The Shocking Truth About Food Insecurity | Clancy Cash Harrison | TEDxWilmingtonWomen

20% of kids are plagued by food insecurity - they lack reliable access to nourishing food.
As a nutritionist Clancy’s mistake was assuming people had access to the quality food they needed. This resulted in their inability to provide healthy meals even after she taught them how.
Clancy debunks some popular myths behind food insecurity, revealing the hidden causes - and actual solutions that are making a difference.

A catalyst for social change, Clancy challenges assumptions about hunger in the US. Her mission to demolish stigma around food assistance programs places her on the cutting edge of research, implementation, and advocacy. Clancy is a Registered Dietitian and speaker for Congressional Briefings, TV segments, and seminars. Her ability to fuse real life experiences and empathy with statistics allows audiences to experience shifts in perception of food insecurity. Clancy is an award-winning author of Feeding Baby, founder of the Children Feeding Children Project, and past president of the Al Beech Food
Pantry. She received distinction as a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.

[phillipwhite]

One of the biggest takeaways I have from this video is that our problems are rooted in our attitude as a society. We as a society need to get off our high horse and not shame people for being in need. We will all face times in our life when we need a helping hand and it is really easy not to lend that helping hand until it is you in need. Great video and I hope to see a shift in societal thinking.

[alexandrafitzgerald]

While listening to this TEDx talk, I was blown away by so many points Ms.Harrison made. One of the main points that stood out to me is that 1 in 5 kids suffer from food insecurity. Growing up, I never had to worry about where my next meal came from and I am grateful for that. However, hearing that there are that many children in the United States suffering from hunger truly breaks my heart. I think it is so beyond important to break the social stigma surrounding the use of food assistance programs because so many people that use those programs are using them to help their families and children through school and through a portion of their lives that they wouldn’t have been able to get through without those programs.

[lemonlime]

It’s really weird being on the other side of this now.

I grew up with food insecurity and it was awful. Now that I’m a mother and my husband and I are well off- I find that I actually obsess about going grocery shopping and making nutritious meals for my family.
We frequently try other cuisines because I want my children to experience them. Grocery stores are my happy place.
I still find myself getting anxious when our fridge gets empty even though I know I can easily go to the store.

It never leaves you.

[matthewboyes]

I have worked in a grocery store for over 5 years now and I have commonly see the negative sigma of people using WIC or EBT programs. Not only do some customers judge the ones that use these programs but they also shame them publicly by saying cruel remarks such as " I wish I got free food." and other heartless claims. I can't tell you how many times that customers even put things back because they simply can't afford them with or without such programs. It's simply heartbreaking to watch a family go through the struggle of trying to manage the best they can only to be ridiculed by strangers who's careless words break them down even further. I think this Ted talk contains an important message that is commonly overlooked and it was a pleasure to watch.

[alexushowell]

While watching this Ted Talk, I got chills when it was stated that 1 in 5 kids don't know where their next meal would come from. Growing up in a family where the fridge was always full, I never realized that this was such a problem in our country. These shocking stories make me want to become further educated on this problem of hunger and more interested in nutrition in general. I admire how passionate the speaker is about this topic and agree with her. Getting food assistance shouldn't be seen as a negative thing, it means that the individual is strong enough to get help and take of themselves and their children.

[kidsnetsoft]

Great video. It needs to be mentioned that CEOs are out of control with excessive profits. It is to the point where working families can't even afford to eat healthy. Greed is so shameful

[madisonruston]

This was an amazing speech. I also have this stigma with hunger. When I hear the word "hunger"I picture I very skinny malnourished human being. However after watching this video I want to make a difference in the world and spread knowledge about food assistance.

[minischniers]

Now that I'm in a better place with a husband and a farm (complete with gardens and chickens) I'm putting a produce stand up with eggs and other organic goods for my community. No charge but donations accepted. Just trying to do my part. I encourage others in privileged positions to help your fellow humans. They need it

[jennacalifa]

This really opened my eyes to stigma's I did not even know I had. The image and shame we put on individuals and food assistance programs need to be reassessed and I feel that this speech really put that into perspective for me. I now feel so much more compassion for the people around me because hunger does not affect just one type of person. Thank you for the work that you do.

[meganrusonis]

Being someone who is very involved in my local food pantries and soup kitchens this video was very powerful. While volunteering at these places I try my best to fight these stigmas that are out there by giving a kind smile to those we server, or offering a hand to them when needed. You never know what situation someone is in so it is best to treat them with kindness and respect so that they feel comfortable and accepted in the centers, I would never want anyone to feel ashamed or embarrassed when they are doing something that the need to do. Thank you for making the stigmas know so we can all try as a whole to fight them.

[bjkkkikhgfjj]

This was a really interesting topic, and I feel like it shed a lot of light. When I first think of "food insecurity" I didn't think of not having access to proper meals, but just not knowing how to properly feed yourself or children. This talk goes so much deeper than that. I know there is a sigma, and that people on food assistance programs are often ashamed because I used to work in a grocery store and see it firsthand. I think if the general population had a better understanding of the numbers involved with those struggling for food each day, it could help lower stigma. As Professor Harrison said, being hungry doesn't have a face; they aren't always necessarily skin and bones, but it could be the person standing behind you in the grocery store. To discriminate against those who can't afford the bare minimum is awful, as everyone deserves to have a proper meal with nutrients to fuel the body. This talk definitely opened my eyes, and challenged my own views that I have towards food assistance. I often would be angry if I knew that someone in high school had free lunch, but wore nice clothes and had a nice iPhone. At the time, I just didn't understand. Looking back, those school programs are invaluable and bless children with meals and the energy to keep up in the classroom.

[Maldukaaa]

This speaker did a great job presenting and getting the idea of food insecurity across to people. A lot of people tend to criticize people who used a food assistance program when in reality, they truly need it. You never know who is in this situation. The food assistance programs help people get their lives back on track and makes sure they are getting meals everyday.

[ThePetra]

It's so easy to become complacent & not even realize the struggles that are going on all around you. Thank you for confronting the misconceptions head-on by presenting examples of people we can all relate to. Great job!

[starmangreg]

Not long ago I was talking to my Sister and her husband when I mentioned the food insecurity in the US. They both looked me straight in the eye and said there is no hunger in America. The media they preferred to listen to said the only folks with that problem were lazy people that did not want to work and wanted to live off the government dole. There was nothing I could say and they did not want to see proof. I knew also that because I am in my sixties, of ill health and survive on SS Disability, they most likely looked down on me. I don't have the strength to fight any more (I can hardly make it from my bed to the bathroom). Its up to the younger generations to make changes and grow into it. So people like me stop losing faith.

[johnfagotti]

This video really opened my eyes about the truth of food insecurity. The most eye opening aspect to me was how much some families pay for formula. I could not imagine paying more for formula for my children per month than for my house to live in. I'm still in disbelief  that we have the ability to help some families that truly need assistance, however criticize the families that take advantage of such a wonderful program. As a society, we need to do better at recognizing food insecurity and banish the social stigma regarding it!

[khenryx]

This video was eye opening to me as l was previously uneducated on this topic. I feel guilty about my prior misconceptions on individuals using food assistance programs and feel obligated to spread my new found knowledge. We must crush the social stigma around food poverty as a society and allow the people in need to feel comfortable getting the assistance they need.

[raventbrunner]

I really enjoyed watching your speech. My senior research focuses on the funding of SNAP and other food assistance programs. I definitely think that there is more that we can do to help. We need to be able to correct people when they grossly stereotype people dealing with poverty. The misconceptions that you mentioned are very common misconceptions. Part of my research talks about whether or not blame is placed on society, or the individual. What you spoke about, around 8 minutes in, really resonated with me. In the situation about the woman using WIC, the comment that the person behind her was very inappropriate. It enforces the idea that those using federal assistance owe something to everybody else, when they don't. Great speech!

[kylekrall]

I think this is an amazing presentation on food insecurity and how we tend to overlook problems that are right in front of our eyes. At times we are too fast to judge people and do not always consider what they may be going through. We have to recognize that poverty is always changing and not all stereotypes are true when it comes to poverty. These challenges with food insecurity can happen to anyone at any time and we must do all we can to help lend a hand to people when we are able to.

[dove]

Before working in retail I had a negative opinion towards food assistance programs as that is how my parents felt towards the matter, they were proud people who considered needing assistance to be a sign of weakness (ironic considering there were many time in my childhood where we were unable to afford proper food, before my parents business became successful we often had plain noodles or boiled potatoes for supper). Even after working in a convenience store I was fairly judgmental, I didn't think people should be able to use food stamps where I worked considering the only food we sold was canned, candy or soda. Food stamps were often a huge hassle as they were timely since everything had to be entered in manually, I assumed most people using food stamps only had/needed them because of poor money management issues. It wasn't until last year that my opinion turned around, my best friend lost her only parent. She had no job since she was pursuing a degree and all of a sudden she had house payments, car payments, utility bills, and a funeral to pay for. She had very little savings and after a year she still doesn't have access to her mother's bank accounts. Her life was turned upside down and she was forced to drop out and obtain a full time job that she hates with a passion in order to pay bills in which she can barely afford. Food stamps are how she eats, she is barely scraping by and food stamps are saving her. Her experience showed me how food stamps help people and how important they are, yes people abuse the system but the the number of people abusing it is so small compared to the amount it helps. Food is a basic human right and no one should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from.

[shannonelhartcounselor]

I love your message, Clancy - you did a fabulous job sharing this important message. You know I've heard you speak before... you always get me teary... seriously, I am humbled and sobbing - and that is okay. Congratulations on your hard work and success!