The Alternative for Service Learning Project

Objective

The purpose of this assignment is to replace the community service hours and the service-learning aspect of the course. While this is not the optimal situation and does not give you the hands-on experience that is so beneficial, it will give you an idea of domestic hunger, poverty and powerlessness both in this area and nationally. In addition, it ties in COVID-19 or other disaster-like situations that can exacerbate the incredibly fragile situation that many people are in. Survey estimates in 2019 found 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. While all of us have been personally affected by this situation, some are experiencing more hardships than others in terms of health, personal situations, and financial situations.

Domestic Hunger and Poverty

1. Please provide information on domestic hunger including the statistics and impact using the website/publication below. Please include the history, background, and key statistics and anything else you found relevant and/or interesting. (250 to 500 words).

Food Security in the US

OR

Household Food Security in the U.S. in 2019

Local Hunger in Santa Clara County

2. Please provide information on hunger and poverty in California, specifically focusing on Santa Clara County and San Jose State University using the resources below. (250 to 500 words)

California Household Pulse–Food Insecurity by County

Hunger Fact Sheet

The Silicon Valley Paradox

Fighting Hunger at San Jose State University

Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity

3. Feeding America “is now the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization—a powerful and efficient network of 200 food banks across the country.” “Our mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger” (Feeding America About Us).

A. Go to Feeding America’s website at this link:

The Impact of the Coronavirus on Food Insecurity in 2020 and 2021

Review the brief, and write your thoughts about what you have learned making sure to touch on Food Insecurity Before 2020, Food Insecurity in 2020, Food Insecurity in 2021and future forecasts. Also, please point out the demographics of who is most food insecure. You may discuss the U.S. as a whole or focus on California, as you prefer. (250 words)

B. Now review the following linked article from the Brookings Institution (“The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.”):

The COVID-19 hazard continues, but the hazard pay does not: Why America’s essential workers need a raise.

Consider this from Our World in Data: Which countries have protected both health and the economy in the pandemic? (overall message: “…countries that have managed to protect their population’s health in the pandemic have generally also protected their economy too.”).

Bonus video: I Wear a Mask Because

Reflect on what has been done to help workers and the economy so far, in terms of financial assistance and stimulus payments. What else do you think should happen? Do you have other ideas for aid to those who have been most hurt by COVID-19, both in terms of health, food security, and economic situation? You may research and provide ideas from CREDIBLE sources (no social media posts), or your own suggestions.

(250 to 500 words)

4. Local Agency Information

Please look at the below list of Bay Area non-profit agencies who are helping those who are hungry or food insecure either directly or indirectly. These are local/Bay area agencies where my students have volunteered (in the past) and who have a contract with SJSU. (These are from Community Learning on SJS4).

• Coastside Hope
• Hope’s Corner
• Community Services Agency
• LifeMoves
• Community Food Bank of San Benito County
• Garden to Table Silicon Valley (Taylor St. Farm)
• Martha’s Kitchen
• LifeSTEPS
• Meals on Wheels
• SOS Meals on Wheels
• Santa Maria Urban Ministry
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• Second Harvest Food Bank (Watsonville)
• St Joseph’s Family Center
• Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation
• Open Heart Kitchen
• The Health Trust
• Sacred Heart Community Service
• Family Supportive Housing
• Community Bridges
• Encompass Community Services
• Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center Campus Community Garden
• Stanford University – Center for Population Health Sciences
• Project Access
• Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center
• Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen
• JW House
• Sunday Friends
• Tri-City Volunteers Food Bank + Thrift Store
• Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service
• Spartan Food Pantry

Part A: Since you’re not able to volunteer there, please choose an agency where you would have liked to volunteer if you were able to do community service. Please research and write the following: (250 to 500 words)

1. Agency Name
2. Agency Mission Statement and Objective
3. Why Agency Started. How did it Start?
4. Who funds the agency? Include donations, monetary contributions and volunteer hours.
5. Length of Operation in Santa Clara County.
6. Target population of the Agency. How do social and cultural concerns affect the way the agency operates?
7. Discuss the Projects of the Agency and how they impact the nutritional status of the target population (make sure you include the agency’s programs in this section). If the program does not directly deal with nutrition, how does it empower the person to be able to feed themselves (i.e. job training allows you to afford food).

Part B: What made you choose this agency? Please discuss what made it appear to be a place you would have liked to do your service. Have you ever volunteered before (at any agency, not just this one)? If so, you may describe your experience in a sentence or two. (250 words)

Your Own Reflections

5. Using information from the class, how does the information from this paper impact your perception of Domestic Hunger vs. World Hunger? You will need to provide specific information from class to support your answers from a world hunger standpoint.

How does something like the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbate poverty and powerlessness? Feel free to use personal or firsthand experiences.

Lastly, how does something like COVID-19 or any large scale disaster impact the nutritional status of the individuals, and more specifically, you? Going back to our first very basic lecture on normal human nutrition, think about your diet before and since COVID-19. How has it changed? Do you notice differences in the way you eat, or how you access food? Has the pandemic affected your food security? If you feel that last question is too personal, you may skip it. (500 to 750 words)