Changes Needed to Reduce Hunger

Will Pennsylvanians cut hunger in half by 2015? Not without significant changes! That was the consensus view of anti-hunger leaders who participated in a forum at the June 14-15 Pittsburgh Conference on Poverty and Hunger.

Joyce Rothermel, executive director of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, described the fragmentation in the current anti-hunger effort. “The absence of a coordinated planning process at the state level, and the lack of a regular forum for interaction between state executives and community leaders, is keeping everyone separate and suffering from tunnel vision.”

Rothermel also lamented the popular perception that the problem of hunger is being taken care of by current charitable efforts. Pat Temple-West, director of Nutritional Development Services for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, agreed. “The charitable food network is viewed as a grand success. That is how legislators see it. Very few policymakers understand that the burden of the entire effort rests on the shoulders of 70, 80 and 90-year old women. These volunteers need help through a blending of public child nutrition programs and private charity.”

Temple-West also called on conference participants “to take what we have and make it work together”. He highlighted the need for conversation between WIC agency staff and charitable food providers.

Bonnie Tatterson, program staff with the PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture, struck a hopeful note. “I see a growing willingness among farmers to work at anti-hunger issues.” She cited the expansion of community supported agriculture groups (CSAs) as an example.

James Stark, executive director of Fayette County Community Action, emphasized the systemic dimensions of reducing hunger. “Policymakers must address this problem through wages. To cut hunger in half, Pennsylvania needs a living wage.” Berry Friesen agreed. “A positive aspect of the present context is that we’re no longer debating welfare. We’ve begun to focus on the food insecurity of working families. Neither political party can afford to ignore or marginalize that reality.”

Joni Rabinowitz, co-director of Just Harvest, led the forum. The Conference was sponsored by the Community Action Association of PA, Women’s Association for Women’s Alternatives and Hunger Action.

Berry Friesen, June 15, 2000