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(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) JASON: WE ARE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD BUT MILLIONS GO TO BED HUNGRY.

FAMILIES DECIDE WHETHER TO BUY FOOD, PAY BILLS OR MEDICINE.

HUNGER IS COMPLEX, OF COURSE WITH MANY ISSUES, UNDERLYING ISSUES VARYING FROM FAMILY TO FAMILY.

BUT THEN THERE ARE THE HELPERS THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO ARE DEICATED TO HELPING FEED FAMILIES.

WE HAVE 3 OF THOSE HELPERS HERE WITH US TODAY ON BACKSTORY.

HARVEY SAVAGE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MLK KITCHEN FOR THE POOR IN TOLEDO, CHAIRMAN OF THE HUNGER TASKFORCE, AND INTERIM BOARD PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY SHARES OF NW OHIO.

JULIE CHASE-MOREFIELD IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SECOND HARVENT FOOD BANK OF NORTH CENTRAL OHIO AND BRITANNY JONES IS A RESEARCHER FOCUSING ON INEQUITIES AND FOOD SYSTEMS AND URBAN AGRICULTURE AS A SOLUTION AND SHES SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

JULIE, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

HOW LARGE OF AN AREA DOES SECOND HARVEST SERVE AND HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED THE NEED.

JULIE: SO WE SERVE LORAIN, ERIE, HURON, AND CRAWFORD COUNTY SO THAT NORTH CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.

AND THE NEED WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST YEAR HAS JUST BEEN UNPRECEDENTED.

WE HAVE BEEN SO FORTUNATE THAT THE GOVERNOR ALLOWED US TO HAVE A NATIONAL GUARD OVER THE PAST YEAR AND WE HAVE SEEN A SEVENTY SEVEN PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE HAVE SEEN FROM 2019.

JASON: AND HARVEY YOU HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

MLK KITCHEN FOR THE POOR STARTED WITH YOUR FATHER.

YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF FAMILIES COME IN AND OUT SINCE THE PANDEMIC HAVE THE STORIES AND FACES CHANGED?

YES THEY HAVE.

SOME WHAT.

WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE THAT NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD NEED ASSISTANCE ANYWAY WITH FOOD COMING IN YOU KNOW IF YOU HAD A JOB WHEN WE WERE MAKING IT YOU KNOW YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT YOUD BE OK AND SO WITH THE CLOSING OF DOWN OF MANY JOBS AND THINGS LIKE THAT YOU SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

I WE WERE TALKING THE OTHER DAY WE HAD A COUPLE COME OUT OF OREGON COME TO GET FOOD WHICH IS FOR ME WAS KIND OF SIGIFICANT BECAUSE NORMALLY YOU WOULD HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY OR SOMEWHERE IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY WHERE YOU COULD GET RESOURCES JASON: AND BRITTANY WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH TELL US ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS UHH SPECIFICALLY IMPACTED HUNGER WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

BRITTANY: IT IS DEFINETLY TELLING US A LOT.

OF COURSE FOOD ACCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG ISSUE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TOOK QUALITY VEGETABLES AND JUST FOOD ITEMS AND SO WITH COVID IT DEFINITLY SHIFTED THAT DEPENDENCE ON THE BASICALLY THE MAINSTREAM FOOD SYSTEM TO THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GROWING THEIR OWN FOOD SO NOW ITS MORE URBAN HOMESTEADING AND TURINING THEIR FRONT LAWNS INTO GARDENS AND THATS SOMETHING TO KEEP A LOOK OUT AND WHO ARE PRACTICING IT AND TAKING IT ON AS A PERSONAL INITIATIVE YEAH I WANT TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT HARVEY, WHAT ADVISE DO YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO MAY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LOOSING GRIT, YOU KNOW THEYVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS FEEDING THEIR KIDS BUT THEY SEE THAT ISSUE ON THE HORIZON.

HARVEY: WELL YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM TO HOLD OUT.

YOU KNOW BECAUSE THE STRESS THATS INVOLVED IN THAT IS TREMENDOUS.

AND SO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE KIND OF ASSUME THEIR FEAR AND LET THEM KNOW THIS IS STILL THE USA WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF RESOURCES AND WE ARE STILL THE KITCHEN AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD AND SO ANYONE THAT CONTACTS US WE ARE GOING TO HELP THAT FAMILY AND DO THE BEST WE CAN.

SO WE ARE ACTUALLY EXPANDING AND STARTING TO SUPPORT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ONE AT A CHURCHES IN THE COMMUNITY THEY HAVE A THEY GIVE AWAY FOOD DONATIONS ONCE A WEEK SO WE ARE IMPROVING WHAT THEY ]GIVE AWAY.

WE ARE BUYING MEATS AND OTHER THINGS FOR THEM TO GIVE TO THE PEOPLE THAT UTILIZE THEIR FACILITY.

JASON: HARVEY, YOU ARE BIG ON DIGNITY AND RESPECT YOU KNOW EVEN THOUYGH SOMEONE NEEDS HELP YOU TREAT THEM WITH THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE.

BUT YOU KNOW PRIDE IS A BIG ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, ITS HARD TO COME FORWARD AND ASK FOR HELP OR ADMIT YOU NEED HELP.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE DOING OK BUT THEY SUSPECT THAT THEIR NEIGHBOR OR FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER MIGHT BE STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT HOW DO YOU APPROACH THAT PERSON WITHOUT OFFENDING THEM?

AND OFFER HELP.

HARVEY; WELL THERE ARE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING.

WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY A FRIEND OF MINE, MY BARBER ACTUALLY AND HE HAS CONTACTS, HE KNOWS PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP.

HE HIMSELF HAS TAKEN THE INITIATIVE BECAUSE HE IS FRIENDS WITH THESE PEOPLE AND HE IS ACTUALLY COMING AND GETTING THE FOOD HIMSELF FOR THEM BECAUSE THE PRIDE IS A DETERRENT TO GETTING HELP AND SO WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO WE JUST YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WE CAN HELP WE HELP AND SO A LOT OF TIMES MY SISTER WHEN SHE WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR YEARS AGO I REMEMBER SHE TOLD ME SHE HAD PEOPLE THAT WERE WILLING TO COMEAFTER HOURS PRETTY MUCH AND NOT BE SEEN TO GET FOOD AND SO YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THEY NEEDED IT SO WE STRUGGLE WITH THAT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE ARE A COUNTRY THAT HAS TOLD PEOPLE WHEN YOU PULL YOURSELF UP BY YOUR OWN BOOTSTRAPS AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY THING IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT DONE WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO BUT THATS NOT THE CASE I MEAN THE WAY LIFE IS GOING AND WHAT WE SEE WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN GET DOWN THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN AND SO WE NEED TO WORK AT THAT.

JASON: JULIE I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED PROCEDURALLY YOU KNOW HOW YOU GO ABOUT DISTRIBUTING FOOD BUT FIRST BRITTANY DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT JUST INTRAPERSONALLY HOW DO YOU APPROACH SOMEONE WITHOUT OFFENDING THEM IF YOU THINK THEY MAY NEED HELP AND YOU CAN HELP THEM?

BRITTANY: WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR OWN I WOULD SAY JUST FOOD SYSTEM OR FOOD OUTLET THAT GIVES YOU TJHAT NUTRICIAN YOU NEED ITS A SENSE OF EMPOWERMENT JUST GROWING.

WE HAVE BEEN SO DISCONECTED AND EVEN AS JUST THE BLACK CULTURE BEEN DISSCONNECTED FROM AGRICULTURE FOR COMING, SLOWLY TURNING BACK AROUND TO IT BUT IT IS STILL THAT SENSE OF WELL IF I CAN SUPPLY MYSELF WITH FOOD AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRISIS AND IT COMES ABOUT THAT I CAN ACCESS IT WHETHER FOR SOME EXTERNAL REASON THEN I AM OK BECAUSE I HAVE WHAT I HAVE AT HOME.

AND REALLY TOUCHING UPON WHAT MR. HARVEY HAD SAID YOU KNOW WITH RESEARCH WHEN IT COMES TO THE TERM FOOD DESERTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WHEN USING THAT TERM BECAUSE IT KIND OF IS LIKE A BLANKET STATEMENT AND JUST FOOD ACCESS IS NOT THE SAME FOR EVEY NEIGHBOR AND SO NOW THE TERM FOOD APARTIDE HAS COME AROUND IN ORDER TO BASICALLY EXPLAIN AND DESCRIBE WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTS ARE WITH IN THESE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE ITS NOT NATURAL AS A DESERT IMPLIES IS WHAT SYSTEMATIC AND INTENTIONAL AND THE STUDIES HAVE COME OUT AS FAR AS SHOWING WHAT REDLINING HAS DONE AND THAT REALLY IS ONE OF THE CAUSES AS FAR AS DRIVING AWAY A LOT OF THE BIG BOX STORES WITHIN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT DIALOGUE AS WELL AS WEHN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND ALSO WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD MEANS NEEDS BECAUSE ITS DIFFERENT NEEDS AND JASON: JULIE BACK ON THE PANDEMIC, HOW HAS SECOND HARVEST CHANGED IN THE PANDEMIC?

JULIE: I THINK THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS IN THE DELIVERY OF THE FOOD SO AS A FOOD BANK AND EVEN ACCROSS THE STATE YOU KNOW WE HAVE BEEN REALLY COMMITTED TO THE IDEA OF THE CHOICE FOOD PANTRY MODEL WHERE SOME ONE COMING INTO A FOOD PANTRY WAS ABLE TO CHOOSE THE FOOD THEY WERE RECIEVING AND TRY TO CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE SOMEBODY FELT MORE EMPOWERED TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THAT FOOD AND UNFORTUNATLY IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THATS NOT THE WAY WE CAN DELIVER FOOD.

WHAT HAS BEEN I GUESS TURNED OUR CONVERSATION ON DIGNITY HAS TURNED IT ON ITS EAR A LITTLE BIT FOR US IS THAT WITHIN THE PANDEMIC YOU KNOW WE REACHED OUT TO PLACES WE NEVER REACHED BEFORE SO WE HAVE BEEN YOU KNOW WITH WORKED HEAVILY WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUT DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDING OR MAN POWER TO BE ABLE TO GET ACCROSS OUR SERVICE AREA.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS DO THESE DRIVE THROUGH MOBILE PANTRIES THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE SERVICE AREA IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND URBAN COMMUNITIES TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE DRIVING TOO FAR BECAUSE TRANSPORTATION REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN OUR SERVICE AREA BUT ACCROSS THE STATE SO ACCESS TO FOOD IS A LOT RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION SO WE WANTED TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE WANTED TO BE WHERE PEOPLE WERE AT SO WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE WE FOUND THE RIGHT COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN LORAIN WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A PARTNER IN EL CENTRO WHERE THEY ARE THE LEADING LATINO ORGANIZATION IN OUR COMMUNITY SO PARTNERING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ACCESSING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE FELT SAFE TO COME BUT IN THEIR OWN VEHICLE AND THE INTERESTING PART IS THAT THE NEW FAMILY WE SERVED CAME TO THE MOBILE DRIVE THROUGH PANTRIES BECAUSE THATS A PLACE THEY FELT SAFE.

THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS OK TO BE THERE AND SAW PEOPLE YOU KNOW YOUNG AND OLD FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE YOU SAW SITTING IN THEIR CARS WAITING FOR FOOD.

IT WAS A PLACE THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS OK TO COME TO JASON: HARVEY WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU HAD TO MAKE BECAUSE OF COVID?

HARVEY: WELL COVID HAS STOPPED US FROM FEEDING IN HOUSE.

YOU KNOW NOW WE STILL HAVE PACKED MEALS BUT THEY ARE A GRAB AND GO MEALS AND SO THE OTHER THING WE ARE DOING A LOT MORE OF, EVEN WHEN YOU GET OUT A HOTMEAL WE MAKE SURE YOU GET SOME COMMODITIES THAT DAY YOU KNOW SO THATS WORKING FAIRLY WELL AND WE HAVE BEEN GETTING QUITE A FEW DONATIONS AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE QUITE A BIT OF FOOD AWAY AND SO UHHH THATS WORKING FOR US.

I GUESS THE BIGGEST THING AND VOLUNTEERS I HAVE HAD KIDS IN SCHOOLS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, ONE TO VOLUNTEER BUT WE ARE NOT UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS.

I HAVE PROBABLY 10 POEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY MAINTAINING WHAT WE DO.

AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT AND I HAVE ALSO HAD SOME CONTACT WITH THE GROUP THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE, THEY ARE LOOKING AT HAVING SOME KIDS UHHH I GUESS THIS SPRING AND SO THEY WANT US TO HELP THEM SO WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE ANY OF THE FOOD THEY NEED AND WE WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT PEOPLE OVER THESE KIDS HAVING FOOD TO GO HOME WITH ALSO SO WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOWARDS THAT AND WE WORK WITH THE BELIEVE CENTER AND THEIR KIDS THERE.

WE ASSIST WHAT THEY DO AND SO WE ARE INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

GRACE COMMUNITY CENTER, WE ARE INVOLVED WITH THEM AND SO WE ARE WORKING TO PULL US ALL TOGETHER AND SO WE COLLECTIVELY ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THE WHOLE CITY AND WORKING TOWARDS MAKING SURE EVERYONE THAT NEEDS FOOD CAN GET TO ONE OF US AND GET FOOD.

JASON: WELL WE ARE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT URBAN AGRICULTURE AND HOW WHAT IT IS AND HOW THAT MIGHT BE A SOLUTION TO THE HUNGER PROBLEM BUT FIRST WE HAVE SOME RESOURCES WE ARE ABOUT TO SHOW YOU.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.

IF YOU NEED HELP OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP PULL OUT YOUR CELL PHONE, TAKE A PICTURE OF THESE WEBSITES.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE BACKSTORY AFTER THE BREAK.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) JASON; WELCOME BACK TO BACKSTORY.

WE ARE HERE WITH HARVEY SAVAGE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MLK KITCHEN FOR THE POOR IN TOLEDO AND CHAIRMAN OF THE HUNGER TASKFORCE AND INTERIM BOARD PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY SHARES OF NW OHIO.

JULIE CHASE-MOREFIELD PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF NORTH CENTRAL OHIO AND RESEARCHER BRITTANY JONES WHOSE FOCUS IS ON INEQUITIES IN FOOD SYSTEMS AND URBAN AGRICULTURE SPECIFICALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

BRITTANY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT IS URBAN AG?

BRITTANY: WELL REALLY I MEAN IT CAN VARY BUT TRADITIONALLY IT IS JUST FOOD PRODUCTION OR RAISING ANIMALS IN AN URBBAN ENVIRONMENT SO TECHNICALLY IT CAN BE A VACANT LOT TURNED INTO A COMMUNITY GARDEN BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALSO FOR PROFIT.

JASON: ARE THERE ANY SUCCESS STORIES CITIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS WHERE IT HAS WORKED WELL?

BRITTANY: WELL I MEAN WE HAVE ALSOWAYS TALKED ABOUT DETROIT AND JUST HOW THEY HAVE MANAGED TO INCORPORATE THIS URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION WITHIN THEIR CITY POLICY AND THEN MICHIGAN AS A WHOLE ALSO HAS A LOT OF FOOD SECURITY, FOOD SYSTEM POLICIES DESIGNED TO HELP THE TRADITIONAL FARMERS AS WELL BUT ALSO THE NEW ONES AND OF COURSE FARMERS OF COLOR TO COME UP AND HAVE SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ALSO SUSTAIN THEIR BUSINESSES THATS THE MAIN THING.

A LOT OF BUSINESS START UP BUT SUSTAINING IT THE USUALLY ALWAYS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART BECAUSE EITHER THEY ARE WITH GRANTS OR ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH PROFIT WITH WHAT THEY ARE PRODUCING AND EVEN HERE IN OHIO YOU HAVE CLEVELAND WITH THEIR FOOD POLICY AND HOW THAT WAS REALLY AN EXPLOSION OF A LOT OF NEW FARMERS ESPECIALLY THOSE BLACK FARMERS TAKING CONTROL OF THE LAND TAKING CONTROL OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

JASON: SO BRITTANY DO YOU SEE THIS AS THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE HUNGER PROBLEM?

BRITTANY: IT CAN BE A SOLUTION.

I WOULDNT SAY THE BEST BUT WE CAN AT LEAST TRY IT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS THE FUTURE OF HOW THE LAND IS GOING TO BE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

IF WE JUST HAVE IT VACANT, EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, REALLY THE HEALTH OF THE SOIL GOES ALONG WITH IT AND THEN WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

YOU REALLY TECHNICALLY HAVE DEAD LAND AND SO WE CAN REPURPOSE THAT IN OTHER FASCETS AS FAR AS OF COURSE FOOD SECURITY, AGAIN BACK TO ENTREPRENUERIAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS IN ORDER TO GROW FROM URBAN AGRICULTURE BUT IT IS A SOLUTION WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY AND AS FAR AS DEFINITLY ACCESS WHAT JULIE HAD SAID, ACCESS IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE IF YOU WERENT ABLE TO GET TO A GROCERY STORE DURING COVID BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CAR OR DIDNT HAVE ANYONE TO RELY ON OR YOU RELY ON THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, YOU WERE BASICALLY OUT OF LUCK.

YOU COULDN'T GET ANYWHERE SO THAT ADDED MORE STRESS AND ADDED TO THE HUNGER SITUATION AS WELL JASON: JULIE WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A COUNTRY TO HELP SOLVE THE HUNGER PROBLEM?

JULIE: I THINK POLICY IS REALLY AS BRITANNY IS TALKING ABOUT THESE POLICY CHANGES THAT IS WHERE IT STARTS SO THE HUNGER RELIEF NETWORK IN OHIO HAS DELIVERD 270,000,000 LBS OF FOOD SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGLING.

THERE IS STILL HUNGER AND SO THINKING THROUGH THE POLICY MADE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL, LOCAL LEVEL HOW CAN WE MAKE THE POLICIES WORK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING YOU KNOW IN THEIR CAR IN LINE AT THE FOOD PANTRY HOW DO WE CHANGE THESE POLICIES.

HOW DO WE MAKE IT SO WE CAN MOVE FAMILIES BACK TO STABILITY AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE WHERE THEY LIVE.

YOU SEE THIS ALL THE TIME FAMILIES, I RECALL EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC SEEING SOMEONE SITTING IN LINE IN A CAR AND A FATHER AND A SON WAS THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT A FOOD PANTRY.

HE HAD LOST ONE OF HIS 2 JOBS.

AND HE WASNT ABLE TO MAKE IT ON ONE INCOME.

ON ONE SALARY AND THATS WHERE THE CHALLENGE BECOMES IS THAT SOMEONE IS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT ON ONE JOB AND THEY HAVE TO WORK 2-3 JOBS IN A PANDEMIC YOU KNOW THOSE JOBS WENT AWAY.

THOSE 2ND AND 3RD JOBS WENT AWAY AND THATS WHERE POLICY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

JASON: HARVEY, JULIE IS TALKING BAOUT POLICY BUT IT WAS YOUR FATHER, THE LATE REV IN THE 60S WHO CORRECYT ME IF I AM GETTING THIS WRONG SAW A MAN EATING OUT OF THE TRASHCAN THAT TOUCHED HIS HEART.

HE INVITED THE MAN INTO HIS HOME HE FED THE MAN AND THAT WAS WHAT GAVE HIM THE IDEA FOR THE KITCHE.

HARVEY: RIGHT THAT IS I MEAN, HE WOULD ALWAYS TELL THAT STORY ABOUT THE GUY YOU KNOW WHO WAS ACTUALLY EATING OUT OF OUR GARBAGE CAN AND SO THAT IN THE DAY, EVERYTHING WAS PICKED UP IN THE ALLEYS, THE GARBAGE WAS IN THE ALLEYS AND SO THAT MOTIVATED HIM TO START, BEGIN TO SO UHHH THATS KIND OF WHERE THATS AT AND HE GREW UP IN A TIME BECAUSE WHEN I WAS A KID HE TOLD US DIFFERENT STORIES.

WE WERE KIND OF A CLOSE KNIT FAMILY.

HE WOULD TELL US MY MOM USED TO ALWAYS PUT AN EXTRA SANWICH IN OUR LUNCH AND TELL WHEN WE GO TO SCHOOL AND TELL US GIVE US THIS SANDWICH TO ONE OF THOSE KIDS THAT HAVE NOTHING.

JASON: AND THAT IS MY QUESTION, ARE THOSE DAYS COMPLETELY GONE?

I MAEN IS THERE ANY WAY TO REVIVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD HELPING NEIGHBOR OR IS THAT STILL THERE AND PEOPLE JUST DON'T REALIZE IT?

HARVEY: IT IS STILL THERE JUST LIKE I TOLD YOU ABOUT MY BARBOR.

HE IS HELPING SOME NEIGHBORS HE KNOWS OR PEOPLE THAT HE KNOWS I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE NEIGHBORS OR NOT BUT HE IS HELPING PEOPLE HE KNOWS THAT NEED FOOD.

HE NOTICED WE HAVE FOOD.

IN FACT I TOLD UMMM ALL THE BARBORS IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT NEEDS HELP GET IN TOUCH WITH US.

SO HAVE THEM GET IN TOUCH WITH US BECAUSE WE CAN HELP WITH THIS.

AND SO THATS WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW AND A LOT OF TIMES YOU LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE ARE IN NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO COME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD YOU KNOW WE ARE HIGH CRIME AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT GO ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARENT GOING TO WANT TO SHOW UP BUT WE CAN NORMALLY HELP ANYBODY ANY KIND OF WAY BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AND MAYBE DELIVER AT SOME POINT.

I KNOW GRACE COMMUNITY CENTER DOES DELIVERY AND I AM GOING TO BE WITH THEM AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND SO WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE IF NOTHING ELSE I WOULD DELIVER TO OUR SENIORS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME OUT AND OUR FOOD BOXES YOU CAN NOT CARRY WE HAVE TO WHEEL THEM OUT TO A CAR SO WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF HELP SO WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT JASON: WHEN YOU MENTIONED CRIME WHEN YOU WERE TALKING TO OUR PRODUCER, YOU BELIEVE THAT IT ALL TIES BACK EVEN LIKE GUN VIOLENCE TIES BACK TO HUNGER.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

HARVEY: RIGHT, WELL YOU LOOK AT HUNGER, YOU LOOK AT THE KID THAT GROWS UP IN A HOME THATS FOOD INSECURE THATS THE TERMINOLOGY USED.

OK SO HE OR SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHERE THE NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.

THAT KID IS NOT GOING TO DEVELOP CORRECTLY AND SO YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO HAVE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

YOUR GOING TO HAVE ISSUES.

YOUR GOING TO LOOK AT THEM GROWING UP IN VIOLENCE AND WITH VIOLENCE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS WITHIN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS IS KIDS ARE GROWING UP IN CHAOS AND WHEN YOU GROW UP IN CHAOS YOUR BRAIN DOES NOT DEVELOP COMPLETELY AS IT SHOULD SO THEREFORE YOUR RUNNING AROUND WITH A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER AND YOUR ANGRY SO i LOOK AT THESE KIDS THAT ARE OUT HERE SHOOTING EACH OTHER SOMETIMES AND THAT ALL THEM VICTIMS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY RAISED AND WE HAVE TO AS A COMMUNITY HAVE NOT DONE WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING UHH WE COULD NOT EVEN GET THE PRE-K PROGRAM TOGETHER AND SO WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THESE KIDS FROM THE AGES OF 1-5 AND ON UP.

YOU KNOW 1-5 IS WHEN KIDS REALLY HAVE A LOT OF DEVELOPMENTAL AND WE NEED TO BE PARTICIPATING AND HAVING THESE KIDS GO THE RIGHT DIRECTION WHEN YOU HAVE A 15 YEAR OLD KID SHOOTING AT POLICE, GIVE ME A BREAK.

I MEAN WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

JASON: WHAT DO YOU THINK BRITTANY IF WE ADEQUITLY ADDRESS THE HUNGER PROBLEM WILL OTHER ISSUES IN OUR SOCIETY START TO RESOLVE?

BRITTANY: I THINK SO.

SO PART OF THIS MY PROGRAM IS CALLED SPACIALLY INTEGRATED SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SO THAT IS JUST HOW WE AS PEOPLE AND OUR BEHAVIORS EFFECT SPACE TURNING IT INTO A PLACE BECAUSE IT IS WITH IDENTITY AND VICE VERSA.

SO SPICE, I MEAN SPICE.. HAHA SO SPACE DEFINITLY JUST AFFECTS OUR BEHAVIOR.

SO IF YOUR SURROUNDED BY THIS NEGATIVE THINGS, VIOLENCE ALL THE TIME THEN YOUR GOING TO EMBODY THAT AND IF IT COMES OUT WITH YOUR BEHAVIORS SO ITS REALLY JUST THE SAME WITH FOOD.

YOU KNOW IF YOU DON'T HAVE NAY SORT OF FOOD OR ADEQUET FOOD IN THIS MOMENT, THEN YOU WILL FIND SOME SORT OF WAYS TO GET IT.

AND THEN ALSO OF COURSE IT EFFECTS YOUR HEALTH .

SO WITH THE CHILDREN, IF THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE BREAKFAST OR LUNCH THEY NEED THEN THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE LEARNING ISSUES.

THEY WILL START FAILING OUT OF SCHOOL, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE ATTITUDE PROBLEMS AND JUST LIKE WHEN THE DOGS, WHEN WE DON'T GET ANY FOOD WE GET ANGRY, WE GET IRRITATED AND CAN'T FUNCTION THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SORT OF FOOD WOULD FAIR MUCH BETTER IN SOCIETY THEN THOSE WHO DON'T.

I MEAN AND EVEN IF WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMICALLY, IF YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT A HEALTHY WORKFORCE, WELL NOW YOUR GOING TO NEED HEALTHY FOOD BECAUSE IF YOUR FEEDING ALL THESE HIGHLY PROCESSED FOODS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS DUE TO THE GROCERY STORES MOVING OUT THEN THATS IN OF ITSELF GOING TO CREAT DISEASE WITHIN THE BODY AND INFILTRATE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WITH SPACE IN WHICH THESE PEOPLE RESIDE.

JASON: YEAH WELL IT MAKES SENSE REAL QUICKLY, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

JULIE, AND HARVEY WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM THE COMMUNITY IF PEOPLE NEED HELP?

JULIE: UMM ANYBODY WHO NEEDS HELP CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS ASSISTANCE YOU KNOW WE WORK OF A SYSTEM CALLED FRESH TRACK DOT COM WHERE YOU CAN GO AND PUT YOUR ZIP CODE IN AND FIND ASSISTANCE FOR ANYBODY WHO NEEDS IT.

AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO HELP?

THEY CAN REACH OUT EITHER TO THE OHIO ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS OR TO OUR WEBSITE WICH IS SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANKS DOT ORG.

HARVEY: YEAH SAME THING FOR US, BASICALLY YOU KNOW, YOUR GOING TO HELP KITCHEN FOR THE POOR DOT ORG.

YOUVE GOT THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO US.

WE HAVE WE ARE IN THE TELEPHONE BOOK.

YOU KNOW WE, YOU CAN GET TO US, 419-241-2596 AND SO DO THAT.

JUST MAKE THE CONTACT.

AND DONT SIT AT HOME AND ACTUALLY NOT HAVE FOOD BECAUSE WE HAVE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GET FOOD.

JASON: THANKS TO ALL 3 OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STATE AND THANKS FOR COMING ON AND SHARING YOUR STORIES ON BACKSTORY TODAY.

THATS IT FOR TODAY WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON BACKSTORY.

ANNOUNCER: BACKSTORY IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY KEYBANK WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

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