Regional Food Pantry Program

The nation’s food pantries are a fundamental requirement for the success and well being of our citizens, neighborhoods and our cities. You don’t need to state the obvious. If you’re writing about it, I’ll know you selected it.the great state of Illinois food pantry program as a business model for all regional food pantry operations primarily becauseAgain, you don’t need to tell why you selected your topic. Just give some background and explain why this topic is important. All food pantry programs work to satisfy a tremendous need and provide a valuable service for many people across the nation. Make your thesis specific to YOUR topic.

Nearly 10 per cent of all Illinois households face food insecurity according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That means for every 100 of our citizens living in our community 10 of them need assistance acquiring food for themselves and their family. It is very difficult for many families to maintain the necessary groceries in their home to live on. The primary mission for the many food pantries across the country is the nutritional welfare of our less fortunate citizens. Young children need the right source of food products to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. There are a lot of people for economic reasons who just cannot afford to purchase diary products, vegetables and whole grain food supplies. Although many of the food pantries are limited in the type of food they can store and provide due to storage limitation, they work hard to meet nutritional requirements the best they can. For many people having any meat for dinner is a luxury not to mention a juicy steak or a deliciously prepared portion of fish or chicken.

When diets are inadequate for young children not only are they subjected to illness from malnutrition but their academics tend to suffer. It is very difficult to concentrate in school when your stomach aches from days of lack of food. The older generation is at risk as well. Access to food not only decreases the risk of contracting a disease but it creates an overall sense of well being. When you are able to feed yourself and your family your self-esteem is lifted and the desire to achieve more in life increases. If you think about it an adequate food supply is an essential part of the cycle of life. With out food the complete balance of life is off track.

I believe there is a misconception in society that the people who have to take advantage of the nation’s food pantries are homeless, lazy people who do not want to work. There are many families who have at least one person in the household working every day. For many of these families they have to make a decision between paying the rent, maintaining heat in the home or purchasing medicine. Buying food becomes a luxury many cannot afford. The frightening reality is it could happen to anyone at anytime. You can be on top of the world one day and the next day wondering where your next meal is going to come from.

Operating a food pantry is an extensive process that requires funding for every step. There is a cost associated acquiring storage space and for transportation to get the food products to the people who need them. Most food pantries have very little money to work with so they rely extensively on donations from various organizations and the community. Volunteers are essential to the success of any food pantry operation. While serving in the United States Navy I had an opportunity to volunteer my services at a local food bank. It was to say the least a very humbling experience. During the few days I visited the site I met and talked to many of the people that were fortunate enough to take advantage of the services at the food bank. There were a great number of people that had very fascinating stories to tell. Many of them had previously maintained very successful lives from all walks of life. Quite a few were victims of divorce, illnesses, loss of employment and death of a spouse who the primary wage earner. That experience helps me realize we should all be grateful for what we have and not be quick to judge or offer assistance to those in need.

The benefits of a well organized food pantry program can be far reaching into any community. As I stated earlier the nutrional requirements provided for individuals able to take advantage of services at local food banks help prevent illnesses. The more people in the community that stay healthy increases the odds of having a healthy community for everyone. I sincerely believe that the availability of a food bank provides help reduce crime. When people in our neighborhoods and cities cannot obtain food supplies through legitimate sources to take care of their families they will resort to whatever options are available. In many cases the only recourse they have is to resort to crime. I’m not saying they are justified to steal because your family is hungry but it has been one of the greatest motives for crimes since the beginning of time.

Refferences:

http://www.ehowcom/list 6675014