What is "Food Insecurity"?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.
It is important to know that hunger and food insecurity are closely related, but distinct, concepts. Hunger refers to a personal, physical sensation of discomfort, while food insecurity refers to a lack of available financial resources for food at the level of the household.
Poverty and food insecurity in the United States are closely related. However, not all people living below the poverty line experience food insecurity, and those living above the poverty line can also experience food insecurity in situations such as job loss or unexpected household expenses (such as caring for an ill child).
There is no single face of food insecurity. It impacts every community in the US.
Do we really have food insecurity in the Parkland School District?
Most of your friends and neighbors would be surprised to hear that food insecurity is a growing issue in the Parkland School Community. With over 9,400 students making up the district, 27% of those are experiencing some level of food insecurity. The founding members of the Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry found this staggering statistic unacceptable and decided to do something about it.
Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry was established to serve the families of the Parkland Area in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.
What is Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry doing about it?
Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry is a nonprofit organization primarily run by volunteers to help in the fight against hunger in our Parkland School Community.
In an effort to provide aide to the families, Parkland C.A.R.E.S. operates as a Choice Pantry. Families have an opportunity to shop the Pantry for the items that best suit their needs. Allowing families the opportunity to make their own choices of food preserves their dignity and reduces the amount of food waste.
In addition to the Pantry, Parkland C.A.R.E.S. also hopes to provide weekly snack packs to students in an effort to help curb hunger throughout the weekend and in the summer months.
Parkland C.A.R.E.S. believes they can make a difference in the lives of these promising students with the help of the community and large and small businesses.
What is the Impact of Food Insecurity?
How can you help...
Make a financial contribution to Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry. Donating less than $1 per day ($29/month), provides 44 meals for a child. Click the Donate button to the right, and check the "Make This a Monthly Donation" box on the Donation screen.
Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with the EIN 83-0559064
Contact us about providing a one-time or recurring donation of food to help us keep the Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry stocked up.
Contact us about getting involved with the Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry by donating your time as a volunteer or just helping to spread the word about our organization and services.