PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Food insecurity is a term that means an individual or family is worried about how to pay for food. A new report released by Feeding America shows that need is growing.
Local food banks and homeless shelters are beginning to reflect these needs. The resident, who asked to be identified as “MJ,” is someone who has had to take advantage of available assistance. She is staying at the Salvation Army Family Caring Center in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood.
Reflecting on how she first needed to seek help for herself and her daughter, she says, “Honestly, it was hard to take that first step. You basically have to humble yourself and really buckle down and be like, 'I do.'” Really Me and My Daughter I have to do this for. ”
Elsewhere, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is realizing the need for help is greater than ever. According to the Food Insecurity Report, the entire population of Pennsylvania suffers from food insecurity, which simply means that individuals and households in every demographic do not have enough money to buy food. ing.
“They are now having to make choices about whether they should pay the utility bill, whether they should pay the rent, whether they should pay the groceries. “We are forcing them to make drastic decisions that they should not have made.” Godfrey Beshear of the Pittsburgh Food Bank.
One of the challenges for places like food banks and Salvation Army Family Care Centers is letting people know that it's okay or even desirable to ask for help.
Shelly Rolison, director of the Salvation Army, has advice for those who are afraid to take the first step to seek help. Rolison said people are hesitant to ask for help because “it affects our pride.”
“'I'm not good enough,' right?” Rolison said. “Am I not having enough to feed my family? What can I do more? Did I do something wrong? But that's not true. It's a bigger problem and food insecurity is It’s bigger than me or you.”
If you need help, it's important to not be afraid to ask. You can find the resources below.
SDOH Food Resources by bartosmadeline on Scribd
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