Food Insecurities and How to Obtain Food Equity

 

Food Equity and Sustainability

In today's economy, we continue to strive for equitable and sustainable food sources for all walks of life. In a perfect world, we would like to strive to obtain an environment where everyone has access to an equitable food system that entails individuals within the community buying, selling, trading, bartering, producing, and disposing of food sources. We would want every individual to not only be able to provide and do all of these acts but also understand the significant meaning behind food like the quality and culture. 

Sustainability coincides with equitability. In this economy, billions of people struggle to provide food let alone sustainable food. Sustainable food systems are extremely vital to creating food security. This entails forestry, agriculture, and agroecology. Our modern world advances by the month in new technology and ways of living have also diminished the quality of the lands we use to produce food. Land is being used for building new structures and farmlands are being bought out by big corporations which in return creates less food production. 

bostonorganics.com

To create a more sustainable food system every individual needs to be involved. There are acts like recycling and reducing food waste that can help create this type of food system. But, more importantly, fundamental changes need to take place for this food system to really come to life. Everybody plays an important role in creating this food system. We need to change how food is produced, how and where it is distributed, and how it is distributed and eaten. We also need massive changes to infrastructures to help create a more diverse structure to go with the land instead of working against it. 

Food Insecurities In Portland, Oregon

https://www.oregonfoodbank.org

In Portland, Oregon food insecurities skyrocketed a few months after the Covid-19 pandemic hit. When we follow the statistical trend we see that the Covid-19 direct deposit cash payments/support for the government helped with this insecurity and need. But, once those payments stopped we see an increase in food insecurities rise again. Oregon is in the top 5 states to struggle with food insecurities and at a rapid rate that is increasing drastically. Food insecurities typically occur in communities and individuals who are single parents as well as individuals who rent the residence they reside at. With the rising inflation rate, everything is becoming more expensive, particularly food and housing costs. This only increases the number of individuals who are in need. The Oregon Food Bank is a major resource and tool that helps those in need. Their motto is, "No One Should Go Hungry." The Oregon Food Bank has a plethora of resources where individuals/groups can donate money or food to help those who experience food insecurities. They possess food industry partners as well as grocery partners and individual/business partners who donate regularly. They have a map on their website with a search engine by location for the viewers to locate where they can receive free food. The food that is given to the communities is healthy and nutritious options. 

https://www.oregonfoodbank.org

If you are in need or you know somebody who is or you would like to get involved and donate here is the link to The Oregon Food Bank.

Mutual Aid in Portland, OR

This week, I wanted to highlight one of the various mutual aid groups in Portland, Oregon. For those that may not be familiar with the term, mutual aid is a cooperative exchange of resources and services of which the benefits can be shared by many and all. It’s about people giving what they can and getting what they need.  Mutual aid is often used to provide people with food, shelter, supplies, medical care, and other forms of relief in times of catastrophe. Of course, mutual aid isn’t limited to moments of disaster, in fact, there are many mutual aid groups operating in our city that provide an outlet for people to give and get help at any time. 

Such as Portland Free Fridge, a volunteer community member-run mutual aid effort that provides access to free food and supplies through independently managed fridges, freezers, and pantries all over Portland. 

 (PDX Free Fridge)

Community members are encouraged to as their motto states, “take what you need, leave what you don’t, give what you can.”  One can find various types of food, hygiene products, and pet foods at any given free fridge site, and their website provides people with a map of current locations. Community members also use their Instagram page to communicate updates about locations and when new supplies or food are available. 

Fridge and pantry located at 3932 SE Woodstock (PDX Free Fridge)

For those who would like to start a fridge, there is a guide with useful information and tools to achieve this on their website. The purpose of this project is to share abundance by redistributing resources and minimizing unnecessary waste. 

(PDX Free Fridge)

If you would like to learn more about PDX Free Fridge, make a donation, or find some free food and supplies check out their website and give them a follow on Instagram @pdxfreefridge! 

Sustainable Food Security in Oregon

 

Food insecurity is one of the most significant issues in terms of public health. Indeed, hunger has been decreasing in Oregon, yet the number of people who have food insecurity is still high. According to a new USDA report on Food Insecurity in the U.S., nearly one in seven Oregonian households were “food insecure” between 2014-16 (https://oregonhunger.org/). Hunger and food insecurity often contribute to increasing our cost for health. Food insecurity is also involved in obesity and its subsequent health problems. Hunger is not just a physiological phenomenon in a moment, but also a public health issue that brings long-term consequences. Therefore, it is important that a community supports community members' sustainable food security and provides food assistance services. 

Here are some food assistance resources that are available on campus and for PSU community members including students.

• PSU Food Pantry (https://sites.google.com/pdx.edu/psufoodpantry/home?authuser=0)

A donation based food assistant service for PSU students and faculity members.

 

•  The Free Food Market (https://www.pdx.edu/student-access-center/free-food-market)

A partnership between the CISFS and the Oregon Food Bank that brings Free fresh produce and other food items to PSU students and the greater PSU community. Free Food Market is open to everybody.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrIOAOQH05E&ab_channel=PortlandStateUniversity)

Here are some useful resources to find other food banks or food assistance.

• Oregon Food Bank (https://foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org/)

Oregon Food Bank helps finding food assistance for everyone in the Portland community. You can search for a food pantry or pick-up site near you.

 

•  Summer Meals Map (https://www.summerfoodoregon.org/map/)

Summer Meals are for children and teens ages 1-18 who cannot have meals 

in their schools during the summer break in a school. You can use the map to find a site near you.

• School Meals in Oregon During COVID-19 Closures (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQdNuwGk2d3GnFHMqWP5EOM4C9sTKriEoTXNlbCFjJuxHlOz8wKv89L-dtDAOf4lWcjl8QM82L-mOW3/pubhtml?gid=1537028636&amp%3Bsingle=true&amp%3Bwidget=true&amp%3Bheaders=false&urp=gmail_link)

Free school meals for children who cannot have meals in their schools during COVID-19 closures. You can find assistance and a site near you.

 

• More supports in Oregon during COVID-19 Outbreak (https://oregonhunger.org/covid-19/)

Pandemic EBT provides families financial support to cover the cost of groceries while your children are home during school closures. This benefit is provided to ALL families whose children receive free and reduced-price school meals in Oregon. 

It is also important to help each other in the community. You can help other community members who are struggling with hunger by financially supporting food assistance organizations.

• Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon  (https://oregonhunger.org/give/)
• PSU Food Pantry (https://sites.google.com/pdx.edu/psufoodpantry/donate?authuser=0)

For More Information

PSU Food Pantry 

https://sites.google.com/pdx.edu/psufoodpantry/home?authuser=0

The Free Food Market 

https://www.pdx.edu/student-access-center/free-food-market

Oregon Food Bank 

https://foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org/

Summer Meals Map 

https://www.summerfoodoregon.org/map/

School Meals in Oregon During COVID-19 Closures 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQdNuwGk2d3GnFHMqWP5EOM4C9sTKriEoTXNlbCFjJuxHlOz8wKv89L-dtDAOf4lWcjl8QM82L-mOW3/pubhtml?gid=1537028636&amp%3Bsingle=true&amp%3Bwidget=true&amp%3Bheaders=false&urp=gmail_link 

Hunger-Free Oregon

https://oregonhunger.org/

Organizations, Support Groups, and Business for Racial Equality in Portland, OR.

    While most of us are either working at home or working hard in the outside world to survive the economic droop, we're are still very much living during a time where people are suffering at the hands of injustice. The best solution for community sustenance consists of a select variety of actions. Below is a list of groups and business that you can support in order to make change in the city of Portland, as well as some resources that can be used to educate yourself on various issues regarding recent events, and the history of systematic discrimination in the city.

Food Insecurity with SNAP immigrant recipient

Food insecurity is an important issue in our country, especially within the immigrant community. With recent cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), many immigrants are afraid that they won’t have enough money to feed their families, especially their children. The new rule looks at removing the 20 hours of working or training, that provides eligibility to adults who need some financial support to eat. Furthermore, Oregon estimates that 9,000 people will lose their SNAP benefits with this new change, which can lead to more health related stressors. Food insecurity leads to diet-related illness, such as chronic diseases, lack of focus in school (impacts children greatly), employment and more.

To act on this knowledge, one must be present to make public comments about the change, which DHS hosted. This can be done through letters to your legislators at DC and Oregon, and those who are on the SNAP advisory board in Oregon. The dialogue on this issue will continue, with more awareness. Immigrant services should act by providing interpreters to their population, and motivate them to attend public meetings to state their concerns, if they are able to.

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Here is a resource: https://frac.salsalabs.org/comment-on-trump-cat-el-proposed-rule-reopened-oct2019/index.html

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Here is a letter submitted on behalf of the public comment: https://oregonhunger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hunger-Free-Oregon-SNAP-Categorical-Eligibility-Proposed-Rule-Change-Comment-school-meals-focus-10-21-19.pdf

Article on Oregon SNAP impact: https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Oregon-says-19000-could-lose-benefits-under-new-SNAP-rule-565912341.html