Episode 154: 3 Major Issues with the Charitable Food System
About the Podcast
In this 8-minute “Candid Clancy” episode, Clancy asks everyone to speak out about the problems and successes facing the charitable food system. This system is the way in which we feed millions facing food insecurity across the nation. We all need to be honest and transparent about what’s going on.
About Clancy Harrison
As a registered dietitian, TEDx speaker, international speaker, and author, Clancy Harrison challenges the way food insecurity is approached in the US. Her mission to demolish the stigma around healthy food access places her on the cutting edge of advocacy.
Clancy is the founder of the Food Dignity® Project, a strategic program for leaders who want to shift how they approach nutrition outreach by making healthy food access a priority. She transforms the lives of thousands of people through her work with corporations, non-profit organizations, and universities.
Currently, Clancy is an advisory board member for the Pennsylvania American Academy of Pediatrics Food Insecurity EPIC program, Ambassador of the National Dairy Council, and the President of the Al Beech West Side Food Pantry. Since the onset of COVID-19 Clancy has distributed nearly 1 million meals in her community to improve access to healthy food through effective collaborations.
Discussion Takeaways
- Here are three major issues in the current food system striving to feed millions facing food insecurity:
- There is a lack of collaboration between those fighting nutrition insecurity. Because it’s a charitable cause, collaboration is limited and competition is prioritized because of inadequate funding in this arena.
- There is a lack of accountability within the system that tries to reduce prolonged hunger. The pounds of food served does not equate to a meal consumed. 100 pounds of carrots will never turn into a balanced meal. Some organizations bloat their numbers by counting the number of people who have “access to food,” not the amount of people actually participating.
- Food equity does not exists in the charitable food system. Clancy shares two examples of institutional racism within the food banking system.
#1 tip to improve access to healthy food
Food equity does not exists in the charitable food system. Clancy shares two examples of institutional racism within the food banking system.
Each week on the Food Dignity® Podcast, the Food Dignity® Movement’s Clancy Harrison hosts a wide variety of hunger experts and other people making changes on the frontlines. Join us as we dive deep into conversations that will change the way you think about food insecurity.
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