If you want to know what it feels like to be hungry, Humanity House founder Tracy Keagle has a suggestion.
Go on a diet.
“All you think about is food,” Keagle said.
You might feel tired, weak, irritated, frustrated, apprehensive, overwhelmed and desperate.
Imagine being hungry all the time, with few options for relief. As humans, our basic physiological needs are food, water and sleep. Imagine having to ask someone to help you with such a basic need.
Now, add shame.
“You shouldn’t feel ashamed for wanting to eat,” Keagle said.
Keagle was one of the featured speakers at the Southeast Kansas Hunger Action Summit on Monday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. The event was sponsored by Kansas Appleseed and brought together anti-hunger advocates from across the region to discuss solutions.
Keagle spoke about the need for inclusive food pantries. That means providing access to food without making those in need feel judged or ashamed.
Mostly, it requires limiting the questions you ask, she said.
It’s difficult enough for someone to ask for help, Keagle said, but food pantries sometimes place an undue burden by asking for identification or proof of residency or income.
“When you’re worried about something very basic — providing food for your family — you aren’t thinking about things like that,” she said.
Humanity House provides food to anyone who asks, Keagle said. Staff may ask questions, including about income, but only so they can gauge if a family qualifies for other types of assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps.
All too often, programs aimed at providing resources end up alienating those who are most in need. They place barriers, such as the intimidating 36-page SNAP application or rules that prohibit felons from accessing SNAP. Another rule requires families to cooperate with state child support collections; in some cases, that could put someone at risk of domestic violence or upend an existing, amicable agreement.
Keagle said it’s important for assistance programs to rethink their requirements, and to treat those in need with dignity and respect.
