Chicago Food Insecurity

Name the article: Feeding the need
Author: Rachel Farrell
date of publication: 3/19/2010
source: http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/News_Articles/2010/kate_maehr.aspx

The article about the Greater Chicago Food Depository basically shows the increase in need for services amongst the popultions. The thing that distinguishes this from the readings we have done thus far is the timing. None of the texts faced such economic hardships as we do now in 2010.
“Not surprisingly, the economic downturn has caused demand for food at GCFD to spike dramatically. Since 2006, the number of people served has increased 36 percent. Last year, that amounted to 58.3 million pounds of meat, produce, dairy products and nonperishable food.” These rises within the area are not by any means insignificant. Any increase in terms of donations or contributions when people are pinching their wallets is pretty much a disaster in the making. The texts examine scenarios in stable economies, the current scenario is more like a fiction film than any reality we would like to endure.

Nickel and Dimed and the LIVING WAGE reality

In Minneapolis, Wal-Mart payed her $7 an hour. She spent some time debating between this and Menards but realized that the 10 dollars an hour promised at Menards was not a reality by any means. A problem facing Ehrenreich around this time as well as throughout the book is affordable housing.

The Minneapolis Community Development Agency filed a 2003 report that establishes the 2003 Minneapolis Living Wage at $9.73 per hour. She is barely there and realistically going to need another job to survive in Minnesota.

http://www.newrules.org/equity/rules/living-wage/living-wage-ordinance-minneapolis

Walter and Marnie's Blog critiques

Since walter and I have had some classes together I figured I would check his blog out and get a look at his thought process. I was pleasantly surprised to find some video bars as well as a burst of color on his sight. The other thing I liked was his adding of contact info for the national runaway switch board. I found that to be clever. I am pretty sure we saw Kim speak last summer together so his blog about her was refreshing, and his quote of, "I guess to anyone going through hard times I challenge you to INSPIRE someone and do what is right and succeed despite it" was awesome.


Go figure that I have the same background as Marnie! Her posts were about as long as I have ever seen. Once again, here was another person with some photos and a video bar and it had me wondering why i never spent as much time with mine as I do on my facebook. The most fascinating part of her blog was the link to the world socialist website. OMg how revealing is that? I am not sure if it was just for the one article it took me to or if she was trying to tell us something. Either way, her blog most definitely matches her in class actions and was well written

A splash of extra credit with the National Runaway Switchboard

Hmmmm. Prior to the presentation I had zero knowledge of this group even existing. Possibly from the fact that at no time in my life did I or those around me need the hotline, or could be the fact that their message just never reached me. I thought the presentation was outstanding as far as what they have to offer. I wish things were a little more involved but I understand that from a legal standpoint, when aiding minors or working with them in general there are a ton of legal barriers.

I found the speaker to be above and beyond knowledgeable on the topic and that helps when it comes to an effective presentation. The message definitely reached me as well as my fellow classmates I am sure. It is unfortunate as to the laundry list of reasons as to why people runaway yet it is our reality. I think the message needs to be reinforced and educated to the parents as well so they can make a less hostile household. If only there was a program to give people licenses to reproduce and classes beforehand I think some of the problems we now have would be decreased.

STREETWISE

This film was disturbing for a number of a reasons. To start, prior to taking this class or film, I never really thought of children and teens as capable of being homeless. The term runaway came to mind meaning a kid who left for a little bit and came home, not so much as what the film showed.

Drug abuse, hustling, prostitution, and a number of other day to day possible activities for these individuals as a means to survival and coping were upsetting. I could not imagine what this would be like. As far as the resources available to these kids that seems as if at the time the film was made little was out there. In this economy, I can't imagine there being an over abundance of resources either.

Lastly, the reasons as to how these kids ended up this way is the root of the problem. Issues within the household that no one should have to endure led the majority of these individuals to turn to the streets. Truly disturbing. I hate to blame the parents but in the majority of these cases, I think the problem lies with them to turn these kids into the streets as oppose to keeping them home. As bad as things may have been in my life, I can't imagine running away as a solution.

The action project that I did not see coming

It all began with a search for an organization for my group to work with. We brought it down to a few and ultimately chose to go with REST.

We were instructed that in order to work with the group we would have to go through an orientation of sorts. Jen and I were able to do so a week ago, the other two group members will do theirs soon. Upon completion of the meeting we were given a chance to chose our times. For some reason, simply serving a meal did not seem adequate enough for what I was seeking to gain from this group. I told the coordinator that instead of the 6-8 am breakfast shift or 8-10 dinner, I would like to begin at 6 am and see how long I could last in the organization. Little did i know what was in store for me.

To keep the blog brief and save information for my presentation, I will give a quick overview of my day at rest.

6am Walk into the mens shelter and engage in conversation with the night supervisor along with one of the "clients" who is the cook. I found it interesting and encouraging that the residents so to speak were all labeled as clients and members.

The food situation was not ideal and the menu consisted of oatmeal and coffee.

I guess shortly after the disorientation settled in for me the door was opened and I stood witness to the sleeping situation. That along with the smell took my breath away.

Fast forward to an awkward morning of service and it was almost 8am. The cleaning and putting away of the beds had begun to occur and I was just in a state of shock.

around 8am i met the two day shift supervisors and it was business as usual for them. From processing in the current males, in addition to the women from down the street, it was quite a sight to see. I worked with the two on the front end to receive and process the clients as if it were a job or something with a roll call. My appetite at this point was gone.

Orientation for some newbies happenned around 10, after which i took a lunch to regain composure and let things marinade a little bit.

My group partner Jen came in after lunch and together we mingled with the clients and discussed some of the scenarios that led them to this place of refuge. In addition to some board games and what not, we then went on an adventure with a young fellow through the neighborhood and to Starbucks, where we unexpectedly ran into another client who walked in.

By 7 pm, the day had reached an end for us and the rest of the fun filled action will have to be told in class, so make sure you attend!!!!