Food insecurity. I’m sitting here in my lounge room after doing a big grocery shop (yes I spent too much!) reflecting on how I’ve managed to change my circumstances. I’ve done it with a lot of help and support, but I’ve done it.
I’m not sure how many can relate but in Australia, food insecurity rates are highest for single mother households, households with incomes below poverty line, the unemployed and indigenous households. The pandemic has only made things tougher. There’s so much that can be said about that but for now I can only speak of my experience.
Desperately scrounging for money to be able to afford food isn’t fun. Mentally calculating the price of goods in the supermarket and having to weigh up what has to get sacrificed in order to make the food go further is stressful. Having to ask family for help in order to feed your children is humiliating. Feeling like a failure because you can’t seem to make your meager dollar stretch far enough to be able to afford the basics is awful.
It would seem that if people haven’t experienced this for themselves, they just can’t understand that even $50 extra a week in someone’s budget can literally make or break them. It’s so sad that many families find themselves in these circumstances.
So I’m sitting here feeling grateful. Grateful for having a supportive family that has helped me with food in the past and that helps me now so I can work to provide for my kids. Grateful to have a decent paying job when I know so many are struggling. Grateful for my comfortable and affordable rental that gives us shelter. And feeling proud that I have always found the determination to keep going and turn things around even when they get really tough.
Foodbank Australia amazing group that help so many in our communities. You can help those in need through their website which you can find here - https://www.foodbank.org.au/research-reports/
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