At the Intersection of Hunger and Health
I write 2 blogs. One is about hunger and food pantries. The other is about health through the lens of reflexology. They are two very different subjects, However, they definitely have an intersection point: disease.
People suffering with food insecurity, resource poverty, or who are the struggling poor experience a whole set of diseases based on what is or is not available for them to eat.
Diabetes
Hypertension
Heart disease.
Actually, these diseases can all be condensed into one: diabetes. Because, when a person has diabetes, the disease isn’t just diabetes. Diabetes brings several other diseases right along with it:
heart disease
blindness
kidney disease
Hunger, food insecurity, overweight/obesity, and supermarket abandonment all go hand in hand with diabetes.
I’ve gotten to the point where I can “see” a struggling poor person walking down the street.
And, of course, the situation with the hungry/poor is not a problem with a person individually. The entire issue is wrapped up in the community as well. People with jobs paying enough to buy healthy and affordable food have better health.
People with no jobs or minimum wage jobs often live in food deserts with no access to food. Without a working automobile, they are forced to live off food sold in gas station food marts, pharmacy food aisles.
Fortunate indeed is the struggling class person with access to a pantry offering nutritious foods. Fortunate indeed is the struggling class person who has SNAP and can get to a good grocery store.
Kingston, NY has several really good food pantries and is also the winter home of the Farm Stand located in Kingston Community Action at 70 Lindsley Ave. Every Tuesday morning at 10:00, a truck load of fresh vegetables arrives from the Food Bank of the Hudson Vallley. Last week they had potatoes, onions, squash, apples, parsnips, cabbages, cauliflower, and beets (among other delicious veggies).
Anyone can shop at the Farm Stand. All they ask is how many people are in your household. The Farm Stand opens every Tuesday morning and is open every morning until the fresh produce is gone.
Please visit the Farm Stand.
Please tell your friends, neighbors, relatives about this wonderful example of our tax dollars at work.
Thank you for reading this blog/book.
Please send a comment.
Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.
Don’t forget to join the email list.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco