The column I wrote in yesterday’s CA has made quite an impression — notes filled my in-box this morning with reactions to the news that MIFA’s emergency food voucher distribution has more than doubled since last year.
From Jim Moss, “at one time I would not believe that people could go hungry here in Memphis,” then he mentions the Angel Food program at Colonial Park United Methodist, where they sell food at a discount to hungry neighbors. Another reader, “It’s a disgrace when the elderly have to choose between medicine and food.”
But it was this comment that made me stop and write about this: ”Years ago when they had ‘Hands Across America’ calling attention to hungry people in this country, I got all upset and called the Welfare Department. … I was amazed to find out there were 14 programs. … I suggest you call this department and see why anybody in this country is hungry. Are these people just too stupid to find out about these programs?”
No, I don’t think it’s a question of being stupid. Anyone who has watched someone navigate the WIC/Food stamps maze knows it’s quite complicated. And yes, assistance is available … though it doesn’t always stretch far enough, or cover everyone. It makes me alternately sad and angry that “these people” are often marginalized and made into the stupid “other” in these conversations. What I found out a couple of weeks ago at MIFA is that, right now, people who never thought they’d need help are the ones outside in the mornings at 7:30. I wonder if the above commenter will ever find herself in that same line.
Responses to “Hungry in Memphis.”
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I wonder if that commenter believes in Karma because I sure do and it’s sure to swing around and get her right where it hurts…be it financially or otherwise.
June 24th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Visited the MIFA web site lately? I have. It provides information about pretty much everything except HOW TO GET FOOD. That’s a super secret which can only be learned from insiders.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:27 am
You also have to take into account the number of people who have limited or nonexistent reading skills. It’s not easy to access information about help when you read below a 5th grade level (like 1 in 3 of Memphians do). In addition, most people don’t know services like 211 (through the Public Library) that provide information about a variety of agencies that can provide help.
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
It’s hit my food budget hard to have my children home for the summer and not participating in the school lunch program; add in the ever-increasing price of gasoline to get to work and school, and my two-college-student family is about one paycheck away from disaster.