Food Insecurity and the Global Pandemic
Lindsey Williamson
There are few people who can say that their lives have not been affected by the global pandemic, and those who have been affected the most are the people who were already the most vulnerable.
Due to the pandemic, people struggling with food insecurity were suddenly faced with even more difficulty accessing free, or affordable food. Countless individuals lost income or jobs, crowded food banks were no longer a safe space for many, and children who received food assistance at school were often left to go without when schools transitioned to virtual classes.
These struggles, coupled with rising food prices and supply chain issues, made it even more apparent that, despite the remarkable work that they do, food rescue trucks and food pantries alone cannot reach all of the city’s hungry people. Other resources need to be made accessible to those in need, and other solutions must work hand in hand with existing ones to fill the gap in accessibility.
Every Saturday, Mott Haven Fridge Network volunteers sort through an average of 6,000 lbs of excess, unsold produce rescued from the largest produce market in the U.S., ironically located in the poorest borough of New York City, and redistribute it to hyper-local neighborhood sites that other programs often have difficulty reaching.
As we enter our third year of life with COVID, there is some hope on the horizon for those struggling with food insecurity. With measures in place to attempt to slow the spread of the virus, people who are able to travel to access food resources can now safely do so. However, there are still countless individuals and families that face a daily struggle with food insecurity, and that is where grassroots operations like Mott Haven Fridge Network and their volunteers help to fill the void.
We thank you all for your continued support through volunteering and contributions! This support remains invaluable to us as we work to give dignified food access to all.
To sign up to volunteer with Mott Haven Fridge Network, follow the link below.
If you would like to contribute to helping combat food insecurity, click below!
