Stewardship of Life

SNAP to it Food Stamp Challenge–Day 15

By Sharron R. Blezard, June 15, 2010

Life goes on—SNAP to it Challenge or not; there are bills to be paid, work to be done, errands to run, people to see, and places to go. Whether this challenge is just that and nothing more to you, or whether it’s your daily reality, food is only a part of the picture. Granted, it is a necessary part of daily life, but there is much more that makes up most of our days.

I admit that I’ve thought more about food in the past 15 days than at any time in my adult life that I can remember. I am more aware and I am gaining knowledge, but there is a whole lot more learning that needs to take place. I am thinking about not only the economic aspects of food, but also about the health, wellness, emotional, political, and social issues surrounding our daily bread. I wonder if I will be completely sick of food by the end of June.

So if you, like some folks who signed on for this challenge, are already so over it, hang in there. June is halfway over, and you can see this thing through. Open your mind, your heart, and of course, your mouth to think about the many issues that surround food in our country and around the globe.

For the remainder of June I’ll be talking to some people who are involved in various aspects of food production, food distribution, hunger awareness, and advocacy. I will continue to post links to a variety of sites, to report on the state of my pantry and participation in the challenge, and to try to raise questions (no matter how controversial). Yes, life does go on, but I encourage all of you to continue to be engaged in conversation around this issue, in learning and experiencing, and in sharing information with one another. Nothing will change unless we make the effort.

If you work in a church or non-profit or governmental setting, what are you doing to raise awareness about hunger and poverty? What programs do you support and/or are involved in helping? If you’re participating in this challenge, how are things going for you? If you can’t answer any of those three questions, why not?

State of the Pantry

No expenditures today. Breakfast was leftover cinnamon raisin bread and tea. Lunch was again comprised of mostly leftovers: roast beef and cheddar sandwich on bakery bread along with cantaloupe, watermelon, and strawberries. Afternoon snack was wheat crackers (Triscuit knock-offs) with cheddar and banana pepper rings. Supper was a delightful meal out as the guest of a friend at a local Taqueria (yum!).

Website of the Day

Here two chefs and a food editor try to plan and shop for a week’s worth of meals for $68.88, the average amount a family of four receives in food stamp supplements. Click here to explore the topic on MSN’s website.

Photos used through a Creative Commons License.