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Archive for the ‘Hunger and Food Insecurity’ Category

The $16,786 thank you letter

Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

During 2012, faith communities, local businesses, and individuals like you contributed $16,786 to the Alabama Poverty Project.

Montevallo High School 9th graders visited the University of Montevallo at the conclusion of this fall’s Blueprints early awareness program.

. Thank you!

We are immensely grateful to partners like you. You inspire us and constantly remind us that, together, we have the power to end poverty and hunger in Alabama.

We hope that you had a chance to join us at one of our programs this year. The highlights included:

• The Blueprints College Access Initiative, which worked with more than 500 students at eight high schools across Alabama. Through a combination of early awareness and college coaching, Blueprints increases college access by supporting families in college and career planning, financial aid literacy, and ACT preparation. Thank you for helping students pursue their college dreams.

• Bringing together leaders from the social justice and business communities for a conversation with APP Founder Wayne Flynt and retired Energen CEO Mike Warren on the issue of poverty and the potential for the business community to facilitate social change. Thank you for helping us bring together unusual partners to achieve Alabama’s potential.

• July’s Summer Workshop and September’s Lifetime of Learning Conference, which brought together students, educators, and community partners to learn about ending poverty and working in diverse communities. At both events, we learned that listening to each other is what makes magic happen. Thank you for giving us the chance to listen.

We have just five more days to raise $11,714. Please ensure that we have the resources to continue our work together by making a contribution today.

Thank you,

Kristina Scott

Executive Director

Tags: advocacy, alabama, blueprints, civic engagement, college, college access, community development, economic development, educational attainment, faith, food security, higher education alliance, higher educational attainment, hunger, mentoring, poverty, service-learning, Wayne Flynt
Posted in Advocacy, civic engagement, community, Economics & Employment, education, environment, Hunger and Food Insecurity, Hunger and Food Security, Making A Difference | No Comments »

Alabama is fat and hungry? Yes, it is.

Monday, September 24th, 2012

On Saturday September 22, the Wetumpka Herald posted a column from Managing Editor Peggy Blackburn with the headline “Alabama is Fat and Hungry?” Here’s an excerpt:

One report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ranks Alabama as fourth in adult obesity rate at 32 percent of the population.

That seems like a reasonable estimate, especially given the charts used in determining if a person’s weight is under, over or in the normal range. I know some muscular folks the charts actually gauge as overweight.

Contrarily, a report published by the Food Research and Action Center said 23.4 percent of the state’s residents reported that they couldn’t afford enough food for their families and also reported going hungry. That is the second highest percentage in the country.

It is difficult for me to reconcile the state being the fourth most obese while at the same time being the second hungriest.

The categories are so specific it seems unlikely any of the people in one group could qualify for the other. If the respondents are all different, that would mean only 45 percent of Alabamians are neither overeating nor starving.

I don’t say it’s impossible, but it seems odd.

Although we applaud the managing editor’s efforts to educate herself about obesity and poverty in Alabama, we felt her article mischaracterized the data. We sent this letter in response:

Dear Ms. Blackburn:

This email is in response to your column “Alabama is fat and hungry?” which was posted on Saturday.

Today it is quite common to be both hungry and obese.

Poverty causes hunger, and nearly 1 in 5 Alabamians live in poverty. Poor families contend with challenges like low wages, part-time work, and unemployment – factors that make it difficult to afford food.

Conversely, obesity impacts Alabamians of all walks of life. The Center for Disease Control estimates that in 2011, 31 percent of Alabama adults were obese.

The Food Research and Action Center cites some reasons why low-income people are especially prone to obesity, including:

• Many low-income communities lack full-service grocery stores but have a proliferation of convenience stores that do not stock fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

• Healthy, low fat food is more expensive than low cost, high calorie options.

• Low-income communities have fewer recreation options and higher rates of crime. These higher crime rates (or fear of crime) cause many families to keep their children indoors. Poor kids also do not have the same access to afterschool and summertime recreational activities and sports.

• Being poor is often stressful, which can result in disordered eating, reduced physical activity, and depression – all factors related to weight gain. In addition, hunger and/or poverty can cause production of a stress hormone that is associated with obesity.

The Alabama Poverty Project is a nonprofit resource center dedicated to reducing systemic poverty and its root causes across Alabama. APP educates citizens about poverty, motivates colleges and faith-based institutions to engage in poverty-reduction activities, and advocates for fact-based policy decisions statewide.

We invite Alabamians who are interested in learning more to visit our web site at www.alabamapossible.org.

Kristina Scott

Executive Director, Alabama Poverty Project

Tags: 2nd hungriest state, 4th most obese state, advocacy, census, Elmore County, food security, hunger, paradox, poverty, Wetumpka
Posted in Advocacy, Census Stats on Poverty, health, Health Care, Hunger and Food Insecurity, Hunger and Food Security, Making A Difference | No Comments »

23.4 Percent of Alabama Households Unable to Afford Enough Food in 2011

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Report finds Alabama 2nd hungriest state in the nation, Birmingham 12th hungriest metro area

BIRMINGHAM – According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), 23.4 percent of respondents in Alabama in 2011 said they didn’t have enough money to buy food that they or their family needed at some point during the prior twelve months.

FRAC’s February Food Hardship in America – 2011 report provides data on food hardship, which is the inability to afford enough food. Findings include:

o Statewide, 23.4 percent of households said they were unable to afford enough food, which is the second highest rate in the country.

o The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had a food hardship rate of 21.3 percent, which is the 12th highest rate among the nation’s 100 largest MSAs.

o The 7th Congressional District reported 27.2 percent food hardship, which is the highest in the state and 23rd highest in the country.

o The 6th Congressional District reported 16.3 percent food hardship, which is the only Alabama congressional district below the national average.

“Many Alabamians have told us that they are having trouble affording groceries, and this data substantiates their personal stories,” said Alabama Poverty Project Executive Director Kristina Scott.

The data were gathered as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index project, which interviewed 1,000 households daily since January 2008. Specific to this analysis, people were asked, “Have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?” FRAC analyzed the data gathered by Gallup.

“Having enough food to eat is the most basic of human needs. However, we can’t food bank our way out of poverty and hunger. In these tough fiscal times, it is more important than ever to address the systems that cause food hardship. I challenge lawmakers and communities to support sustainable solutions so that our neighbors can meet their own needs,” said Scott.

The full report is available at www.frac.org.

About the Alabama Poverty Project

Alabama is the third poorest state in the nation, with 18.9 percent of households subsisting below the poverty line. The Alabama Poverty Project (APP) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to reducing systemic poverty through strategic relationships with faith communities, higher education institutions and civic organizations. For information and resources, visit our website, http://alabamapossible.org.

Tags: advocacy, alabama, Birmingham, Black Belt, community development, food bank, food pantry, food security, hunger, mobile, poverty
Posted in civic engagement, community, Economics & Employment, Fighting Poverty with Faith, Hunger and Food Insecurity, Hunger and Food Security, Making A Difference | No Comments »

The $12,964 thank you letter

Monday, December 26th, 2011

Woodlawn High School Students visited UAB as part of our Blueprints College Access Initiative.

Dear Friends,

During 2011, faith and individual donors like you contributed $12,964 to the Alabama Poverty Project. That means we are nearly 75 percent of the way to our 2011 goal of $17,500. Thank you!

We are immensely grateful to partners like you. You inspire us and constantly remind us that, together, we have the power to end poverty and hunger in Alabama.

We hope that you had a chance to join us at one of our programs this year. The highlights included:

• The Blueprints College Access Initiative, which worked with 246 students at seven high schools across Alabama. Blueprints increases college access by supporting families in college and career planning, financial aid literacy, and ACT preparation. Thank you for helping equip students to pursue their college dreams.

• Celebrating the publication of APP Co-Founder Wayne Flynt‘s memoir, Keeping the Faith: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives. Wayne challenges and inspires us to keep fighting for a more just Alabama. Thank you for helping us keep his flame going.

• Alabama Possible Community Conversations, which bring together Alabamians to talk about our aspirations for our communities, the barriers we face in achieving those aspirations, and what actions individuals, leaders, and communities can take in turning possibilities into reality. Thank you for helping us listen to the dreams of everyday Alabamians.

• July’s Tornado Recovery Workshop and September’s Lifetime of Learning Conference, which brought together students, educators, and community partners to talk about poverty and long-term tornado recovery. Thank you for ensuring that the structural causes of poverty are addressed in rebuilding efforts.

We have just 5 more days to raise $4,536. Please ensure that we have the resources to continue our work together by making a contribution today.

Thank you,

Kristina Scott

Executive Director

Alabama Poverty Project

Tags: advocacy, alabama, alabama possible spotlight, civic engagement, college access, college affordability, community development, economic development, educational attainment, faith, financial aid, food security, higher education, higher education alliance, higher educational attainment, poverty, poverty commission, Tornado Recovery, tornadoes, Wayne Flynt
Posted in Advocacy, civic engagement, community, Economics & Employment, education, Fighting Poverty with Faith, Hunger and Food Insecurity, Making A Difference | No Comments »

Give the power of possibilities with APP’s 2011 Holiday Gift Memberships

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Alabama-made goat cheese. Home-grown pepper jelly. And the power to end poverty.

Our Alabama Possible campaign is about the power we have to ensure every Alabamian achieves their potential.

That’s why we have teamed up with two Alabama treasures – Elkmont’s Belle Chèvre Cheese and Thomaston’s Alabama Rural Heritage Center – for our 2011 gift membership premium.

For your donation of $50 or more, we’ll mail your honoree a gift box with Belle Chèvre fromage blanc and the Rural Heritage Center’s Mama Nem’s red pepper jelly along with a special note acknowledging your gift and their membership in APP supporting of our work mobilizing Alabamians to eliminate poverty.

Order here by midnight on Tuesday, December 20, to make sure your gift arrives on time. Payment accepted via Paypal only. Call 205-939-1408 with any questions.

Tags: Alabama Rural Heritage Center, Belle Chevre, Christmas, fundraiser, goat cheese, Hanukkah, holiday gifts, Mama Nem's, pepper jelly
Posted in Fighting Poverty with Faith, Hunger and Food Insecurity, Hunger and Food Security, Making A Difference, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Press Release: Nearly 1/3 of Alabama households with children unable to afford enough food during 2009-10

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Hunger impacts children’s ability to concentrate, learn in school

Nearly one-third, or 32 percent, of households with children in Alabama reported not having enough money to buy food that they or their family needed at some point during the prior twelve months, according to a new report released by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Food Hardship in America 2010: Households with and without Children.

This report provides data on food hardship – the inability to afford enough food. During 2009-10:

32 percent of Alabama households with children said they were unable to afford enough food, the second highest among the 50 states.
The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) households with children had a food hardship rate of 23.4 percent in 2010, the 10^th highest rate among the nation’s 100 largest MSAs.
In the 7^th Congressional District, 45.0 percent of households with children reported food hardship, the highest in the state and the 3^rd highest in the nation.
In the 1^st Congressional District, 34.8 percent of households with children reported food hardship, the 2^nd highest in the state and the 19^th highest in the nation.
In the 2^nd Congressional District, 33.1 percent of households with children reported food hardship, 3^rd highest in the state and the 32^nd highest in the nation.

“When children don’t have enough to eat, they have a harder time concentrating and performing well in school,” said Kristina Scott, Executive Director of the Alabama Poverty Project. “Research indicates that for young children, even mild undernutrition negatively impacts their behavior, their school performance, and their overall cognitive development.”

The data were gathered as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Specific to this analysis, people were asked, “Have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?” The data gathered by Gallup were analyzed by FRAC.

“Hunger is not always visible, and thus people may be skeptical that it exists in their communities. This report bears witness to the fact that Alabamians struggle to feed their families,” said Scott.

The full report is available at www.frac.org

Posted in Census Stats on Poverty, community, education, environment, health, Hunger and Food Insecurity, Hunger and Food Security, Making A Difference, Uncategorized | No Comments »