What we're getting wrong in the fight to end hunger | Jasmine Crowe

Summary

In June 2017, a volunteer at a food pantry in Atlanta realized the inadequacy of the food given to those in need, which sparked a mission to address hunger differently. The speaker created an app to redistribute surplus food from businesses to those in need, emphasizing the importance of providing nutritious meals instead of just food. Highlighting global examples and innovative solutions, the speaker calls for a shift in how hunger is tackled, advocating for technology and policy changes to ensure that everyone has access to proper meals and reduce food waste.

Takeaways

• 👋 The speaker volunteered at a food pantry in Atlanta and realized the food being given was not creating real meals.
• 🤔 The speaker questioned the effectiveness of traditional food drives and charity, which often result in food waste and do not address the root causes of hunger.
• 🌟 The speaker created a pop-up restaurant called Sunday Soul to provide meals with dignity to those experiencing homelessness.
• 📊 In the US, food banks are common but do not solve the problem of hunger; they perpetuate a cycle of dependency on unhealthy, imbalanced food.
• 🌍 Globally, there is a significant issue of hunger with 821 million people affected, while in the US nearly 40 million people, including 11 million children, experience hunger annually.
• 🚫 There is a massive amount of food waste, with over 80 billion pounds wasted per year in the US, contributing to environmental issues like methane gas production.
• 💡 The speaker believes that hunger is not a scarcity issue but a logistics problem, and technology can play a key role in solving it.
• 📱 The speaker developed an app to facilitate the donation of excess food from businesses to those in need, reducing waste and providing meals.
• 🏪 The app has been successful, working with major brands and diverting millions of pounds of food from landfills to people in need, equivalent to 1.7 million meals.
• 🛒 The speaker also launched pop-up grocery stores in food deserts, providing free access to a variety of food and promoting healthy meal options.
• 🌐 Other countries like France, Italy, and Denmark have implemented policies to reduce food waste and increase food accessibility for those in need.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial experience volunteering at a local food pantry?

The speaker volunteered at a local food pantry in Atlanta, Georgia, during a weekly food giveaway. They were excited about giving back but soon realized that the food being distributed was not creating real meals, but just random food items.

What specific food items were mentioned in the bags given out at the food pantry?

The bags contained items such as Weight Watchers Ding Dongs, two 20-ounce diet Snapples, a gallon of barbecue sauce, kettle potato chips, superhero-shaped vegetable-enriched macaroni noodles, belVita breakfast bars, cans of refried beans, sweet peas, corn, and french fried green onions.

How did the speaker feel after realizing the nature of the food distribution?

The speaker felt bad and a little angry, questioning the effectiveness of the food distribution when it did not provide balanced meals for the recipients.

What was the speaker's previous involvement in addressing hunger before the food pantry experience?

The speaker had been involved in food drives, collecting cans since childhood, donating in grocery stores, volunteering at shelters, and working in food pantries. They also created a pop-up restaurant called Sunday Soul to provide meals to the homeless.

What is the speaker's view on the current approach to addressing hunger in the US?

The speaker believes that the current approach to addressing hunger in the US is flawed, creating a cycle of dependency on food banks and pantries that do not provide well-balanced, healthy meals.

What global statistics on hunger does the speaker provide?

The speaker mentions that globally, 821 million people are hungry, which is one in nine people on the planet. In the United States, nearly 40 million people experience hunger every year, including over 11 million children.

What is the speaker's perspective on food waste in relation to hunger?

The speaker sees a direct correlation between food waste and hunger, pointing out that while millions go hungry, over 80 billion pounds of food are wasted each year in the US, contributing to environmental issues and social inequity.

What technological solution did the speaker develop to address hunger?

The speaker developed an app that inventories a business's unsold food and facilitates its donation to people in need, calculating the weight and tax value of the donated items and connecting with local drivers for delivery.

Which major organizations and events has the speaker's app worked with?

The app has worked with Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport, brands like Hormel, Chick-fil-A, and Papa John's, and even the NFL for Super Bowl LIII.

What is the concept behind the speaker's pop-up grocery stores?

The pop-up grocery stores recover excess food from businesses and set up free community stores in food deserts, providing access to meals, recipe cards, and on-site taste-testings with the help of a chef.

What policy changes has the speaker observed in other countries to combat food waste and hunger?

The speaker mentions that France and Italy have banned supermarkets from throwing away unused food and require them to donate it. Denmark has a mandated food waste grocery store called Wefood, and Toronto has a pay-what-you-can grocery store called Feed it Forward.

What is the speaker's call to action for solving hunger?

The speaker calls for a change in laws, policies, and mindsets, advocating for the support of social entrepreneurs, the use of technology to connect surplus food with those in need, and a shift from charity to social enterprise in the fight against hunger.

Outlines

00:00

🥺 Realization of Inadequate Food Aid

The speaker recounts their experience volunteering at a food pantry in Atlanta, Georgia, in June 2017. They were initially excited to give back to the community but soon realized the limitations of the food distribution process. The food bags they prepared contained items like Weight Watchers Ding Dongs, diet Snapples, barbecue sauce, and other non-nutritious food items, which didn't constitute a balanced meal. This led to a feeling of disappointment and anger, as the speaker questioned the effectiveness of their efforts in addressing hunger. They reflect on their past involvement in food drives and other charitable activities, and the paradox of hunger persisting despite these efforts. The speaker also points out the inefficacy of traditional approaches to hunger relief and the need for a change in the way society addresses this issue.

05:02

💡 Innovation in Tackling Hunger with Technology

The speaker shifts focus to the potential of technology and innovation in solving hunger. In 2017, they created an app that allows businesses to easily donate excess food that would otherwise go to waste. The app streamlines the donation process by calculating the weight and tax value of the donated items, connecting with local drivers to deliver the food to those in need. The speaker's initiative has led to significant reductions in food waste and has provided millions of meals to people in need. They highlight the success of their platform in partnering with major brands and even the NFL for Super Bowl LIII. The speaker also discusses the launch of pop-up grocery stores in food deserts, offering free access to recovered food and promoting a better understanding of nutrition and meal preparation.

10:04

🌐 Global Efforts and the Call for Change in Hunger Relief

The speaker discusses global efforts to combat hunger and food waste, citing examples from France, Italy, Denmark, and Canada, where legislation and innovative business models are being used to redirect excess food to those in need. They emphasize the importance of changing attitudes and policies to truly solve hunger. The speaker shares their personal journey of advocating for this cause, engaging with various stakeholders such as city councils, school boards, and healthcare organizations to promote the use of technology in connecting surplus food with communities in need. They argue that traditional food drives and banks, while valuable, are not the solution to hunger and call for a shift in approach, focusing on providing meals rather than just food, to restore dignity and improve overall societal well-being.

Keywords

💡Food Pantry

A food pantry is a place that provides food, usually free of charge, to individuals or families in need. In the video's context, the speaker volunteered at a local food pantry in Atlanta, which was part of their weekly food giveaway. The concept is central to the theme of addressing hunger and food insecurity.

💡Food Insecurity

Food insecurity refers to the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. The speaker mentions this term to highlight the ongoing issue of hunger, even in developed countries like the United States, where millions of people, including children, experience hunger every year.

💡Charity

Charity is the act of providing help or support, particularly to those in need. In the script, the speaker critiques the traditional approach to charity in addressing hunger, suggesting that it has not led to significant progress and instead has created a cycle of dependency on food banks and pantries.

💡Food Bank

A food bank is a charitable organization that distributes food to people in need. The video discusses how food banks are viewed as community institutions but also points out their limitations in solving the problem of hunger, as they often provide food that is not well-balanced or nutritious.

💡Food Waste

Food waste refers to the discarding or spoiling of food while it is still edible. The speaker emphasizes the paradox of food waste in the context of hunger, noting that in the US, more food is wasted than ever before, contributing to environmental issues and social inequity.

💡Logistics

Logistics is the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation or the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption. The speaker argues that hunger is not a scarcity issue but a logistics problem, suggesting that with better distribution, food could reach those who need it.

💡Technology

Technology refers to the tools, systems, and methods used to solve problems or accomplish tasks more efficiently. The video's speaker uses technology as a means to address hunger, creating an app that helps businesses donate excess food and reduce waste.

💡Social Enterprise

A social enterprise is an organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements in human and environmental well-being, rather than just maximizing profits. The speaker discusses the role of social enterprises in solving hunger by focusing on reducing waste and providing meals, not just food.

💡Food Desert

A food desert is an area, usually an impoverished one, where access to affordable and nutritious food is limited or nonexistent. The speaker mentions setting up pop-up grocery stores in food deserts to provide communities with access to free, nutritious food.

💡Innovation

Innovation refers to the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. The video emphasizes the need for innovative approaches to solve hunger, such as using technology to connect surplus food with those in need.

💡Policy Change

Policy change involves the modification or creation of laws and regulations to address societal issues. The speaker calls for policy changes, such as laws that mandate the donation of excess food from businesses, as a way to combat hunger and food waste more effectively.

Highlights

Volunteer experience at a local food pantry in Atlanta, Georgia, revealed the superficial nature of traditional food giveaways.

The realization that food donations often lack nutritional balance and fail to provide real meals for recipients.

The speaker's background in combating hunger through various initiatives, including a pop-up restaurant called Sunday Soul.

The paradox of food banks being seen as community institutions while perpetuating a cycle of dependency on unhealthy food.

The inefficacy of traditional charity methods in making significant progress against hunger.

The staggering statistics on global and US hunger, emphasizing the scale of the problem.

The shocking amount of food waste in the US, highlighting a missed opportunity to address hunger.

The environmental impact of food waste, contributing to global climate change through methane gas production.

The speaker's innovative approach to solving hunger through technology, inspired by food delivery apps.

The creation of an app that facilitates the donation of excess food from businesses to those in need.

The success of the app in diverting millions of pounds of food from landfills to people in need.

The launch of pop-up grocery stores in food deserts, providing access to free, balanced meals.

The challenge of changing societal attitudes and policies regarding hunger and food waste.

International examples of legislative efforts to combat food waste and hunger, such as in France, Italy, and Denmark.

The potential of social entrepreneurship and technology to create sustainable solutions to hunger.

A call to action for policy change, mindset shifts, and innovative approaches to end hunger and food waste.

The potential benefits of solving hunger, including improved health, education, and environmental outcomes.

Transcripts

In June of 2017,

I volunteered with a group at a local food pantry

on the south side of my home city

in Atlanta, Georgia.

It was a Friday afternoon,

the day of their weekly food giveaway.

And as I drove up,

I saw people beginning to arrive,

many with their rolling carts in tow,

prepared to receive their food supply for the week.

As I was walking in the door, there were about 40 people outside

waiting in line.

And I was so excited,

because there are very few things I enjoy more than giving back.

But then, as I entered the room where the volunteer meeting was taking place,

I immediately realized:

we weren't about to give these people any real meals.

We were essentially just giving them food.

I took my place on the assembly line, where -- get this --

I was in charge of making sure that the Weight Watchers Ding Dongs

made it into every family's bag.

As the bags started to come around,

I'm thinking to myself:

What on earth are we doing here?

Each bag contained two 20-ounce diet Snapples,

a gallon of barbecue sauce,

a bag of kettle potato chips,

a box of superhero-shaped vegetable-enriched macaroni noodles,

a box of belVita breakfast bars,

a can of refried beans,

a can of sweet peas,

a miniature can of corn,

I can't forget about those Ding Dongs

and french fried green onions,

you know, the kind that go on top of a green bean casserole.

And that was it.

We made over a hundred of those bags that day,

and people indeed stood in line to receive one.

But a feeling came over me;

I felt bad and a little angry.

It was like, how could I even feel good about the work that I was doing

when I knew for a fact that not one meal was to come

from the food we had just given to over 100 families?

I mean, who wants to have a meal with barbecue sauce and Ding Dongs?

(Laughter)

And the reality is,

I've been part of this process all my life.

I've participated in food drives,

I've collected cans since I was a kid,

I've donated in the grocery store more times than I can count,

I've volunteered at shelters, I've worked in food pantries,

and I'm sure, like me, so many of you have, too.

In 2013, I even created a pop-up restaurant,

called Sunday Soul.

And I rented tables and chairs and linens

and I printed out menus

and I took these experiences to alleyways,

underneath bridges and in parks

to allow people that were experiencing homelessness

to dine with dignity.

So I've invested in this fight for quite some time.

In almost every major US city,

the food bank is viewed as a beloved community institution.

Corporations send volunteers down on a weekly basis

to sort through food items and make boxes of food for the needy.

And can drives --

they warm the hearts of schools and office buildings that participate

and fill the shelves of food banks and food pantries across the nation.

This is how we work to end hunger.

And what I've come to realize

is that we are doing hunger wrong.

We are doing the same things

over and over and over again

and expecting a different end result.

We've created a cycle

that keeps people dependent on food banks and pantries on a monthly basis

for food that is often not well-balanced

and certainly doesn't provide them with a healthy meal.

In the US, our approach to doing good,

or what we call "charity,"

has actually hindered us from making real progress.

We're educating the world on how many people are food insecure.

There are television commercials,

billboards,

massive donations,

the engagement of some of our biggest celebrities in the fight.

But the ever-present reality is that,

even with all of this work,

millions of people are still going hungry.

And we can do better.

Globally, 821 million people are hungry.

That's one in nine people on this planet.

And here in the United States,

nearly 40 million people experience hunger every single year,

including more than 11 million children

that go to bed hungry every night.

Yet, we're wasting more food than ever before --

more than 80 billion pounds a year,

to be exact.

The EPA estimates that food waste has more than doubled

between 1970 and 2017,

and now accounts for 27 percent of everything in our landfills.

And as this food sits, it gradually rots

and produces harmful methane gas,

a leading contributor to global climate change.

We have the waste of the food itself,

the waste of all the money associated with producing this now-wasted food

and the waste of labor with all of the above.

And then there's the social inequity

between people who really need food and can't get it

and people who have too much and simply throw it away.

All of this made me realize that hunger was not an issue of scarcity

but rather a matter of logistics.

So in 2017, I set out to end hunger using technology.

After all, food delivery apps had begun to explode on the scene,

and I thought surely we can reverse-engineer this technology

and get food from businesses like restaurants and grocery stores

and into the hands of people in need.

I believe that technology and innovation

have the power to solve real problems,

especially hunger.

So in 2017, I created an app

that would inventory everything that a business sells

and make it super easy for them to donate this excess food

that would typically go to waste at the end of the night.

All the user has to do now is click on an item,

tell us how many they have to donate,

and our platform calculates the weight and the tax value

of those items at time of donation.

We then connect with local drivers in the shared economy

to get this food picked up and delivered directly to the doors

of nonprofit organizations and people in need.

I provided the data and the analytics

to help businesses reduce food waste at the source

by letting them know the items that they waste repeatedly

on a regular basis,

and they even saved millions of dollars.

Our mission was simple:

feed more, waste less.

And by 2018, our clients included the world's busiest airport,

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson,

and we were working with brands and corporations

like Hormel, Chick-fil-A and Papa John's.

We even had the opportunity to work with the NFL for Super Bowl LIII.

And over the last two years, we've worked with over 200 business

to divert more than two million pounds of edible food from landfills

into the hands of people that needed it most.

(Applause)

Thank you.

(Applause)

This has accounted for about 1.7 million meals

and allowed us to start to expand our efforts to other cities,

like Washington, DC, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia and more.

That's just one approach that actually tackles the problem.

Another was the launch of our pop-up grocery stores.

We recover excess food from businesses

and set up free community grocery stores right in the middle of food deserts.

We bring out a chef,

and we do on-site taste-testings and allow families to leave with recipe cards.

We give every family reusable grocery bags and allow them to simply shop

minus the price tag.

We wanted to give people access to meals

and not just food.

We wanted to change the way that we think and work to solve hunger in this country,

get people to believe that we can solve hunger,

not as a nonprofit,

not as a food bank

but as a social enterprise,

with the goal of reducing waste and ending hunger.

But it hasn't been as easy as I thought

to change the narrative and the thought process

on how we think that hunger can be solved.

In 2016, France became the first country

to ban supermarkets from throwing away unused food.

Instead, they must donate it,

and they're fined if they don't.

Yes.

(Applause)

In 2017, Italy followed suit,

becoming the second European nation

to pass an anti-food-waste ban.

And they stated it so simply as it was passed through legislation:

"We have millions of pounds of good food going to waste,

and we have poor people that are going hungry."

That simple.

Denmark now has a mandated food waste grocery store.

Its name: Wefood.

They recover excess food from local grocery stores

and sell it at up to a 50 percent off discount.

They then use all the proceeds and donate it to emergency aid programs

and social need issues for the people in need.

It has been hailed as "the Goodwill of grocery."

And last year, the world got its first pay-what-you-can grocery store,

when Feed it Forward opened in Toronto.

Their shelves remain stocked by recovering excess food

from major supermarkets

and allowing families to simply pay what they can

at their grocery store.

This is amazing.

This innovation we need more of.

Everyone can take on the roles of changing the attitudes

about how we solve hunger.

When we think of how we've allowed innovation and technology

to change our lives,

from how we communicate with each other

to how we view our entertainment

to how we even receive food,

it's amazing that we haven't solved hunger yet.

We literally have cars that can drive themselves

and millions of people that cannot feed themselves.

With millions of dollars being donated to end food insecurity,

we should've solved hunger years ago.

And I asked myself --

(Applause)

I asked myself, why can't we escape this vicious cycle?

Why haven't we solved this problem?

I remember meeting with investors and pitching the idea,

trying to raise funds for my business,

and one of them said to me, in true seriousness,

"Hunger is already being solved,"

as if millions of people weren't going to go to bed hungry that very night,

and as if there was nothing else to do.

And the reality is,

one would think that hunger is being solved,

but the truth is, it's being worked on.

If we really want to solve hunger,

then we have to change the way we've been doing it.

The same actions will always garner the same results.

There are hundreds of social entrepreneurs all over the world.

They have a focus to solve really big problems, like hunger,

but they'll never get the same support

that we give national hunger-fighting organizations and food banks.

But, if given the opportunity,

they have the ability to foster insight

and perhaps be forward-thinking enough

to solve this problem.

That's why I'm traveling the world

and I'm really talking about what hunger looks like in America

and explaining the difference between giving people access to food

and access to meals.

I've been meeting with city council members

and city organizers across the US

and telling them that technology indeed does have the power

to connect businesses with surplus food

to people in need,

and explaining to them what a meal can actually mean to a family.

I've been meeting with school boards and school districts

to talk about how we feed hungry children,

and health care organizations,

sharing the message that food is health,

and food is life,

and that, by solving hunger, we can solve so many more problems.

So if we want to know

that we don't live in a nation

where perfectly good food goes to waste

when our neighbors don't have food to eat,

then we need to change the laws.

We need to introduce new policies,

and, most importantly, we need to change our minds and our actions.

Food drives are fine.

Food banks serve a huge purpose.

And yes, sometimes I like Ding Dongs, too.

But the reality is that food drives do not solve hunger.

And if we are smart about connecting the dots

that are right in front of our noses,

we can do far more than give a family

a box of superhero-shaped vegetable-enriched macaroni noodles

and a gallon of barbecue sauce

to feed themselves.

Instead, we can give them back their dignity.

Perhaps we can increase school attendance in schools.

We can improve the health outcomes for millions.

And, most importantly, we can reduce food waste in our landfills,

creating a better environment for all of us.

The thing I love most is that we can feel good about it in the process.

If we solve hunger,

we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

So let's do it.

Thank you.

(Applause)

Thank you.