Purpose

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy created the Poverty Diet Experience to promote understanding of the difficulties related to poverty and hunger.

Description

NOTE: THE POVERTY DIET EXPERIENCE IS NO LONGER ACTIVELY PROMOTED BY THE VIRGINIA INTERFAITH CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY.  THE WECANENDHUNGER POSTING IS BEING CONTINUED TO HELP OTHER AGENCIES INTERESTED IN LEADING THIS TYPE OF INITIATIVE.

The Virginia Interfaith Center on Public Policy (VICPP) developed a three-day Poverty Diet Experience to increase public awareness of the realities of hunger and poverty.  The Poverty Diets were held in mid-November, so participants would recall their acute feelings of hunger during the Thanksgiving holiday.  VICPP has also compiled Social Justice U, as well as Scripture and Justice, to facilitate conversations about The Spectrum of Social Ministry: From Charity to Social Justice.

There are various other faith-based resources that can be used to promote involvement with advocacy and social justice efforts such as Charity and Justice: Walking the Social Mission from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and The Two Feet of Social Action from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. 

Use the material below to experience the Poverty Diet in your community.  Those individuals interested in participating are asked to follow a “Poverty Diet” for three full days.  Based on the average Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) / Food Stamp benefit, this involves spending no more than $2.55 per person per day ($7.65 per person over the 3-day period) on food and beverage items*.    The third evening of the Poverty Diet involves a community supper for sharing of insights and feelings from the three-day experience.

*IMPORTANT: The average SNAP/Food Stamp benefit should be updated since the amounts shown below and in the Poverty Diet Curriculum are from 2004 – go to the average benefit from SNAP from USDA for more recent figures such as $101 per person per month = $3.29 per day for FY2008.

The community supper allows for a time of both individual and communal reflection.  The supper, usually a soup with bread, feeds its guests on no more than $2.55 per person.    A Planning Committee works well so that members can do publicity, plan the evening’s program, arrange the dinner setting, and seek donations (i.e. bread).  The presence of actual persons who live on food stamps helps add a different perspective to the participants who do not have to live off of food stamps.

During supper, participants have guiding questions located at their tables to facilitate discussions about poverty and hunger issues.  After the meal, a moderator can lead all of the participants in a reflection that highlights the smaller discussions that took place at the tables.  Participants enjoy having cards or letters that they can use to write to their legislators about their experiences with hunger or poverty.  If the participants have cards at their tables, they can fill them out before they leave.  Evaluation forms are always helpful to plan the next Poverty Diet.  The number of participants correlates to the amount of publicity that is garnered.

The initiative is coordinated in local communities through the leadership of faith-based organizations along with the involvement of anti-hunger and anti-poverty groups.  Participation is encouraged through announcements describing the Poverty Diet Experience.  Efforts also include requesting the presence and participation of legislators.

The curriculum for the Poverty Diet Experience consists of the following materials, which should be updated with current year data as appropriate:

• Overview (page 1)
• Day 1 (page 2)
• Day 2 (page 3)
• Day 3 (page 4)
• Food Stamp Guidelines (page 5)
• Journal Notes (page 6)
• Sample Meals (page 7)
• Financial Comparisons (Food Stamp Benefit v. Average Food Expenditure) (page 8)
• Self-Sufficiency Standard (page 9) – Data for localities in select states can be accessed through the Six Strategies for Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Project of Wider Opportunities for Women
• Sponsoring Organizations (page 10)

Media coverage could focus on individual stories, as well as state legislators and journalists themselves who participate in the Poverty Diet Experience.  Editorial coverage could also be promoted.

Extended involvement in anti-hunger and anti-poverty activities is a potential outgrowth of the Poverty Diet Experience.  The persons who attended the Poverty Diet can meet with their legislators to talk about their personal experiences with hunger and poverty.  The participants can come together in a grassroots advocacy campaign to address the causes of poverty and hunger in their areas.  The participants can encourage others to write letters to their legislators so that their legislators are informed about the realities of hunger and poverty.  The participants can have another Poverty Diet to bring more attention to hunger and poverty.

A mailing list is established of the Poverty Diet participants and is used to involve individuals in other events such as Advocacy Day at the state legislature in January, as well as writing letters to legislators.

Outcomes

The Poverty Diet Experience was organized in six regions throughout Virginia in 2004.  Close to 200 people attended the Poverty Diets.  Each region was responsible for its own publicity and dinner, so each Poverty Diet was unique.  The Poverty Diets provided a personal experience for those people who do not have to survive on Food Stamps and provided representation of those who do have to survive on Food Stamps.

The Poverty Diet had an effect on each person who participated.  Some people have decided to participate in their own poverty diet on a monthly basis.  Others have become dreadfully aware that Food Stamps do not adequately cover healthy foods such as fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and milk.