Educators' reports of food acquisition practices used by limited-resource individuals to maintain food sufficiency

Family Economics and Nutrition Review, Spring, 2002 by Kathryn M. Kempson, Debra Palmer Keenan, Puneeta Sonya Sadani, Sylvia Ridlen, Nancy Scotto Rosato

   "People go to pawn shops to
   sell items that they already
   have, like jewelry, watches, ...
   appliances, car titles.... I've
   seen cases where people
   actually lost their cars because
   they didn't pay back the loan
   that they got for the title.... They
   had food, but they lost
   their vehicle."

Panhandling was commonly mentioned as a way to increase income for food acquisition. Babysitting, day work, sharing households with borders who were not mentioned on applications for public assistance, and preparing and selling homemade food were other means used to obtain money for

food. One limited-resource client bought several cake mixes at the beginning of the month, made homemade cupcakes, and then sold them for profit when her food allotment for the month was depleted. Although an industrious practice, earning unreported income and selling without a license are illegal.

Other illegal activities were also pursued to increase income. For example, meat or non-food items were stolen from stores or individuals and then sold or pawned. EPNEP/FSNEP educators reported that their clients stole food from family members during mealtime visits, from establishments where individuals worked, or in the case of migrant farm workers, from crops.

Adults, whole families, and children were involved in manufacturing, distributing, and selling drugs illegally.

   "... this started when he was
   about 5 years old and some of
   the older kids in the neighborhood
   would ... send him
   around the corner with one
   paper bag. And then he would
   have to come back with
   another paper bag. And they
   would ... give him a couple of
   quarters, or whatever, for every
   time he came around the
   corner. That was how money
   was coming, and that was how
   he got food for himself."

In addition to the legal ramifications, these practices placed individuals at risk of physical harm.

Legal and illegal gambling, such as buying lottery tickets or participating in sports' pools, was another way people attempted to acquire money for food.

   "They thought [that if] they'd
   spend a dollar here, maybe they
   could win a couple million.
   You [wouldn't] have to ever
   worry about food again."

If overused, gambling can lead to financial problems that negatively affect people's ability to maintain food sufficiency.

Decrease expenses through activities. Multiple practices to decrease expenses were used to reduce food costs, and therefore improve limited-resource individuals' ability to acquire food. Gardening was mentioned as a viable method; going through dumpsters and picking up discarded food were questionable methods that placed participants at risk for foodborne illnesses.

Hunting and fishing, although often done legitimately, were questionable practices in many cases (e.g., hunting deer after dark or fishing in contaminated waters).

   "There are quite a few people
   in our area who fish. And they
   just really don't even try to
   find out whether [the water] is
   contaminated or safe."