Food insecurity is a much larger problem than one may believe. It is very likely that you have friends and/or family who are food insecure. This means that their food source will run out before they have the money to replenish it. This is an issue that hits home for me, because I have been food insecure for a large part of my life. Being in this situation can cause a person and their children extreme mental anguish, largely affecting a person's overall well being. The good news is that there is a solution.
Every day in America 1 in 6 people are classified as being food insecure.
www.dosomething.org Food is a basic necessity for life and someone you know is fighting this battle daily. No one should ever have to make the choice between food in their
children's bellies and keeping a roof over their head, yet everyday this
is the reality for many people. Growing up, there was not an abundance of food in my home. My siblings and I used
to all dream about carts full of
groceries at the store only to wake up and find that it was all a dream.
Each one of us have recalled different details of our dreams. I can recall a vivid dream I had as a child. My sister,
brother, and I were all in the store. We had juice drinks, fresh
fruit, toaster
pasties, cookies, candy, and all those goodies you want as a child. I
can
remember how happy I was in my dream, and how sad I was upon waking.
My mother always worked. In fact, most of the time, she had more than one job. She wasn't home until late most nights due to her work schedule. At the time, it was my older sister, my little brother and me. Our mother would, of course, buy groceries but sometimes our food supply just got extremely low before she would be able to buy more. Don't get me wrong, we never went hungry but it wasn't always a very balanced diet. Before time to shop again we would eat beans and noodles for a few nights. I can only imagine the amount of stress and worry that woman carried on her shoulders each and every day. I honestly cannot understand how she even got herself out of bed in the morning. She was doing everything she could to make ends meet, and yet it was still a daily struggle.
When I think back to mealtimes when we were young, I distinctly remember how our mother never ate until we were all full and finished. She did this because she wanted to make sure there was enough for us. When we asked her why she wasn't eating she would tell us she wasn't hungry. When we got older and realized what she was doing, we were more considerate and encouraged her to sit and eat with us. I'll never forget when I was about 6 years old. We had hamburgers for dinner. For some reason I was being very difficult that day. I picked up my hamburger and tossed it. It rolled off the table and into the floor and was ruined. I remember my mom telling me that's all we had to eat. I cried after realizing I was hungry and had ruined my food. She made me promise to be grateful from that point on and then she gave me hers.
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| My big sister learning to make dumplings |
There were many
nights of biscuits and gravy for supper and and canned green beans for an after school
snack. My sister used to make us goulosh a lot. (You can find the
recipe at the end of this post.) We even had surprise can night. This
consists of can foods that no longer have a label on them. They used to
sell them in grocery stores for super cheap! My mother would buy these
and we would all pick a can for dinner. I can remember hoping for
something really good, and usually it ended up being beets. And leftovers were absolutely not wasted! When there were leftovers in the fridge it was an excuse to spend quality time together and get creative! We did at times wonder if we would have something to eat. Mother always managed to come up with something for us even if all we had was flour and water. We were all taught a very powerful message. You can do a lot with very little.
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| My little brother, big sister, and me |
A lot of good came out of us being poor and having limited food supply. My mom taught us that we have a lot more than some people and it's
true we did. Somewhere out there we had
more than someone else. We were taught to be grateful for what we
had. We ate what was put in front of us without much complaint. We were still ungrateful and frustrated at times, like kids will be. But we learned to appreciate and be thankful in time. Now as adults even more so because sometimes we will find ourselves in a similar situation. Because of our mom we have the skills and resources to rectify the situation. As children we knew our circumstances were different than other families but I don't remember ever being jealous or angry. Mostly we were grateful
for what we had. I learned a lot of very important lessons growing up that I have carried with me all my life. Since I didn't have very much as a child, it taught me to be resourceful and waste as little as possible. I learned to be thoughtful and cooperative at a very young age. Most importantly I learned to give. I witnessed family, friends, and neighbors give to us. I am grateful for all those who took notice of our situation and did what they could to help. Their generosity and kindness is still valued today.
People tend to hide that they are struggling. They may feel shame or embarrassment. I know I did. A person can become depressed when food is not available to them. As a child, I struggled to be able to focus in school because I was always worried about my home life. Most people are not going to ask for help. It is humiliating to have to tell someone that you don't know what you will be having for your next meal. Not having food is enough to make you want to stop living. If you have ever been there, you know what I am talking about. For those of you experiencing food insecurity, I urge you to reach out for help. Let others know what you are going through. Do not be ashamed to visit your local food bank, or other food assistance programs. That is why these programs exist. Your lack of food is a temporary circumstance and getting the help you need now will help aid you to become more independent in the future. Everyone needs help sometimes. You are not failing. Be proud that you are trying, and trying IS NOT failing.
I want to be part of the solution. I may not have an excess of money, but I have skills. I can use my knowledge and coupon strategies to help others. I can pick up a few extra food items while I am shopping. I know how to get products for very cheap and I can afford to grab some extras to contribute to those in need. Just because I may not have a lot to give doesn't mean I have nothing. We all have something to give. Whether it be money, food, knowledge, transportation, or however you can help. The smallest gestures can make the biggest difference.
This has only been my story. There are so many others out their facing
much worse conditions. Not everyone has the kind of mother I do. Food insecurity is a major problem in every community today. Remember that people wont always ask for help. Don't let that stop you from offering. Also keep in mind that if you are the one who is struggling, it is temporary, you will get through this. Be brave! Persevere! Tell your story and reach out to others for support. Everyone has something to give. Find your own unique way that you can help.
Goulosh
Ingredients:
*1 can/jar spaghetti sauce
*1 can mixed vegetables
*1lb elbow macaroni
*1/2 ground beef (optional)
Directions: Cook pasta according to package directions. Brown meat if using. Drain pasta and meat. Combine all ingredients and heat through.
