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On the evening of September 26th, the
Leagues of Women Voters of Tallmadge, Hudson, Kent, Northern
Portage, and the Akron area, along with the Akron-Canton Regional
Food Bank, sponsored a viewing of the documentary “A Place at the
Table.” The event began with a reception, followed by the film and
a panel discussion organized to address questions about food
problems in our own communities.
The topic of the evening was food insecurity in
the United States. The film highlighted families throughout the
country, from Colorado to Mississippi, to Philadelphia.
Relationships between hunger, obesity, and health were explored
throughout the film. We saw that, paradoxically, obese people may be
hungry because their nutritional needs are not being met by the
cheap calories they consume. Since 1980, the cost of fruits and
vegetables has risen by 40% whereas the cost of processed foods has
fallen 40%. Many other issues that influence hunger were addressed:
cost of healthy food, availability of healthy food, a distribution
system that does not serve small stores in “food deserts,” poverty,
and a welfare system that penalizes those who obtain work by
withdrawing support that would permit them a modest standard of
living.
Panel members answered many questions related to
hunger locally. Dan Flowers (Akron Canton Regional Food Bank
president and CEO), Paula Prentice (Summit County Council vice
president), and Mary Helms (Fish and Loaves Food Pantry) provided
additional information about the specific needs of our community.
Several facts were shared through this discussion:
· Food
Banks, which generally began after the 1980’s are dependent on
surplus food. Additional nutritional foods must be bought.
· 86%
of the children in Akron Public School quality for free
breakfast-lunch
· Recent
legislation has reduced funding for the Supplemental Nutritional
Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Summit
County Council member Prentice reported having lived for a week on
the $4.50 per day allowed by Ohio’s SNAP. (Just imagine!)
Those in attendance were encouraged to write to
legislators, particularly those at the federal level, asking for
their support for the SNAP program, as well as other related
legislation.
Click here for a sample letter |
