As college students, we may find ourselves perpetuating the myth that we eat nothing but ramen to save cash. While this is certainly true for some students, especially at an expensive institution such as Baylor, much of this can be confidently labeled an urban legend. In college, students certainly must learn to budget their meals and spend as little money on food as possible. However, this struggle is diminished in contrast of the poverty found within the city of Waco.
East Waco stands out as the city’s lowest income area, with a median household income of $15,190. For comparison, the median household income in East Waco is lower than 70% of the median household income throughout all of Texas. In all of Waco, 29.4% of individuals live below the poverty line. This means that 29.4% of people in Waco are not making enough money to afford the necessities of life. Though this negatively affects individual Waco residents, 30.9% of families in Waco also live below the poverty line. One of the many struggles these families face is food insecurity. By definition, food insecurity occurs when a person does not have consistent or reliable access to nutritional food.
In 2015, Texas ranked number two in national food insecurity, following California. According to the national report, many families are forced to prioritize paying for housing, utilities, or medical care over buying groceries. If people cannot afford healthy food, they will continue to succumb to sickness, resulting in more medical bills. Food insecurity and poverty, then, are clearly linked. People can easily find themselves trapped in the cycle with no way to get ahead.
Fortunately, students at Baylor have been blessed with the ability to pay for food, housing, utilities, and education. It is very likely that none of us will ever find ourselves living below the poverty line or suffering from food insecurity. However, this does not mean we should not be concerned for the well-being of our community. Both Baylor University and the city of Waco have multiple resources with which students can volunteer and begin making a difference in the greater Waco area.
The Baylor School of Social Work developed the Texas Hunger Initiative, which aims to end hunger through “policy, education, research, community organizing and community development.” This organization tackles the issue on a broad scale, hoping to have a long-term effect on families struggling with poverty and food insecurity. The McLennan County Hunger Coalition, collaborate with food pantries, churches, businesses, and individuals to help specific families develop food security through donations and helping families sign up for food stamps and other support programs. Other organizations, such as the Food Planning Task Force of McLennan County and the Food Research and Action Center attempt to end the problem through practical ways, planning, and research.
Nikki Thompson is a sophomore majoring in professional writing and rhetoric.
https://www.family-to-family.org/communities/waco-texas/
https://www.feedingtexas.org/learn/food-insecurity/
http://www.caritas-waco.org/poverty_and_hunger_organizations.aspx