What is Food Insecurity?

Welcome to the first of four Act Against Hunger emails. September is Hunger Action Month, a good time to raise awareness about hunger and food and nutrition security.

Each week’s email includes:

• Learning opportunities.
• Ways to help support food and nutrition security.
• Resources if you or someone you know needs help.

What is food insecurity?

Having access to nutritious food is critical to practicing healthy behaviors around nutrition.

According to the USDA, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the U.S. are food insecure. We often hear the phrase "food insecurity" but what does it mean and how prevalent is it in our campus community?

Food insecurity is a lack of consistent availability, affordability and access to enough nutrient dense food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a family or can last a long time.

Did you know?

• More than 247,000 (13.8%) of residents in Wayne County are food insecure.
• It affects those right here on campus as well:
  • Of those U-M employees who screened positive for food insecurity, the majority reported moderate to high health risks.
  • In addition to health risks, food insecurity has many negative consequences on employees. It can impact on their holistic well-being and their ability to thrive at work. It can also result in absenteeism, low productivity, and performance.
  • According to the Maize and Blue Cupboard, more than 30% of students experience food insecurity in some way.

Need help?

• UM-Dearborn Student Food Pantry - UM-Dearborn Student Food Pantry is committed to increasing access to food for students by providing assistance to any student in need. All UM-Dearborn students are welcome, and everything is free. Faculty and staff can also use this resource by reaching out to the Dearborn Human Resources Office at 313-593-5190 or by email at humanresourcesdearborn@umich.edu.
• MHealthy's Resource Coach Program - One-on-one, confidential assistance is available to you through MHealthy's Resource Coach program. Get help with locating the right resources at U-M and in your community for finding food, meeting basic needs and more.

Want to help?

• UM-Dearborn Student Food Pantry - Support the UM-Dearborn Student Food Pantry by donating funds, non-perishable food items, hygiene products, cleaning supplies or school supplies. Donations can be dropped off in Dearborn Support (2130 A). While the pantry welcomes all supply donations, monetary donations are especially important to ensure it can purchase items that are most needed for the pantry. The pantry uses a strategic supplier that allows it to purchase items for an extremely discounted rate – thus, a donation of $1 is much more significant to the pantry than the donation of an item purchased for $1. Faculty and staff can also consider an automated, recurring payroll deduction. If you would like to arrange a payroll deduction to support the UM-Dearborn Student Food Pantry, please reach out to Erin Vestrand at evestran@umich.edu. You have the flexibility to choose the donation amount.
• Act Against Hunger Quiz - Raise your awareness by taking this short, five-question quiz. Faculty and staff can then enter to win one of five $25 gift cards. Enter by September 30.
• The Food and Nutrition Security web page on the MHealthy website includes a number of resources to raise your awareness; donate funds, food or your time; and more.