"Hunger is a whole lot like an iceberg. The mass of it is underwater, invisible — I think nine-tenths of it. And I've heard so many people talk about the experience like a glass wall disconnecting them from the rest of the world." Photographer Michael Nye, "About Hunger & Resilience."
It is 7PM back East. If this is like most previous Feeding America blogathons, you have been with us on and off over the course of the past two days, sharing your stories, fears, hopes, and generosity. By now, you have read all the numbers. Perhaps these blogathons provide our community with more than an opportunity to raise funds and awareness about the terrifying ordeal of hunger in America. They also serve as a chance for all of us to find out a little more about troubles we face right here within the DailyKos community. So many of us have lost jobs. Are disabled. On foodstamps. Relocated. Or homeless.
Is there any one among us who does not feel like a stranger in a strange land?
And so, in our parting salvo, let's kick back, watch, and listen to what's happening on the streets of America as citizens from all walks of life take on food justice and respond to the fight against hunger.
Plugging the Hole Outside the Box
Since September 2007 to February 2010, the number of Americans participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has risen from 26,929,496 to 39,693,919, an increase of 13 million people. A staggering increase, yet alongside the sobering statistics, the county is also experiencing an unrivaled up swell of creative community engagement.
From Food Flash Mobs and tourists trailing along on Dumpster Diving Expeditions to foraging forays, street theater and trash can art, it's not a far stretch to envision the rapid deployment of Usahidi crowd sourcing software to identify and respond to food insecurity alerts on the street where YOU live.
Let's begin with Chicago's Chiditarod V Shopping Card Race where revelers collected 14,525 pounds of food for the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation in what organizers called the "the largest and most successful Chiditarod to date."
Los Angeles: Silly Walks for Hunger "We're still walking for hunger, because Hunger isn't funny!" LA's Monty Python Historic 40th Flash Mash Mob last November kicked off a "Million Meal March" effort to benefit Feeding America, Global Food Banking Network and the LA Food Bank. Viewers and participants were encouraged to donate at Sillywalks4hunger.com or by texting the word FEED to 90999 to donate $5.
"I love eating organic food! I have found that much of the produce thrown out by stores is organic, because they may have a few spots on them, or spoil quicker than those grown with pesticides. I haven't had to buy any organic greens for months (the main staple of my diet) as I find chard, spinach, collards, lettuce, spices, etc. every week, not to mention lots of organic bananas for smoothies." The Secret Fregan gathers over 400 lbs of food each week to feed the homeless and hungry, while slicing over $300 off her family’s monthly grocery bill.
Huntington, West Virginia: In his quest to introduce healthy cooking to the masses, TV celebrity chef Jamie Oliver spent five days organizing a flash mob demonstration featuring 1000 participants stir-frying in syncopation. Link
"The first freedom of man, I contend, is the freedom to eat." Eleanor Roosevelt.
St. Louis: Panera Cares Cafes: Take what you need, pay what you can
Wastedfood reports recently on student-run food recovery operations on college campuses. On a recent trip to Stanford: "We recovered 45 pounds of potatoes, fish, rice and more in about 45 minutes."
The Tao of dumpster diving "Fortunately, most stores are diligent about dumping food when it reaches its "sell by" date--three hours earlier, they'd have sold it to you. So the only guesswork is in deciding whether or not it has gone bad in the meantime ... This is simpler in colder months, when the entire outdoors is a walk-in fridge."
Freeganism: New Consumerism Practices: Dumpster Diving for Food
New York City: According to urbandictionary.com, a Freegan is "Somebody who abstains from contributing to the economy and salvages society's wasted food and resources rather than purchase more themselves." Learn how to "urban forage" on the trash tour given twice a month. Check out freegan.info for a list of events, a "dumpster. Link
Good night, everyone. God Bless.
UPDATE: I went a little bonkers and added at the end all sorts of resources about the role hunger has played in art throughout the ages. Just a beginning but I am more and more convinced that art IS the answer. This missing link. The catalyst.
Photocredits
Alone by Rita Banerji
Hop, Skip And Dump by Sedge808
Hunger by justrollthedice
Dumpster Art by Sedge808
This year, Feeding America conducted the largest ever survey of hunger in America: 2010 Hunger Report Key Findings. Download the Executive Summary and the entire report here.
49 million Americans: 1 in 6 American adults are hungry, and 1 in 4 American children are hungry.
Donate here, and ConAgra will match your donation dollar for dollar (up to a total collection of $250,000 in May.)
If you need to find a local food pantry, or if you want to volunteer your time you can find a nearby foodbank here.
Thanks so much for all you do.
All times Eastern!
Saturday, May 29:
- Faces of Hunger (Introduction) by noweasels.
- Urban Farms and Fisheries by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse
- Hunger in Vancouver by Chacounne
- Hunger in America 2010 by teacherken
- Food Forward -- Fallen Fruit and Foodbanks by Ellinorianne
Sunday
- Voice of the homeless in Tent City 4 by rb137
- Hunger, Politics & Poetics by srkp23
- Time, Talent and Treasure by Timroff
- Hunger in Paradise & A Challenge by blue jersey mom
- Taking it to The Streets by boatsie