#talk poverty

[autisticadvocacy]

In the years since Olmstead and the passage of the ADA, we as a country have engaged in the difficult and revolutionary work of real inclusion.

[benevolentnet]

Words Matter When Talking Poverty

Great great piece by James Abro of Talk Poverty shedding light on the unfortunate, counterproductive and simply destructive tendency of defining poverty with prejudice and negative stereotypes. Abro gives us the CRITICAL challenge to embody a form of change-making that lifts up real peoples’ real life experiences. It's time to listen and elevate those stories of personal and financial struggle with dignity and respect. It's time to act alongside those we wish to help. 

What do you think?

[jamisondoran-blog]

The SNAP Challenge: A True Wake Up Call

After living off of SNAP benefits for one week I don't understand how someone could do that for any prolonged period of time, especially considering most benefits are used up by the third week of the month, leaving people even hungrier than before.

I wrote a longer breakdown of being on the SNAP Challenge for the Huffington Post. You should check it out.

[jamisondoran-blog]

SNAP Challenge: Wrap Up

I'm officially done with the SNAP Challenge. This post is a little late, but I found myself infected with pinkeye on Sunday and have been grouchy/lazy and so put this off.

Anyways, let me first say how happy I am to eat fresh food again, and how fortunate I am that this challenge was just a challenge with a set end date and not the reality for me.

Last week I was tired, constantly hungry, and just kind of grouchy. Being hungry is all consuming. You can't concentrate when you're thinking about food. The time between breakfast and lunch was particularly hard for me, and I frequently found myself zoning out at my desk counting down the minutes until i could eat again.

It also, to not get too TMI with it all, was not kind to my intestinal system. Eating a bunch of processed garbage with basically zero fiber or zero nutritional value in general is not good for you. Period.

I have always been in support of SNAP, and know the abuses of the system are minuscule compared to the benefit for so many families. However the current benefits aren't working. Subsisting on less than $1.50 per meal per person isn't realistic and it isn't surprising that so many people on SNAP are obese and have health issues that go hand in hand with being overweight.

People, for the most part, want to eat well, and if given the choice will choose the healthier options.

The sad reality is, that for those on SNAP, they don't have much of a choice in what they eat.

[jamisondoran-blog]

SNAP Challenge Day Six: Wrap Up

I'm almost done. Thank goodness!

Today was particularly difficult, mainly for my own stupidity. Forgetting breakfast was a terrible mistake. I'm not getting nearly enough fuel for my day and breakfast has been really important during this challenge to ensure I can actually semi-function during the day.

It was was also hard to watch all my coworkers eat slice after slice after pizza, while I hate my turkey sandwich and pretzels. Again, I know I technically could've had pizza, but it was important for me to stick to my hard number to see what it's like to just live off of that. That being said, I feel like watching coworkers eat cake and pizza this week, and seeing Instagrams and Snapchats of the meals friends have, made me realize what those on SNAP go through daily. They must constantly see food they are dying to eat, but they can't because they can't afford it, even if it is something as simple as a slice of pizza.

I'm really fortunate that I don't have to really think about what I spend on food. I know I spend probably way too much on it, but I love food, and eating out or cooking myself a nice meal is oftentimes my splurge. Instead of buying a new outfit or going to a movie, I'd much rather go to a new restaurant or cook a new meal.

I'm definitely looking forward to going back to a more normal eating routine, but with a new found perspective of it all, and what it means to live on SNAP.

[jamisondoran-blog]

SNAP Challenge Day Five: Wrap Up

Only two more days.

The countdown is one of the big things that has helped get me through this. Knowing there is a set end date. And knowing when that end date happens I can pop open a beer and eat whatever my heart desires.

That's not a reality for most people on SNAP, and one of the many reasons why, as important as I think doing this challenge is, it will never compare to actually being on SNAP.

As far as this challenge goes, day five wasn't terrible, but it is apparent your really never get used to the lingering hunger. Even when it isn't an all consuming thought, it is still there. It is miserable.

Also, I am so tired. I've had one night since beginning this challenge where I actually went to bed at my usual bedtime (around 12:30) and that was mainly because I got caught up in a book I was reading and was on the phone. Otherwise I probably would've done what I did on day five, which was conk out at 11pm.

As I'm pretty sure I said in an earlier post, I'm not sure if this has to do with the being hungry or the fact that I've been coffee free for five days, or a combination of the two. Regardless, I can't really imagine a time I've felt so tired and lethargic. Even as an admitted insomniac who doesn't usually sleep like a normal person, I find myself functioning worse now, even compared to nights where I might get a handful of hours of sleep.

The monotony of what I'm eating is really starting to get to me too. It's all the same. All junk. All empty calories. All never filling enough.

I just want to gnaw on some spinach....

[jamisondoran-blog]

SNAP Challenge Day Four: Wrap Up

I'm more than halfway through the SNAP Challenge and I am so happy. I'm literally having fantasies about salads. I'm not all about all those ridiculous cleanses, but I actually might have to just eat fresh fruits and veggies next week to make up for the lack of them this weekend.

People I've talked about this challenge with told me it would get easier as time goes on. I haven't found that to be true. Now I'm sure you can get used to anything after enough time, but I've found myself struggling more and more as each meal passes.

Day four was particularly challenging as we had office birthdays and therefore birthday cake. Anyone who knows me fairly well knows that I'm not a huge cake (and don't even get me started on cupcakes) person. I find them dry and usually sickeningly sweet. However I would've loved some cake as my stomach rumbled.

Now, yes, technically I could have had cake. However, this challenge was about seeing what it was like to live off of $28.70 for food for the week. I could've used the supplies in my own pantry or gone over to friend's houses all week and eaten fine without spending any money, but that defeats the purpose.

Three more days. I can do it.