Holland Food Pantry

Holland Food Pantry

Introduction

Today's technological and business advancements present a picture of modern and prosperous world. However, it is also a fact that despite of these advancements there is a large segment of people who are passing life with limited income, which makes them unable to get better quality of life and healthy food to maintain health. It is important to realize that access to food is everyone's basic right, but food insecurity and hunger can be seen as real problem in many parts of the United States of America as well as world (Arnold, 2004). The concept of food pantries is based on the fundamental approach of providing food to those in need as there are many people who are unable to have nutritionist food due to their bad economic condition and poverty. This means, all people in community should have access to nutritionally adequate food through a single source or place where these families have choice to select food depending upon their health and dietary conditions. Holland Food Pantry responds the community need with a commitment to reduce hunger by providing the needy people an opportunity to have healthy and nutritionist food.

Economic Issues

It can be seen throughout the world that poverty is a main reason of hunger, which itself comes due to bad economic condition of individuals as well as state. It is a fact that 11.1 percent of Americans are passing life at or below the poverty level. In addition, there are a significant number of people in America who have very low income (Arnold, 2004). This situation keeps them away to access nutritionist food and have a healthy life. Further, the global economic recession also affected American economy and played a major role in increasing number of individuals needing food. Many companies facing decrease in sales reduced salaries of their employees that imposed financial limitations on their right to have good food. The economic crisis also increases the unemployment ratio that causes the lifestyle as well as health of affected individuals. On the other hand, it is also important to know that donations contribute in the betterment of economy as most of the donations are tax deductible (Arnold, 2004).

Health & Nutrition Needs

It is a fact that hunger or limited food or substandard food not just affects the physical health but it also damages the mental health of individuals. It has been seen that low intake of food or malnutrition increased the death ratio. In addition those who live with hunger also face health issues including headaches, exhaustion, cold and other sickness, which also limits their physical activities. It is also a fact that hunger or malnutrition also impact the health of pregnant women and may result in the birth of underweight babies. In addition, it has also been seen that underweight newborns have limited chances to survive, and if survived may face physical or mental illness (Platka-Bird, 1999).

Further chronic hunger in elders affects their bones and other parts of body. Anemia can be seen as another ...