FOR FILLING YOUR STOMACH WITH TURKEY, MASHED POTATOES DESSERT.

BUT FOR MANY, IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

ACCORDING TO THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY, ONE IN 5 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE CHICAGO METRO AREA ARE FACING FOOD INSECURITY.

MEANWHILE, A NATIONAL REPORT FOUND THAT 17 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS WERE FOOD INSECURE AT SOME POINT IN 2022.

A SIGNAL THAT FOOD INSECURITY IS ON THE RISE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THIS.

OUR JOE ROCKMAN CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER WITH THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY, ANGELA TAYLOR WELLNESS COORDINATOR FOR THE GARFIELD PARK COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

WILSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SHRIVER CENTER ON POVERTY LAW AND A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS COMMISSION TO END HUNGER AND REGGIE GUY, DIRECTOR OF THE SENIOR COMMODITY BOX PROGRAM WITH THE WOODLAWN COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY.

THANKS TO ALL 4 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ROCKMAN STARTING WITH YOU, PLEASE.

AS WE SAID, THE HOLIDAYS ARE QUICKLY APPROACHING.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THEY NEED LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.

WELL, AS YOU OPENED THAT, THAT THE STORY THAT NEED IS >> WHAT WE SAW IN THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT ABOUT THE INCREASING IN 2022.

IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW AT THE GREAT CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY.

AN INCREASE FROM 21 TO 22.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD ALL SAY THOSE RESULTS WERE DISAPPOINTING AND DISHEARTENING, AND, YOU KNOW, WE DID NOT WANT TO SEE THOSE.

IT WAS NOT WE HAVE SEEN THE INCREASE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE RESPONDED TO IT AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS OUR GOAL TO TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN 2023 AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE INCREASE IN NEED.

>> GIVE US A SENSE, IF YOU WOULD, HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE HOW HUNGER IN OUR COUNTRY LOOKS COMPARED TO HUNGER IN DEVELOPING NATIONS?

FIRST AND FOREMOST, A LOT OF PEOPLE DO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HUNGER IS A CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK OF IT IN THE SAME WAY AS WE THINK OF OTHER COUNTRIES.

>> BUT THE FACT IS THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE INABILITY TO PAY FOR THEIR GROCERIES.

THE INABILITY HAVE THAT THEY'RE SKIPPING MEALS.

THEY ARE OR THERE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY'RE NOT GETTING ACCESS TO QUALITY FOOD.

SO IT'S EASIER TO GET CHIPS AND VERY UNHEALTHY FOODS THAN IT IS TO GET FRESH PRODUCE.

SO THIS IS HOW HUNGER MANIFEST ITSELF IN THE UNITED STATES FOOD INSECURITY MANIFESTS THE UNITED STATES.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT DOES TRANSCEND RACE AND ETHNICITY, UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> THE CENSUS BUREAU'S RECENT POVERTY REPORT SHOW THE PARTY ROSE TO 12.2% IN 2022.

MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM 2021.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CAUSE OF THIS IS AND HOW DOES THAT TIE INTO FOOD INSECURITY?

>> TIES DIRECTLY INTO THE ENDING OF THE PANDEMIC RELATED BENEFITS THAT WERE EXTENDED FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO MOST IN NEED.

SO IT IS NOT SURPRISING TO A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH THE DROP IN THE END OF THOSE BENEFITS, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR WHEN THE EMERGENCY BENEFITS FOR SNAP WERE DISCONTINUED FOR ILLINOIS RESIDENTS COME FEBRUARY.

SO OUR PANEL IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU SEE THE MEDIA UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO GOING TO PANTRIES AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE INCREASE OF MIGRANTS WHO COME TO THE.

>> 2 CHICAGO AREA ARE ALSO PROFITS THE STRESS ON PANTRIES.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE, RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND WE'RE JUST DEFINITELY GONNA COME BACK TO BOTH OF THOSE THAT YOU MENTIONED WITH REGARD TO THE PANDEMIC ERA OF BENEFITS COMING TO AN END AS WELL AS THE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

>> REGGIE, YOU'VE BEEN HELPING DIRECTLY HUNDREDS OF IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

HOW WOULD YOU THE NEED HAS CHANGED FROM A YEAR AGO?

>> WELL, NEWS HAYNES, DRASTICALLY FROM A YEAR AGO, AS YOU GUYS STAY WITH THE PANDEMIC BENEFITS PEOPLE NEED SEE A PROBLEM IN OF AND EMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT.

THESE 2 FACTORS DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

PEOPLE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BUYING FOOD OR PAYING FOR HOUSING, BUYING FOOD OR PAYING FOR MEDICAL SERVICES.

SO THIS IS REALLY IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHERE THE NEED FOR FOOD HAS GROWN SO MUCH OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHICH THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE HAVE CHANGED.

YES.

SO WHEN WE START A FOOD PANTRY IN 2019, OUR DEMOGRAPHICS OF 90 STAYING 60 AND OVER ABOUT 90%.

NOW TODAY SEE 50% SAYING THERE'S A 50 50% PEOPLE AGES 18 TO 55.

OUR DEMOCRATIC REPS HAVE CHANGED AS PARDON ONLY ALL-BLACK FULL PITCH SERVICE ALL BLACK RESIDENTS AND WOULD LIKE TO DATE WITH THE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS.

WE ALSO HAVE A HIGH LATINO MIGRANT POPULATIONS COMES FOOD PANTRIES RECEIVE TO THE NEEDY.

>> I'M JUST GOING TO BUILD BOTH OF THE THE DECLINE OF STRENGTHENING THE SAFETY A FACTOR.

BUT THE FACT IT'S AT THE SAME TIME THAT INFLATION IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST THE INTERSECTION OF THOSE 2 IS CREATING THE INCREASED NEED THAT WE'RE SEEING IN IN BOTH ARE CRITICAL FACTORS.

YES.

>> I'M ANGELA.

YOU ALL OPENED A GROCERY STORE POP UP THIS WEEK.

TELL US WHY YOU FEEL THERE'S A NEED FOR THAT IN GARFIELD PARK.

ABSOLUTELY.

NO GROCERY IN ANY DIRECTION.

ONE MOUNT NORTH-SOUTH YOUTHS, THE >> YOU WILL NOT FIND ME QUALITY GROCERY STORE OR GROCERY STORE.

IT ALL IN THE GARFIELD PARK COMMUNITY.

WE'VE BEEN FOOD SECURITY ADDRESSING AND FAMILY ISSUES FROM GROIN FOOD BECAUSE WE'VE HOST A NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS MARKET FOR THE 11 YEARS TRYING TO TEACH COMMUNITY WHERE HEALTHY FOOD COMES FROM, WHICH IS IN THE AND WE ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GARNER SOME OF OUR FIELDS, RIGHT WHERE WE NEED WE DON'T NEED A FULLBACK.

YOU CAN GO DOLE'S TO CONGRESS IN IT CONTAIN, BUT THE NEED FOR THE GROCERY STORE WAS BECAUSE OF THE ENCLOSURE OF THE SAVE.

LET DUE TO THE RENOVATIONS HAVING THEM CLOSE EARLY BEING CLOSE TO THE HOLIDAY.

WE COULDN'T JUST SIT ON THIS AND NOT IT.

NOWHERE.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET ON THE BUS, TAKING A CAUSE, ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE COMMUNITY ACCESS.

AND SO, OF COURSE, IT'S DIFFERENT.

THIS IS A GROCERY STORE, NOT FOOD PANTRY WHERE FOOD IS IS GIVING AWAY WITHOUT COST HOW WE PRICING ITEMS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, HEALTHY FOODS ARE STILL AFFORDABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE HAVING COMPETITIVE PRICES.

>> BASED ON ITEM STATE, WHEN WE SEEN WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM OF YOUNG PEOPLE DOING THE RESEARCH TO SEE WHAT THE PRICES ARE.

A CROSS.

COMMUNITY HAS DEVELOPED A GROCERY STORE ADMISSION YOU OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN MEETING THINGS TO LAST YEAR TO FIGURE COLLECT DATA FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF GROCERY STORE THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT TYPE OF FOOD ITEMS THEY WOULD LIKE TO EVEN AT THE POP UP HERE RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE EACH AND EVERY CUSTOMER IS GREETED WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE CONVERSATION IS SAFE WITH HIM TO TAKE THAT.

THE PROTESTS HAVE MANY PEOPLE YOU SHOP AND 4, WHAT TYPE OF PRODUCT.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT YOU DON'T SEE HERE TODAY SO THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT INTO A IN THE AND LIKE AND BEFORE PACE WE WERE OPEN, MAYBE ONE DAY A WEEK OR 2 DAYS A WEEK.

WE'RE OPEN FOR DAYS WEEKEND.

WE WILL BE RUNNING THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND WE'RE HOPING THAT GROCERY STORE THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY OPEN BY THE JOE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUES TO RISE DESPITE BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC SOMEWHAT.

>> WELL, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE LOSING JOBS, INFLATION, THOSE DON'T PIVOT QUICKLY, TOO SOLUTIONS.

AND SO THEIR LONG-STANDING SOLUTION.

SO I DO THINK IT'S THE INTERSECTION OF THOSE THINGS.

I THINK THE IS CRITICAL.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD ALSO SAY LOOK AT WHERE IT'S HAPPENING.

SO WHEN YOU PEEL THAT ONION BACK ON THE ON THE RESEARCH, YOU'LL SEE THAT HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN ARE.

I'M MORE LIKELY TO FOOD INSECURE IN CHICAGO.

BLACK HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN ARE 33% OF THOSE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES OF POVERTY.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES OF INEQUITY.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.

THIS INVESTMENT AND THEN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES SOLUTIONS.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE FOCUS FOR THE FOOD DEPOSITORY.

WE, OF COURSE, PROVIDE FOOD THE LEVEL A DIVE RESPONSE IN THE FOOD RESPONSE.

BUT IT'S ALSO STRATEGIES AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE THINK ARE CRITICAL >> ADVOCATES AS WE'VE DISCUSSED OF STRESSED, YOU KNOW, ROLLING BACK THOSE PANDEMIC ERA PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LIKE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT EMERGENCY SNAP BENEFITS AND THE IMPACT THAT HAD ON FOOD INSECURITY THE FAMILIES THAT NEED WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WASHINGTON REINSTATE ANY OF >> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING NO MATTER WHAT.

FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE KNOW THAT POVERTY AND POVERTY AND HUNGER.

THESE ARE POLICY CHOICES.

THIS IS NOT THE FAILING OF AN INDIVIDUAL BUT A FEELING OF OUR SYSTEM.

AND SO WE AS AFRICANS CONTINUE TO PUSH BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THE ACTUAL BENEFITS OF AN INFUSION MONEY.

INFUSION OF FOOD INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING PEOPLE.

AND SO YOU DON'T NEED ANY MORE EVIDENCE AND WHAT YOU'VE SEEN WITH CHILD POVERTY RATES OVERALL, POVERTY RATES, HUNGER RATES DECLINING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO EVIDENCE IS RIGHT THERE.

SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUSH FOR THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE FEE STRENGTHENING AT THE SNAP WHICH HAS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE OF A HUNGER PROTECTION PROGRAM THAT EXPECTING AGAINST HUNGER IN UNITED STATES.

WE NEED TO BOLSTER OUR CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THEIR IMPACT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHEN YOU HAD SCHOOL BREAKFAST SCHOOL LUNCH AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE FEEDING KIDS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE IF IT DID NOT HAVE THAT SUPPORT.

JILL SAID THIS SO ELOQUENTLY AND THAT IS HOW WE REALLY HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE IMPOVERISHED, PEOPLE STRUGGLING NICE WITH THE MONEY TO BE ABLE SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT CORRELATION BETWEEN RATES HUNGER, RISING IN FOOD, INSECURITY.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO GO TO BECAUSE AS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING PAID A LIVING WAGE, PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THEY ALL INTERSECT.

YOU MENTIONED HEALTH CARE.

REGGIE, YOUR PANTRIES FOCUS NOT ONLY ON FEEDING PEOPLE BUT MENTAL HEALTH OUT OF THE 2 GOING.

YES.

SO WE TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO FOOD SECURITY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO NOW NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A FOOD DISTRIBUTION TWICE A WEEK.

WE ALSO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH NUMBER CAR WILL MISS THAT'S A NATION.

>> CLINICS ALSO PROVIDE HEALTH AS WELL AND HELP SEMINARS CURRENTLY WORKING, YOU KNOW, VERSUS CHICAGO TO ADDRESS THE GROWING MET MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF OUR OWN FOOD PANTRY.

CLIENTS ARE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN LIFE.

DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT KNOWING DIFFERENT RESOURCES, SO GO AND LOOK TO GET HELP.

SO WANT TO BRING THOSE RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN HAVE AT THE FOOD PANTRY AS WELL GETTING MENTAL HEALTH SEMINARS AND HEALTH SERVICES.

SO WE KNOW MAYOR JOHNSON IS EXPLORING OPENING A CITY OWNED GROCERY IN AREAS THAT ARE FOOD DESERTS.

ANGELA, DO YOU THINK THE MODEL LIKE THAT MIGHT WORK?

IT COULDN'T.

HOW'S THAT THE PAY ATTENTION TO THE COMMUNITY?

IT'S ONE THING TO COME IN.

THE COMMUNITY CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND PEOPLE SPEAK UP.

AND THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND IT GOES WHEN IT COMES.

FACT, IT DOES IS NOT REFLECTIVE WHAT THOSE COMMUNITIES WE'RE CULTURALLY DIVERSE HERE IN CHICAGO AND WE ALL NEEDS.

BUT IF THE GOVERNMENT COMES LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY >> AND PROVIDE US WITH NOTHING TO CREATE DAY.

I KIND OF LEAN INTO IS UP TO US TO STAND UP AND STEP OUT FOR A SELF TO GENERATE SOMETHING HAPPENING AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL GET AND SUPPORT US.

>> JILL, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON ON CITY OWNED GROCERY STORE?

WELL, IT'S I SPENT THE EARLY PART, MIKE OR IN THE GROCERY INDUSTRY.

AND SO I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, ISSUES AROUND COST AND SCALE, BUT THEY'RE ALL THERE ARE SMALL AND LARGE GROCERY STORES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT DO.

WELL, I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT I'M LISTENING TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS IS REALLY WHAT COMPANIES DO.

THEY LISTEN AND THEY THEN STOCK WHAT'S NEEDED AND THEY ARE ALREADY DOING THAT WORK.

SO THE I ASSUME THAT IT'S POSSIBLE AND APPLAUD THE EFFORTS THAT MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

REGGIE 10 SECONDS.

I THINK IT'S GREAT IDEA BY MIA JOHNSON COME UP WITH THE SOLUTIONS FOR OUR PROBLEMS.

WE SAW MATT EXODUS OF THE BIG BUCK STORES SPECIALLY DOING AFTER HE WAS ELECTED.

SO HOPE YOU COME TO THE GREAT SOLUTION TO HELP THE FOOD IS ACCUSING THE WEST OF SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO.

OK,