American Food Pantries: The Caucasian Cornucopia

Presenter

Ella Slavin-Reker

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Deborah Keisch, Department of Civic Engagement & Service-Learning, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C12, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 2 (C11-C20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Food extends beyond mere sustenance and is a central aspect of many cultures. When people lack access to traditional foods, it distances them from a unique part of themselves. In this paper, I dissect the intricate dynamic between access to ethnic foods in pantries and how it affects cultural identities. I obtained data from the Amherst Survival Center's inventory list as supportive evidence. My findings underscore the harm that people who are marginalized in U.S. society face when they have to rely on unfamiliar foods, especially in a new environment. It not only limits expression of self, but forces acclimation to a new culture in place of traditional values. These results demonstrate a clear exigency for food pantries to incorporate more cultural variety in their food selection. Whether it be through USDA subsidization, community donations, local partnerships, or their budgets. Consistently, structural racism reinforces and contributes to the disparately negative effects of food insecurity. This results in food insecurity disproportionately affecting low-income people and those who are marginalized in the U.S. which raises issues of social justice caused by unequal distribution processes and food production. In America, Black and Latino populations are most heavily affected by this disparity, but this varies from region to region. In an ideal situation, the food options should proportionally match the groups of people who use them as closely as possible. 

Keywords

food insecurity , equitable access, food pantry accessibility , racial disaparaties, food is centric within cultures

Research Area

Race and Ethnicity Studies

SIMILAR ABSTRACTS (BY KEYWORD)