Emergency Food

On:
Poppendeick, J. (1998). Sweet Charity? Excerpts from chapters 2 and 3: “Who Eats Emergency Food?” and “The Rise of Emergency Food,” pp. 49-74 and 81-98
Deparle, J. and R. Gebeloff. (2009). Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades
www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/us/29foodstamps.html?scp=1&sq=food%20stamps%20stigma&st=cse

Many people may automatically assume that emergency food programs are only utilized or required for the most needy of the needy. The fact of the matter is that emergency food programs are more common than many might think, as Poppendieck, DeParle and Gebeloff explain in these readings. Users of food aid programs in the U.S. include all ages, genders, races and social ranks including the recently laid off (previously well off), chronically unemployed, underemployed, and disabled (to name a few) with the majority of users being women and children. Poppendieck says "The pool of people who might realistically find themselves in need is much larger than the number of officially poor," (54). By definition, any household that is unable to allocate one third of its income to to food purchase would be considered poor (Poppendieck, 51).
Food aid programs became prevalent during the recession of the early 1980s with food pantries, soup kitchens, and food stamps (now technically the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- SNAP). "Emergency food" became a necessity for some people who were struggling to make ends meet while on food stamps, who had been unfairly denied stamps, or were in need but not eligible for food stamps. Taking advantage of these programs has since become a less stigmatized act, although some hard workers still see their use of food aid as embarrassing or shameful. Now, one in eight Americans and one in four children are benefited by food stamps. (DeParle, 1)
The "social constructionists" as Poppendieck describes, place the blame of hunger on society as a whole, rather than any individuals lack of self-help or ability. I agree that there are many underlying problems of the system that cause people to be hungry- even if they are well respected, working individuals. It was daunting (but not surprising) to find that so many people are refused federal food aid for one reason or another, though they are truly in need of help. How can other circumstances besides the typical requirements for poverty be incorporated to allow people in need to receive food aid? Also, How are federal food aid programs funded and who loses out when food is "given away".