Katie Pelzer - UROP participant
(faculty sponsor: Dr. Rebecca de Souza, Communication)
Attempting to Feed America: Examining the Many Stakeholders Involved within the Food Banking System
'Food assistance in America is offered to populations that lack the access and necessary means to food in order to live a healthy lifestyle. Food assistance exists in the form of governmental programs as well as through non-profit, charitable organizations--referred to in this research as the food banking system. Even with this established network of programs, we are still seeing many Americans lack consistent access to healthy foods. The purpose of this research was to examine the many stakeholders involved within this intricate system, specifically the relationships they form with each other, with the intention to uncover certain benefits and conflicts that develop within these relationships. Through document analysis and on-site interviews with local food agencies the research conducted was able to thoroughly examine this intricate web of the food banking system. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the many stakeholders benefit more so from the neediness, and lack of rights of the food insecure clients, than the clients actually benefit from the food banking system itself. Throughout the research it can be seen that the conflicts which arise between these stakeholders negatively affect the health and well-being of the client more so than any other stakeholder involved.'