of governmental initiatives. Survey data and census track information about Binghamton area of New York are used for conceptualizing the problems and the resolutions to those problems relating to food insecurity. It is clear that the community is a vital factor in the success of food security programs. Therefore, the community’s initiatives and cooperation are crucial for the successful implementation of soup kitchens and food pantries in all geographical areas. Works Cited Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Canada’s action plan for food security: A response to the World Food Summit. (1998). Retrieved on 29th November, 2011 from: http://www.agr.gc.ca/misb/fsec-seca/pdf/action_e.pdf CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse). CHOW – Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse. Broome County Council of Churches. Retrieved on 29th November, 2011 from: http://www.broomecouncil.net/CHOW/home.html Clampet-Lundquist, Susan, Edin, Kathryn, London, Andrew & Hunter, Vicki. “Making a way out of no way”: How mothers meet basic family needs while moving from welfare to work. In Ann C. Crouter & Alan Booth (Eds). Work-family challenges for low-income parents and their children. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. (2004). Chapter 13: pp.203-242. CFSPG (Canadian Food Security Policy Group). Building an effective Canadian food security strategy. Policy Brief. (September 2009). Retrieved on 29th November, 2011 from: http://www.ccic.ca/_files/en/working_groups/food_200909_fspg_brief_cdn_food_strategy_e.pdf Coleman-Jensen, Alisha, Nord, Mark, Andrews, Margaret, Carlson, Steven. Household food security in the United States in 2010. ERR-125, Economic Research Service, The United States Department of Agriculture. (September 2011). Kirbyson, Anna M. Recipes for success: A celebration of food security work in Canada. The United States of America: Fernwood Publishing Co. Ltd. (2006). Nord, Mark & Hopwood, Heather. A comparison of food security in Canada and the United States. ERR-67, Economic Research Service, The United States Department of Agriculture. (December 2008). Nord, Mark. Household food security in the United States (2006). New York: Diane Publishing. (2008). Nord, Mark, Hooper, Michelle & Hopwood, Heather. Food insecurity in Canada and the United States: An international comparison. Conference paper presented at the 19th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion and Education, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 11th to 15th June, 2007. World Hunger Education Service. Hunger in America: 2011 United States hunger and poverty facts. (2011). Retrieved on 29th November, 2011 from: http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/us_hunger_facts.html Read More