Food security has been a challenge globally, primarily due to uneven distribution and not due to underproduction as many would presume. I benefited from charitable food programs between March 2019 and September 2020 during my second year at Toronto Canada University. My food shortage began when I lost my academic sponsor in mid-January 2019 after succumbing to pancreatic cancer. Life took a sharp turn, and I had to shoulder my bills and school fees. I was a part-time photographer, and the income I got was inadequate to cater to my bills. After two months, I prioritized clearing my fees balances, and that meant that I had to rely on charitable food programs for my daily meals.
Getting food from charitable food programs forced me to change my dietary plans since I did not get the desired food. My diet had to include several fruits and be mindful of carbohydrates, vitamins, and proteins in recommended quantities from my childhood. Conversely, the food package from the charitable food program was provided once a week, and it included 250grams of powder milk, 1kg canned beans, 5-500 grams of pasta, and 1kg canned vegetables. The meals were inadequate, and I had to skip one meal a day to sustain the package till the next offer. The experience was shameful as I had to strive with family men and women since the packages were sometimes rationed.
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Figure 1.1: Canned Beans with Macaroni ( Kennisgeving voor omleiding , n.d)
Depending entirely on well-wishers for meals reinstated the meaning of society in relation to helping others meet their basic needs. I related to the statement by Tarasuk and Eakin (2002) that Canadian food banks depend solely on volunteer groups’, communities’ and individuals’ generosities. I now understand that redistribution of food from those with excess to the starving is the most efficient and fast way of achieving food security.
Comment
My experiences on altering meal schedules are similar to those expressed in example 1. Since the food was not enough, one had to reorganize to stretch the meals until the subsequent provision. However, unlike in example 1, where the beneficiary got psychological disorders due to stress, I could contain my anxiety even though the experiences were depressing. Besides, my experience of having simple meals to minimize costs was common in example 2. Due to the limited variety of foods provided, simpler meals saved cost and prolonged usage time. However, while in example 2, where beneficiaries had gift cards, food in the Toronto charity food program was packaged, and thus the beneficiary had no choice of what to buy.
References
Tarasunk, V., & Eakin. J., M. (June 12, 2002). Charitable food assistance as symbolic gesture: an ethnographic study of food banks in Ontario. Social Science & Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12614701/
Kennisgeving voor omleiding . (n.d.). Progresso. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.progresso.com%2Fproducts%2Fvegetable-classic-macaroni-bean%2F&psig=AOvVaw1xRdFxwyxbN1tkT4Ka9N-g&ust=1624461239065000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjhxqFwoTCMDmtvnDq_ECFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
