Fighting [hunger + poverty] every day is at the core of our mission.
Hunger is a condition in which a person does not have the physical or financial capability to eat sufficient food to meet basic nutritional needs for a sustained period of time, often causing discomfort and suffering. In Northeast Florida, 13.9% of the population is facing chronic hunger, that is about 1 out of 5 people. Food insecurity, or a state where there is only limited or uncertain availability of suitable food, impacts 2 out of 5 people in Northeast Florida. At Waste Not Want Not, we realize hunger and food insecurity are different but equally challenging and disruptive to the health of our neighbors including children and families. That is why we work with dozens of community organizations who are on the front-lines feeding the hungry in soup kitchens, under bridges and in shelters as well as those who stock pantries, backpacks, and food banks to help alleviate food insecurity. We rescue more than 4,000 pounds of food each day that is distributed to our food distribution partners.
Understanding the underlying relationship between hunger and poverty, our work through our community partners helps individuals overcome poverty by nourishing their bodies so that they can actively work or study. Hungry or food insecure children often lose focus in the classroom as their focus is on where their next meal will come from. As a result, they may not do well in school which could lead to lifelong issues. We also help fight poverty by supporting the fundraising efforts of our community partners in funding their programs. Through our partnership with Clay County and the Salvation Army, we provide food for their Empty Bowls event which raises money to fight poverty in our community.
Not everyone facing food insecurity is living in poverty. Some of the children and families we help are just above the federal poverty level and are simply struggling to make ends meet as they confront the rising cost of food, housing, and transportation. Our reach and our impact is significant. Our reach spans from our most-poverty stricken to the working poor to those just going through a rough patch. Whoever we reach...we fight hunger EVERY DAY.
