Food insecurity is a rising challenge worldwide and is prevalent in Athens County. Food insecurity might be brought on by a number of circumstances, together with low wages, lack of access to wholesome or nutritious meals, hostile social and financial situations, rising meals costs and neighborhood situations.
Data from Feeding America signifies there are 1,360 youngsters (beneath the age of 18) in Athens County who’re meals insecure. According to the Athens Food Rescue Fund, 20.4% of Athens County residents are presently affected by meals insecurity, in comparison with the nationwide common of solely 14% and the state common of 16%.
Finding nutritious and wholesome meals at an reasonably priced value is more and more tough, particularly in Athens County. In response to meals access challenges, a patchwork of public, non-public and nonprofit initiatives have emerged over the years.
Local meals pantries, meal applications for kids and seniors, SNAP outreach companies and neighborhood gardens are working laborious to achieve these in want. However, many advocates argue extra must be accomplished on the coverage stage to deal with the foundation causes of starvation in Athens County.
At Ohio University, meal plans are an extra cost that makes attending the college much more costly. OU presents quite a lot of meal plans starting from 10-20 meals every week, together with the normal and the flex plan.
While the flex plan gives extra eating choices on campus and extra flexibility, it’s costlier than the normal plan. Meal plans cost anyplace from $2,127-$3,597 per semester, a price ticket not all college students can afford.
College is pricey, and college students mustn’t must sacrifice their vitamin for his or her schooling. Luckily, OU acknowledges that not all college students have the funds to eat every day and has a number of sources that fight the difficulty.
Cat’s Cupboard, positioned in Baker University Center, is an on-campus meals pantry. It is a very choice-based service that any scholar, workers or school member can make the most of in the event that they join with their OU electronic mail and PID, permitting them access to the pantry and store as much as two instances a month.
Carly Pabin is a graduate assistant for Basic Needs, which covers meals, housing and funds. Pabin helps oversee Cat’s Cupboard and its day-to-day features.
“It’s a resource that’s available to everybody,” Pabin mentioned. “While it might not be able to provide every single thing you may need, we hope it can provide some security and support to the people who use it.”
Cat’s Cupboard depends on donations and grants to provide the pantry and in addition receives donations from OU’s Culinary Services from the markets and eating halls.
The pantry typically hosts donation drives to keep up selection and bolster its inventory to make sure that it’s persistently available for any neighborhood members who would possibly want it.
Reginald Morrow is the Basic Needs Coordinator at OU, whose group oversees Cat’s Cupboard whereas additionally managing the Meal Bank Program and providing sources to assist with housing, meals, payments and loans for college students.
“We do rely on donations,” Morrow mentioned. “We have funds to purchase things, but when you’re purchasing for over 100 people a week, those funds deplete really quickly.”
Students are additionally capable of assist by means of the Meal Bank Program, the place Bobcats can donate their leftover meal swipes on the finish of a tutorial interval to different Bobcats in want.
This program happens as soon as every week each semester, as soon as earlier than fall break and one other earlier than spring break. Students can donate as much as three meal swipes per day on the eating halls.
The variety of college students utilizing these basic wants sources is barely rising, as meals insecurity is an ever-present challenge on campus and within the space.
“We are seeing around 115 visitors per week,” Pabin mentioned. “I would say that food insecurity is a prevalent issue on campus. We also saw an increase in numbers since the beginning of last semester and even more following winter break.”
Besides the applications that OU presents, a number of meals banks in Athens County accommodate different Athens residents. The Southeast Ohio Food Bank, GoodWorks, the Athens County Food Bank, Monday Lunch and Community Food Initiatives (CFI) are just some within the space. The First Presbyterian Church on 2 N. Court Street additionally serves free scorching meals on Thursdays for school college students.
Another choice for meals help is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which may also help low-income Ohioans stretch their grocery budgets and purchase wholesome meals.
Donating or volunteering with Cat’s Cupboard or at an area pantry, serving to to keep up a neighborhood backyard, or just donating meal swipes are methods OU college students may also help each their fellow Bobcats and different Athens residents who’re in want.
By merely lending time, vitality and a voice to the continued meals insecurity points on this neighborhood, they are often a part of the answer.
