VOICES AGAINST HUNGER
By Gina Clark, Food Lifeline's Public Policy Manager
My single mom provided a loving home. She worked hard and did her best to ensure we had what we needed. That’s why when her hard work wasn’t enough to always put food on the table, she humbly supplemented with food stamps, food banks, and the free lunch program at my school.
As a very young child I wasn’t embarrassed to receive “help.” I didn’t care who saw my name checked off the special free lunch list, who might spot us at a food bank or who watched my mom tear the paper voucher from her food stamp booklet. I just remember occasionally being told at the store that we couldn’t buy certain items and wondering why our “money” was different.
When our “money” ran out, we sometimes turned to food banks to get us through the rest of the month. I distinctly remember visiting our local food bank one day and receiving a small candy bar as a treat. What an awesome day! But for my mom, these days were not easy.
I was not too much older when I realized why my lunch was free. That tearing out a food stamp voucher meant hearing whispers of disapproval. And that standing in line at a food bank was not always comfortable, logistically or emotionally.
I also understood that hunger is not a choice. I was seven when I inadvertently saw my mom scraping tiny pieces of meat off my pork chop. There were evenings she would sit at the table while I ate and she didn’t. If given the choice, she would have eaten.
I tell my story as a daughter, mom, lawyer and public policy manager of an organization that works tirelessly to end hunger. I tell it out of pride that my mom supported her family and that our community cared. And I tell my story hoping you will too.
Food Lifeline advocates for anti-hunger programs that support food banks, and we need your stories to show the diverse face of hunger. Our advocacy team is looking for people willing to tell our lawmakers that hunger does not discriminate, it is persistent and it is real.
If you’re interested in telling your story to your legislator, through a letter, e-mail, meeting, phone call or testimony in Olympia, please let us know. Your voice is powerful and it can make a difference. Email us your stories.