Episode 184: Food Banks Using Food as Power
About the Podcast
For today’s episode, Clancy speaks with Pastor Everett Upton, Executive Director and co-founder of Common Ground Ministries. You won’t want to miss their discussion about Upton Bill, his definition of food dignity, how food is used as power, and more about food pantries and food banks. Enjoy the show!
About Everett Upton
Everett Upton is the Executive Director and co-founder of Common Ground Ministries. He has served 25 years in Ministry as a Trustee, Deacon, Youth Pastor, and currently as Pastor and Director. He teaches about leadership, conflict mediation, peer mediation, and governance. He has been fighting hunger his entire life.
Discussion Takeaways
- If you want to operate a food pantry and you are dealing with a food bank, you have no other option. If you only have the option of one food bank, it creates a monopoly, allowing them to control the situation however they want.
- Food is power. For example, at a restaurant, you can order anything you want, like fresh food, if you can afford it. If you can’t, you're limited to a certain budget, like buying a happy meal. This shows how food, money, and power are interconnected.
- Food dignity is having a positive and satisfying feeling about your choices.
#1 tip to improve access to healthy food
Pantries work hard to serve communities and deserve dedicated funding for their needs—whether it's for staffing, refrigeration, or operational costs. An earmark can make running a pantry more sustainable and appealing for future generations.
Each week on the Food Dignity® Podcast, the Food Dignity® Movement's Clancy Harrison hosts a wide variety of hunger experts and other people making changes on the frontlines. Join us as we dive deep into conversations that will change the way you think about food insecurity.
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