Common threads
The Do the Math Challenge-Summary pulls out common threads reported by the participants. Health impacts, culinary skills and lack of choice are among the themes discussed.
The Do the Math Challenge-Summary pulls out common threads reported by the participants. Health impacts, culinary skills and lack of choice are among the themes discussed.
Joanne Shuttleworth, a reporter with the Guelph Mercury and one of the Do the Math challengers, wrote a great wrap-up article on her experience.
Guelph effort builds appetite for change
GUELPH — Rev. John Borthwick said he felt “foggy and irritable” after living off food bank rations for five days.
Chris Jess, a chef and teacher of culinary arts at Centre Wellington high school in Fergus, lost six pounds and became constipated.
Derek Alton, of the University of Guelph’s Central Student Association, said he was shocked to realize the social implications of living on food bank rations. Halfway to a restaurant on a date he remembered he couldn’t go there.
“If you can’t go out, there’s a kind of self-imposed alienation,” Alton said. “On food bank rations it’s a lot less fun to be alive.”
The Guelph and Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination invited several local people to take part in the provincewide Do the Math Challenge, an initiative of the Social Planning Network of Ontario to draw attention to the challenges of people living on social assistance and the experience of living from food bank rations. ...
(Read the entire article here: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/602711--guelph-effort-builds-appetite-for-change)
This article ran in the October 1 edition of the Guelph Mercury.
Wondering how you can help Put Food in the Budget?
Donate nutritious food to a local food bank or pantry.
Write politicians about the need for to increase the food allowance for people living on social assistance.
Sign the petition to Put Food in the Budget.
Wrapping Up. The Do the Math challengers wrap-up their experience living off an emergency food hamper today. Reading their updates has been at times a culinary journey, a humorous glimpse and a sobering reality. John Borthwick, one of the challengers, also added a little ray of hope to in his final post, writing:
Do the Math and change your life. And perhaps we can change the lives of those who live in poverty for the better… but more than that… let us hope and dream that a world without poverty is not only possible but achievable by you and me working together to make a different future. (read more)
The challengers will be posting final thoughts over the next few days, so check gwdothemath.ca for updates. Thanks to all the challengers and their families for sharing their experiences!
Town Hall Meeting. To wrap up Do the Math, we hope you’ll join us at a Town Hall Meeting and MPP Candidates Food Policy Discussion.
Tues, Sept 27, 2011 – 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan St., Guelph (map)
The Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination and the Guelph-Wellington Food Round Table are co-hosting the evening. Childcare and transportation assistance is available. Please arrange in advance by calling 519-821-0571 x 29.
The change in diet is now starting to have noticeable effects on the family. Not only are we hungry more of the time, we are also grumpy, fatigued and very flatulent. (Matthew - read more...)
I don’t feel my normal self (whatever that might be). My body feels a bit draggy. My head feels like it is in a constant cloud. My thoughts and decision making is sketchy at best. (John - read more...)
What I'm finding most surprising is the havoc it's reaping on my state of mind. I'm tired and I'm not really getting enough energy out of this food to keep me going. (Laura - read more...)
I found today to be most challenging. My physical activity level at work and in my own time is above average and I found myself feeling more hypoglycemic than yesterday. (Peter - read more...)
The Do the Math Challenge is an Ontario-wide initiative to show people what current social assistance and disability rates leave in household budgets for food. It is part of the Put Food in the Budget Campaign lead by the Social Planning Network of Ontario.
