Laurel of Leaves

getting back to my roots: my journey in true health and natural living

Musings

What if the Homeless Had Food?

March 17, 2011

Or I guess the question I really want to ask is, ‘what if the homeless had food that was good for them?’

Don’t get me wrong–I love what homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks are doing. They want to make a difference and help people who may not be able to help themselves.

And I’ve served at a number of shelters, soup kitchens, food banks, etc. It’s wonderful to see a smile on the face of a man or woman who hasn’t had a hot meal in who knows how long.

Homeless & Hungry

photo courtesy of runran

And I’ve met some of these people on the streets, too. We’ve had conversations about why they don’t have a home and are living on the streets. The reasons are as different and varied as they are.

And yet, whenever I dish out a spoonful of canned apple cobbler or greasy fried chicken at a soup kitchen, or help organize boxes of mac & cheese and cans of Vienna sausages (I mean, ew) at a food bank, I can’t help but think…

I know we want to help these people, but this food is actually killing them.

And so what’s the answer? I certainly don’t presume to offer up answers to all the world’s problems. I know it’s all more complicated than one simple abracadabra fix.

But if you would be so kind, just entertain these ideas with me…

What if…

  • What if homeless shelters started growing their own gardens instead of relying solely on donations of packaged and processed crap?
  • What if in addition to job training programs, shelters offered education on nutrition and how to grow your own food?
  • What if more churches and non-profit organizations did the same for their own members and to assist local food pantries? (Like this Virginia church featured on Sustainable Traditions)
  • What if more small family farms started cropping up and selling affordable veggies & fruits in food deserts? (If you’re not familiar with food deserts, check out this explanation from ReStoringNashville.org.)

Could this help stop hunger?

Might this actually even decrease the number of medical issues amongst the lower-income population and homeless?

Would it instill a work ethic in people who may otherwise just rely on other people or organizations to spoon-feed them?

What do you think? Share your ideas for feeding the homeless (and feeding them well) below!

This post is linked to Simple Lives Thursday, Fight Back Friday

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  1. ben

    March 18, 2011 at 12:13 am

    Lori, I hear you. In fact, I have been cooking up some exciting ideas in my head the past few weeks.

    I am going to work on getting a vegetable garden started with my church that will be able to give good healthy food to people in east nashville who are either homeless or out of work with children, etc, etc. Depending on how that goes, I have dreams of making a full-out non-profit out of the idea and taking it to other parts of town and maybe the country someday. You and Drew can help me when you get back…..

    1. Lori Winter

      March 18, 2011 at 12:30 am

      Ben, that’s AMAZING!! We would absolutely LOVE to be involved!!
      Can’t wait to hear more about it as it evolves. Keep us posted!

    2. Drew

      March 18, 2011 at 1:48 am

      Ben, that’s so good to hear! I definitely have been dreaming of starting an organization with small huts on a part of our farm for the homeless ppl that we may bring in from the streets to let them grow their own food until they can get back out on their own or whatever that sweeps them off to.

  2. EricaCGrace

    March 18, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Lori,

    Great post. So inspiring! I just love the ideas mentioned, especially educating them on Nutrition. Love it… Although I do not have any ideas to contribute now, my mind is definitely going to be thinking! I just think how everyone usually just cleans out the shelves and gives the homeless all this unwanted, processed, canned and boxed food…it’s not how it should be. They should be getting quality food that we would eat on a daily basis ourselves… I just find it sad.

    Thanks so much for sharing this!

  3. Kris @ Attainable Sustainable

    March 20, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    Our local youth center is facing a similar problem. It’s an after school program where hungry kids can come for homework help and a snack. Unfortunately, the budget is slim, so the center depends on food donations and cheap food. Grocery stores donate the crap they can’t sell. Bakeries donate their day old doughnuts. But nobody is donating quality food. The last time I was in there, they were serving bologna and individually wrapped American “cheese” sandwiches on white bread. Sigh.

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