Saskatoon Food Basket Challenge

http://www.foodbasketchallenge.com/
The premise of the Food Basket Challenge is simple:

Several high-profile people in Saskatoon will attempt to live off a food basket from the Saskatoon Food Bank for up to one week and share their experiences online.
The Food Basket Challenge is intended to generate awareness and discussion about poverty in our community. The food basket itself is a tool to spark a meaningful and informed community conversation about poverty issues that limit opportunities in our community. During the week-long challenge we will highlight one particular topic related to poverty each day, such as food security, housing, and poverty economics.

FAQS

What is the Food Basket Challenge?

For one week several high-profile people in Saskatoon will attempt to live off a food basket from the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre. Over the week they will share their thoughts and experiences online.

What are you trying to achieve?

The Food Basket Challenge aims to foster a dialogue about poverty in our community and strengthen the relationships between people who possess the lived experience of poverty and those who do not.
We’re not pushing any specific agenda policy. There are multiple strategies to ending poverty – let’s start the conversation.

What will the participants eat?

Participants will receive a standard food basket from the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre.
Food baskets typically consist of two to three days of food, although in reality many who rely on food baskets must make them last for one or two weeks.
The Challenge is to exist for up to one week using the food provided in the food basket, as well as up to five basic pantry items (flour, sugar, coffee, etc.) and $5.00 to supplement the food basket for the week.
Participants will not eat out or accept free food or drink. To make their food supplies last longer, the participants are welcome to use community meal programs (soup kitchens).

How can people understand poverty after just one week living off a food basket?

Poverty is a complex issue. People cannot understand hunger or poverty by living off a food basket for one week. Challenge participants can go back to their regular lives at any time. People living in poverty don’t have that choice.
We recognize the limitations of this Challenge but hope it will deepen the relationship between those who possess the lived experience of poverty and those who do not.

Who is participating in the Challenge?

For participant bios and information please click here.

Doesn’t this Challenge take food away from the people who really need it?

No – funds have been donated for the specific purpose of replenishing the food used in the Challenge.

Who is organizing this?

The Food Basket Challenge is organized by multiple groups and individuals. This multi-agency campaign is not intended to highlight the mandate of any one organization or act as an opportunity for fundraising.

Photo Voice Conclusion

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” (Dr. Wayne Dyer)
Nadia, 2006

The reality is—I am disabled. I am a woman. I live in poverty, my voice is not heard. The truth is—my spirit has risen above this.

There are times, though, when people or situations come along to remind me of what I am and try to put me back in my place.

You cannot understand how I feel by studying books, by taking courses. You can only understand how I feel by crawling into my skin and living my life.

You Have to Be Strong
Mary Jane*, 2006

The concrete fence is about the strength people have to have living on assistance. You have to be strong in order to fight for justice. In order to be on welfare, you have to be strong. It’s surprising how strong you have to be, cause if you’re not, you’ll go under.

Happy Times
Moe S.*, 2006

I have come from a lot of different places behind me and I try to live every moment as much as I can. This is one of my happy times. The school is a real important place in our family. It really brought us home. And our events are so much like a family get-together. It is really important to me to have that.

“Don’t let go of hope. Hope gives you the strength to keep going when you feel like giving up.”
Nadia, 2006

I hate winter. It’s cold, it’s dreary, it’s colourless, it isolates me. And yet, sometimes, it presents such a day of undeniable beauty. I look for these kinds of days in my life. I hang onto them. They keep me going through my winter. 

 http://www.pwhce.ca/photovoice/saskatoon_intro.html

Photo Voice IX

A Black Mould
Dawn McGraw*, 2006

I have black mould in my basement. I have tried to clean it regularly with bleach. It keeps coming back; it’s spreading. I have told them this is not healthy for my children. I have a very damp basement so I am not surprised. My house is very old. My landlord takes forever to come in and fix things—things that are a danger and put my children at risk.

My Journey
Virginia Beebe, 2006

This is like a path, a journey—the journey I have been on since I became a teen parent. Always searching for ways to break out of that box, break out of that system, and to be who I was inside and not what everyone would tell me I was. 

Self Portrait
Virginia Beebe, 2006

I am in a transition period. I am going to convocate from university soon. I do not believe I could be sitting here today without the support network that I experienced at my high school, Nutana Collegiate. They approached with a wraparound philosophy to give every opportunity to that child to open that door, and to support them when they walk through that door. They have been key to my story.

http://www.pwhce.ca/photovoice/saskatoon_intro.html