Athens: The War on Food Insecurity
Athens-Clarke County is so unique in that it is known for both the prestige of the University of Georgia and the sobering amount of poverty that affects the area surrounding the campus. Based on data from 2017, 31.1% of Athens residents had an income below the poverty line, which is over twice as much as the statewide average of 14.9%. Even more notable is the fact that in that same year, it was reported that 19.1% of Athens residents had an income below half of the poverty level. Having lived in Athens since fall of 2017, I have come so see so many pieces of the eclectic economy firsthand; included are more bars per capita than any other city in the country (80 bars in a single square mile!), breweries and record stores galore, a beautiful historic downtown area, and the flagship college of Georgia. It’s remarkable that the city has so much to offer, but still struggles to sustain it’s residents in some ways. In fact, at Clarke Middle School, around 64% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch (2018). Looking around Broad street and seeing the cool vintage shops and old charm of the downtown area, it may be tough to guess that there are certain facets of the city that just aren’t adequate. One of these is the food insecurity that is born, in part, out of the wealth gap in the community.
As someone who has grown to love Athens, it hurts to become aware of the poverty that exists in the area and how food insecurity is an unfortunate result. This insecurity can be broken down into a series of small barriers that hinder the ability of many Athens residents to find affordable, healthy food in their area. More specifically, there are a couple of factors at play; transportation limitations, less-than-reliable restaurant and grocery options in the area, and the challenges that small culinary businesses face when trying to get off their feet. There are plenty of areas across the country where this issue causes tragic problems, but I find the Athens case unique because the affected areas are juxtaposed with the University of Georgia around the corner. That being said, I went through first half of my college experience unaware of the magnitude of the situation, which, looking back, is remarkable because I lived in this city without even realizing what was going on in it. One thing led to another and that is no longer true, and I’m really excited by the changes taking place to improve the food situation. The initiatives that I have come to learn so much about, which I look forward to expanding upon in future posts, are bringing a level of optimism to the future of this city. Food security is more than a privilege because it revolves around so much more than having a fun selection of meals for dinner. In an Athens with food choices that provide healthy options to people from all walks of life, chronic sickness becomes less common, balanced lifestyles can be the norm, and people have the means to take care of their families in a way that will invest in the quality of their future.
