Food Brings Dignity to Those in Need
Local community members are banding together to combat issues in their community one meal at a time.
From food donations to preparing meals, local organizations and students in Alamance County have remained actively committed to ending food insecurity in the local community through partnership. Food insecurity is more than an issue of having a choice for healthy and sustainable food; it is a quality of life issue. Over 19,000 Alamance County residents are food insecure and rely on local kitchens to access healthy and sustainable food daily, when barriers such as income and transportation prevent them from receiving consistent access to food. When individuals give back to those in need, it is more than an act of service; it offers people a sense of dignity.
“I like coming up here every day to get a good hot meal and get some supplies that I may need because stuff in the grocery store is high, and they have it."
Jones is one of the hundreds that rely on Allied Churches to provide healthy and nutritious food. He is among the residents of Alamance County impacted by food insecurity. With local organizations and students of Elon University actively committed to donating and preparing healthy meals, there is hope to bring an end to the global issue one step at a time in this local community.
Risk Factors for Those With Food Insecurity
Data retrieved from FRAC (Food Research& Action Center
Elon student preparing meals for lunch at Allied Churches.
Elon student preparing meals for lunch at Allied Churches.
More Than A Soup Kitchen
Jai Baker is the director of Allied Churches, which is an organization that provides emergency beds for homeless people and includes a community kitchen affectionately known as “Joe’s Diner.” Baker says that his philosophy isn’t just about providing food to hungry people, it’s about providing them with proper nutrition and a diverse array of options for quality food. He thinks back to how his mother expressed her love through food, and he tries to pass that tradition on.
Painting signifying the mission of Allied Churches of Alamance County.
Painting signifying the mission of Allied Churches of Alamance County.
“Season with love,” says Baker, in reference to a month-long campaign where community members can drop off their favorite seasonings to be used in the kitchen. Elevating food flavor is one method Baker's staff uses to keep standards high.
Baker employs a staff that has “lived” experience, meaning that some have previous experiences with homelessness. He also says the organization uses their diverse voices to make sure it’s meeting the various needs of its clients.
“It’s really about connecting. We all connect over a plate of food.”
Baker says the days are over where his organization is struggling to meet demand. Ninety- eight percent of the food Allied Churches serves is donated. His pantries are full due to enthusiastic support from community business and Elon University, he says.
Baker shares the importance of partnership to end food insecurity.
Since taking this role in 2018, Baker has remained committed to creating lasting partnerships with the surrounding community. He understands that food insecurity is not an issue that can be tackled by one individual, but by many.
According to Baker, food insecurity is still an issue because there is intersectionality to the issue of food deserts. He says transportation challenges, population growth, rising housing prices due to gentrification, and joblessness are all factors. From 2019 to 2022, the number of hungry people grew to 150 million, which is likely to be blamed on issues like climate change and COVID.
“…So, then you're also creating a pipeline for new people to come into your area, my question is… whatever happens to the citizen of Burlington that's been here for 40 years?” says Baker.
Baker’s approach of treating people with dignity and not seeing them merely as hungry has another more important benefit: trust. This established trust allows Allied Churches the ability to interact with people regularly and find them employment and places to live. Addressing the root causes helps them to actively work to solve these problems.
Baker discusses why people are constantly coming back to Allied Churches.
“In order to impact a person's life, right? They have to see you as important. And part of that being important and influential is the dignity piece in that,” says Baker.
Baker believes in strong outreach which includes a social media presence. According to him, most non-profit organizations that opened after COVID-19 close within 18 months. He says if a non-profit can’t show evidence that it’s helping, it goes under.
He says Allied Churches' success is due to the community he has engaged with.
But Taylor says Allied Churches' success is due in no small part to the community he has engaged to support him.
Baker says, “They're not homeless people. They're my people. They are.”
At Allied Churches, meals are prepared for lunch.
At Allied Churches, meals are prepared for lunch.
Food Insecurity: What is it?
"The limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways," as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture. Food insecurity looks different for everyone, but still remains a global issue.
Emerson Wells, director of Campus Kitchen, describes the intersectionality of food insecurity.
Food is Dignity
Common Myths About Food Insecurity
source: https://www.shfb.org/impact/blog/food-insecurity-myths-top-5-common-myths/
Campus Kitchen shift: Elon student volunteers prepare meals to be delivered to Allied Churches.
Campus Kitchen shift: Elon student volunteers prepare meals to be delivered to Allied Churches.
Emerson Wells is the student director of Campus Kitchen, which is a part of the Elon Volunteers program. Campus Kitchen has continued its partnership with Allied Churches to constantly supply the local community with healthy, nutritional meals. Loy Farms is a local farm that helps supply Elon's campus dining with produce. Then they donate excess food to Campus Kitchen, where it is used to make meals for the Alamance County community. Wells' work with student volunteers helps to educate students on issues of food insecurity.
“I think a lot of people have a false understanding of food insecurity and kind of think of it as not only derogatory, but also it's something that they themselves might personally not ever experience. Food insecurity on college campuses is a huge issue, and we might not see that on Elon's campus necessarily. But, food insecurity can impact any population, any age, and continues to do so,” Wells says.
Gratitude is a reoccurring theme for Wells. She says she appreciates knowing the process of where food comes from, and that gives her an appreciation for all the work involved.
“It's really a privilege to not only consume something that you've grown yourself, but also recognize the labor that goes into producing a head of lettuce," Wells says.
Campus with Community
There is a assumption that a private school and a beautiful campus are a bubble that students never leave. However, Elon students are actively encouraged to engage, and their community extends beyond the boundaries of the campus.
Bob Frigo has been the Associate Dean of Campus Life and director of the Kernodle Center since 2001. He says approximately 13 percent of Alamance County residents are considered food insecure.
Bob Frigo describes the importance of connecting college campuses with the community.
Data retrieved from Feeding America
Data retrieved from Feeding America
“I think, you know, if you take a look at any college campus that exists in the country right now, sometimes students can really live in a very small proximity to where the university buildings and residence halls are and not realize what's happening outside of that campus,” says Frigo. “And so really, it's important for us to realize that we are an institution that exists within Alamance County.”
The solution to any problem begins with education on the matter. Abigail Wiatrek, Assistant Director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, believes that the center encourages students to think beyond simply educating themselves in order to work with the community rather than for the community.
One of the organizations at Elon’s Kernodle Center is Campus Kitchen and the partnering Loy Farms.
Campus Kitchen cooks meals that get delivered to Allied Churches every Wednesday. Loy Farms grows produce to incorporate into these meals, to provide fruits and vegetables that make sure meals can be made up of healthy options.
Data retrieved from Feeding America
Data retrieved from Feeding America
Elon students harvesting produce at Loy Farms.
Elon students harvesting produce at Loy Farms.
A CALL TO ACTION
From 2019 to 2022, the number of hungry people rose to 150 million. There is still much work to be done. But the localized, collective efforts of people like Baker and the residents and students of Alamance County can be an example of how communities can rally together to to provide small solutions to far-reaching problems. They don't just offer a hot meal, but also a sense of dignity and self-sufficiency. The farm-to-table process plants seeds of education and inspiration that grow better together. The shared understanding of the Alamance County community is a template for community action across the country. It's not a "they" problem, it's a "we" problem. As Baker says...
"You’re only one bad decision away from potentially being homeless yourself."
Built with Shorthand