St. Mary's Food Bank Thesis

The United States is referred to as the “land of plenty,” although more than 14 percent of american households experience food insecurities (Driver). This percentage of people experience hunger issues due to the fact they cannot afford food, as well as skipping meals, relying on soup kitchens, food banks, or food pantries. The well known global and local issue of hunger and food insecurities just so happens to be so complex and prevalent, that these issues can be linked to poverty. Hunger should no longer be thought of as a symptom that could be diagnosed by a physician. Instead, hunger should be known as a social problem, not a medical problem.

According to Understand Nutrition, Table E-5 addresses nutrition assessments for malnutrition. This

Mary’s Food Bank serves the valley by helping feed those who are in need. This organization is focused and committed to building the Arizona community, relationships, and improving the quality of life for those in need. St. Mary’s Food Bank’s mission statement is to “to alleviate hunger through the gathering and distribution of food while encouraging self-sufficiency, collaboration, advocacy and education” (St. Mary’s Food Bank). St. Mary’s Food Bank is a faith based organization with an affiliation to the Catholic Church. In 1967, St. Mary’s Food Bank began with a man named John van Hengel. John had been volunteering at a soup kitchen in the valley called St. Vincent DePaul. He met and talked with many people in need of food. One woman in specific led his desire to help hungry families. This woman told John that she depends on soup kitchens and dumpsters to feed her hungry children. This story broke John’s heart and he desperately wanted to help families just like hers’. John ingeniously came up with the idea of a food bank, where people are able to donate food items and those who are in need are able to withdraw them. In efforts to advocate his dreams, his local parish, St. Mary’s Basilica, donated $3,000 and an abandoned building. In honor of his parish’s generous donation, John named his organization, “St. Mary’s.” Many cities nationwide, were inspired by the meaningfulness John’s organization offered that they began to open food

This organization has great hopes that these children will return to school every Monday morning ready to learn and concentrate. This organization began with the founder, Ruth Collins. One day, Ruth was speaking with an elementary school teacher and she learned that there are children who come to school on Monday hungry. She was very heartbroken by this news that she went home to research the problem. It turns out child hunger in Arizona is an unheard problem and is an epidemic all across. Therefore, Ruth began the organization, Arizona Brainfood, with the mission to give a bag of food to hungry children before the weekends. There is 60% of children who qualify for the Federal Program of reduced or free lunches from school (Non-Profit Backpack Program). For some of these hungry children, this is their only resource for food. Therefore, Arizona Brainfood’s goal is to provide a backpack of food for hungry children on the weekends. To help feed these elementary aged children, Arizona Brainfood offers many opportunities to get involved. Students may donate money, food, or time to this organization. Every Thursday morning students may help pack backpacks of food for hungry kids in Mesa. This organization is not faith based but is affiliated with a Board of