Blog 3; Post J, Little Red Wagon: Facing Hunger

The role of food banks in America is one that is crucial and necessary in feeding the millions of American's who often have to choose between food and medicine or rent.  The film 'Little Red Wagon: Facing Hunger' discusses the food insecurity issues of a rural town in Vermont.  When I think of food insecurity I think of big cities with dense populations and often homeless or working poor minorities who use food banks the most.  

This film brought to light that anyone, anywhere in the richest country of the world, can suffer from food insecurity.  When I think of Vermont, I think of maple trees, farmhouses and owners with acres and acres of land at their disposal, growing agriculture items for the rest of the country.  I would have never thought that hunger was an issue that rural tows would face. 

The film highlights a small food pantry that is run by volunteers and serves primarily white working poor Americans.  They work in blue collar jobs earning minimum wages and barely making ends meets. The film shares stories from a single mother, an upper class woman who recently divorced and a handful of elders who are on limited funds like SSI and medicare.  Each story unique, and each with the same desire to feed their family.  They all acknowledge the importance of their pantry and what a lifesaver it is, and that without it they would go hungry.

Feeding America is an organization that collects and distributes food to food pantries nationwide, including the one in Vermont.  According to their website, "Challenges facing rural areas differ from metro/urban areas in several significant ways". They further go on to say that "Employment is more concentrated in low-wage industries; unemployment and underemployment are greater and education levels are lower".

Because of these challenges, there are MORE issues of hunger in rural towns as "15.5% of rural households are food insecure, an estimated 3.1 million households and 8.5 million Americans (17.7%) living in rural areas live below the federal poverty line."

I believe it is important for everyone to educate themselves about hunger and food insecurity issues that affect their communities and  do something about it, whether donating time by volunteering or money or donating food items to their local pantry.

The Red Wagon: Facing Hunger (2005) Directed by Jim Ritvo and Dave Raizman 
 http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/rural-hunger.aspx