NYT City Room Blog: This Week, Joel Berg Taking Questions

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , .

Thanksgiving week, Joel was asked by the New York Times City Room Blog to answer select readers’ questions about what New Yorkers can do to end hunger in the city.   Questions generally fell into the following four categories:  1) how can I volunteer or donate food?; 2) why do poor people eat so badly?; 3) come on now, is there really hunger?; and 4) readers wanting to know the extent and cost to society of hunger.  Joel found it telling that few readers asked him to write about the governmental policies that create and/or sustain hunger.

To read the Intro and comments, click here.

Read Part One of his Q & A  here.

Read Part Two of his Q&A  here.

Posted on 28 November '08 by Joel, under Blog.

2 Comments to “NYT City Room Blog: This Week, Joel Berg Taking Questions”

02.12.08 at 08:03
Posted by Joel Berg Writes The Book On Hunger | Change / Wire

[...] national problem, mark your calendar now (details here)! And if you are not, you can check out an online discussion Joel did with the New York Times. Either way, please buy the book, and help us spread the [...]

11.02.09 at 00:39
Posted by Jacqui Simmons

I was a caseworker with the DPW in Phila. I spent most of my time denying people foodstamps. I could not understand why because our dept. was penalized many times for not issuing enough foodstamps. Because of this and other depressing policies I left my job. I have held several “systems-type” jobs and have come to understand that these so called systems are not working. At present I am working parttime for a federally funded seniors program making minimum wages and receiving foodstamps. I eat healthy and prepare a lot of soups and stews but could still use more foodstamps to carry me through the month. The seniors program has assigned me to an organization that I respect and is in my community. I know of a lot of seniors that are eligible for foodstamps but they hate going to the welfare office to apply for them. I used to be a caseworker and I hate going there. So far my current caseworker is respectful. I have had some very disrespectful and insulting caseworkers. While working for the state, my problem was not with the clients but with my supervisors and coworkers. During training we were constantly warned about being judgemental and arrogant. I had to remind my coworkers that we as caseworkers were only a paycheck away from being where the clients are. I don’t usually take time to repond to an article that I read in the Phila. Inquirer but I have been wondering what I could do to work against hunger. I have thought about a soup kitchen. Also, sometime ago, I used to work with a community group that took applications for foodstamps at the site. I would even be willing to do home visits to assist people in filling out their applications. How can I get involved? Maybe my work site could be a place to take applications. I will be needing a job soon. My program expects your assigned work site to eventually hire you. Where can I apply for grants to do a program that processes foodstamp applications?