As we prepare to head home for the holidays, indulging in turkey, ham and mac and cheese with family, it’s important to recognize the food waste that often occurs during the holiday season and the privilege of sharing these meals with family. The recent government shutdown, which impacted millions of Americans’ access to food, amplifies the need for donations and volunteers to help provide for struggling families.
Before the government shutdown, there had been an apparent increase in food insecurity and the need for access to food banks. Food insecurity can happen for any number of reasons, but it’s often attributed to poverty, a lack of access to affordable food or a lack of nearby grocery stores.
“Prior to the shutdown, food insecurity in our 21-county area is at 18.2%; one in five people in our service area experienced food insecurity,” said Tracy Ayrhart, vice president of research and strategic partnerships for Central Texas Food Bank. “So far, we’ve been conducting these community needs assessments, and prior to the shutdown, we were learning that two out of five of the food-insecure population are just one emergency away from not having funds to support their needs. One in three (has) to make choices every single month between food and essentials.”
The government shutdown exacerbated this issue as the nearly 42 million Americans dependent on SNAP benefits for secure food access were suddenly without resources, and thousands of government workers went without paychecks. Even with the government reopening, food insecurity isn’t solved overnight. Many families facing food insecurity during the government shutdown had to spend more money to stay afloat, often going into debt, and with the holidays coming, many more expenses are on their way.
“We always see an increase in the number of families seeking help and more access to food during the holiday season because it is a heightened time of additional expenses for many families,” said Beth Corbett, vice president of government affairs and advocacy for Central Texas Food Bank. “I think with the cost of food still relatively elevated, that’s certainly going to be a lingering impact throughout this season, linked to the shutdown, because we’ve had to distribute so much more. We’re essentially distributing 50% more already, pre-holiday season, than we typically would in a normal year. So we’ve had a pretty significant depletion of our food, both donated and purchased.”
Being able to celebrate the holidays with family, without worrying about money or access to food, is a privilege that many Americans don’t have. With the holidays being a huge time of overconsumption and food waste, it’s important to be mindful of your purchases and consider donating. Whether it’s an excess of canned goods or a little extra spending money, food banks can benefit from the help of the community. Even if donating is not an option for your current means, volunteering is just as impactful and always makes a difference.
“We are always in need of help. A huge reason we can operate at the scale that we do is because of volunteers,” Corbett said. “Thanks to folks coming in, either volunteering on site at our food bank in Austin or at various distributions we do in the community, (it) is a game-changer for us. We really couldn’t do what we do without that support, so I would encourage students, especially those on a student budget, to think about donating their time, either to the food bank or one of our partners.”
While the government shutdown and the incoming holiday season emphasize food insecurity, we must remember that food insecurity affects many year-round, and it’s not just trendy to help during the holiday season. Even after the government shutdown, students should continue to take initiative as the new year comes around. Food banks provide past the holiday season and are often dependent on volunteers and donations. If you have the means, take the time to donate or volunteer this holiday season and beyond.
The Central Texas Food Bank and UT Outpost are both available to students in need.
Rail is an English, anthropology and rhetoric and writing senior from El Paso, Texas.
