This week Food Bank staff and community members are taking the Hunger Challenge to get a sense of what life is like for thousands of people in North Carolina that receive FNS benefits and live on just $4.21 worth of food each day.
Every day this week we’ll publish a round-up of posts and photos from participants that have chosen to share their experiences. We hope you find their accounts valuable and follow the action all week here and on Twitter.
Greg Ng, Food Bank Social Media Ambassador, did his grocery shopping at a convenience store to highlight the challenges faced by people living in food deserts.
I really wanted to buy some oatmeal but they were priced way out of my budget. It was almost twice the amount it would be in other grocery stores and would have taken up over 1/4 of my full week’s budget… In all, I could fit my entire week’s worth of food in one basket. Things do not look too favorable.
Read more about his shopping experience in his blog post: My 2015 #HungerChallenge Takes on Food Deserts and Convenience Stores.
This is the only food Greg will be able to eat for the next five days.
Marla Shepard, Food Bank Social Media Ambassador, tweeted about her first day taking the challenge.
@MarlaDShepard tweeted: Lunch for day 1 of the #HungerChallenge I made a kale salad & am having a fruit cup on the side.
Jennifer Caslin, Food Bank staff member, made turkey chili and homemade trail mix for her lunches.
@FoodBankJenC tweeted: My turkey chili which needs to last five lunches this week. Turkey on sale but biggest ticket item.
@FoodBankJenC tweeted: Breaking into my homemade trail mix already this morning. Also has to last 5 days.
Molly Rivera, Food Bank staff member, shopped for two people and made homemade PB&J oatmeal bars.
@MsMollyRivera wrote: “This is what Jon and I will eat for the next 7 days, adding up to less than $60 for the whole week for two people. Black beans, brown rice, oatmeal, and potatoes will be our staples. We were able to buy a little chocolate, but no coffee.”
@MsMollyRivera wrote: “Made my own PB&J #oatmeal bars for snacks for the week. This whole pan is about the cost of 1 KIND Bar. All you need is oatmeal, peanut butter, jelly, and water.”
Over 20 Food Bank staff and community members are taking the Hunger Challenge this week to get a sense of what life is like for thousands of people in North Carolina that receive FNS benefits and live on just $4.21 worth of food each day. To learn more or to take the Challenge yourself, please visit our website at www.foodbankcenc.org/HungerChallenge. Also be sure to follow the meals and experiences of Challenge participants on Twitter using #HungerChallenge.
