{"id":2782,"date":"2021-11-15T20:56:43","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T20:56:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/?p=2782"},"modified":"2022-09-27T14:35:42","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T14:35:42","slug":"2782-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  inner-heading-area  container_wrap fullsize' style='background-color: #222222;background-image: linear-gradient(to right,#222222,#00aeef); '  ><div class='container' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2782'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:20px;\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:20px;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock inner-landing-text av_inherit_color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2782'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-elcauo-a5b7f20a6a9c120c3ad6659f52011003\">\n.flex_column.av-elcauo-a5b7f20a6a9c120c3ad6659f52011003{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-elcauo-a5b7f20a6a9c120c3ad6659f52011003 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-3  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-khuoo1cl-ce781f115f1bca6731491b2a01d2617a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>By Joshua B. Pedersen, Interim Senior Director 211, United Way Worldwide<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When I was a young father, I lived paycheck to paycheck. Every morning before school, I made my three kids PB&amp;J sandwiches for their lunches. They liked creamy peanut butter, grape jelly, and preferred wheat bread. I remember the days leading up to payday when I worried if the half loaf of bread would be enough. Would I have to fold a piece of bread in half and send them to school with less than a whole sandwich? On pay day, I would sometimes run to the grocery store early in the morning for a new loaf of bread before I packed their lunches.\u00a0 Although my sandwich-making ritual caused anxiety a few times each month, packing their lunch was also a symbol of consistency, my being present and providing for my children. For my children, sandwiches meant security.\u00a0 Imagine how many other children feel the same way?<\/p>\n<p>The end of harvest season is a great time to celebrate hard work and enjoy abundance \u2013 symbolized in the U.S. by the Thanksgiving feast. But for too many people in America, basics like food, housing, healthcare, and transportation are scarce. Thanksgiving plans can create anxiety for parents struggling to feed their children and choosing to feast may mean sacrificing a medicine refill or postponing a car repair needed for work.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-d645yo-e826c60a63f5eec1a86b2e0c921700c8\">\n.flex_column.av-d645yo-e826c60a63f5eec1a86b2e0c921700c8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-d645yo-e826c60a63f5eec1a86b2e0c921700c8 av_one_third  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpeafa7a-1e90783d42f73788bc6c929a2e81051c\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-1e90783d42f73788bc6c929a2e81051c img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-1e90783d42f73788bc6c929a2e81051c .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpeafa7a-1e90783d42f73788bc6c929a2e81051c av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-6  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2783 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2783 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot.png\" alt='' title='Pedersen headshot'  height=\"888\" width=\"888\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot.png 888w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot-36x36.png 36w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot-180x180.png 180w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Pedersen-headshot-705x705.png 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 888px) 100vw, 888px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-kpeaehhw-8125d6ec8e903c1f6b1598b6fc4a3b07 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><em>By Joshua B. Pedersen<br \/>\nInterim Senior Director 211,<br \/>\nUnited Way Worldwide<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_3'  class='avia-section alternate_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2782'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-a6ra5s-02d8fad3c182de1cbe2c5d3cacf885d4\">\n.flex_column.av-a6ra5s-02d8fad3c182de1cbe2c5d3cacf885d4{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-a6ra5s-02d8fad3c182de1cbe2c5d3cacf885d4 av_one_third  avia-builder-el-9  el_before_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpeafa7a-8fa1ac37c096bd568f0de552e4654142\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-8fa1ac37c096bd568f0de552e4654142 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-8fa1ac37c096bd568f0de552e4654142 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpeafa7a-8fa1ac37c096bd568f0de552e4654142 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-10  el_before_av_image  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/webdocs\/publications\/102076\/err-298_summary.pdf?v=8719\" class='avia_image' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2787 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2787 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.45.16-PM-1-300x226.png\" alt='' title='Screen Shot 2021-11-15 at 2.45.16 PM'  height=\"226\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.45.16-PM-1-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.45.16-PM-1.png 396w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpeafa7a-c7f43b553526d30645ae213722289e75\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-c7f43b553526d30645ae213722289e75 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-c7f43b553526d30645ae213722289e75 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpeafa7a-c7f43b553526d30645ae213722289e75 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_image  avia-builder-el-last '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.211.org\/\" class='avia_image' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2786 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2786 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/211-logo-300x166.png\" alt='' title='211-logo'  height=\"166\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/211-logo-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/211-logo-600x332.png 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/211-logo-705x390.png 705w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/211-logo.png 719w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-zgevk-c9cbd23d4a8d10a6790613ba1ae00f6e\">\n.flex_column.av-zgevk-c9cbd23d4a8d10a6790613ba1ae00f6e{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-zgevk-c9cbd23d4a8d10a6790613ba1ae00f6e av_two_third  avia-builder-el-12  el_after_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p><section  class='av_textblock_section av-khuoo1cl-ce781f115f1bca6731491b2a01d2617a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Since COVID-19 began, the number of hungry Americans has continued to rise; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.feedingamerica.org\/hunger-in-america#:~:text=Facts%20about%20hunger%20in%20America&amp;text=Due%20to%20the%20effects%20of,a%20potential%2013%20million%20children.&amp;text=Every%20community%20in%20the%20country,including%20rural%20and%20suburban%20communities.\">some 42 million Americans aren\u2019t sure where their next meal is coming from today<\/a>. About 13 million of those are children. More sobering, per a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/webdocs\/publications\/102076\/err-298_summary.pdf?v=8719\">USDA report<\/a> \u201cthe prevalence of food insecurity also increased for households with Black, non-Hispanic householders or reference persons (an adult household member in whose name the housing unit is owned or rented) from 19.1 percent in 2019 to 21.7 percent in 2020 and was higher in 2020 for households in the South.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kw13i2vc-9254425f8fc04114828d895915542368\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-kw13i2vc-9254425f8fc04114828d895915542368{\nheight:50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-kw13i2vc-9254425f8fc04114828d895915542368 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-14  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-khuoo1cl-ce781f115f1bca6731491b2a01d2617a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>I work for United Way <a href=\"https:\/\/www.211.org\/\">211<\/a>, a 24\/7 helpline operating in 180 languages across 96% of the U.S., connecting more than 20 million people with local services. With 4 million requests annually for food assistance, we see every day how hunger is worsened by transportation barriers, unstable housing, and is a symptom of complex medical conditions. But what many don\u2019t realize is that food programs deliver more than just a box of groceries. They serve as a gateway to other solutions to pressing social problems and are a critical part of helping people get to self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_4'  class='avia-section main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2782'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kw13t9vp-72a9a7cda4ff78086368abeba3a9ab3e\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-72a9a7cda4ff78086368abeba3a9ab3e{\npadding-bottom:25px;\ncolor:#222222;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-72a9a7cda4ff78086368abeba3a9ab3e .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-72a9a7cda4ff78086368abeba3a9ab3e .special-heading-inner-border{\nborder-color:#222222;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-72a9a7cda4ff78086368abeba3a9ab3e .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-kw13t9vp-72a9a7cda4ff78086368abeba3a9ab3e av-special-heading-h2 custom-color-heading  avia-builder-el-17  el_before_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-first  no-uppercase basic-title'><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Improving Quality of Life<\/h2><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-76dymo-672c3604363959fe3c758f9d345b1f5b\">\n.flex_column.av-76dymo-672c3604363959fe3c758f9d345b1f5b{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-76dymo-672c3604363959fe3c758f9d345b1f5b av_two_third  avia-builder-el-18  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_one_third  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-khuoo1cl-ce781f115f1bca6731491b2a01d2617a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>As a volunteer for a food pantry one summer, I was assigned to deliver food boxes to homebound senior citizens. I delivered food boxes to six different seniors every week and I saw their empty cupboards and bare refrigerators, but I also met pets, admired figurine collections, watched a few daytime game shows with them (Make a Deal, anyone?), and heard their life stories. I quickly realized that my service was about more than food \u2013 it was about delivering smiles, hugs, a listening ear and helping people stave off loneliness or isolation. I \u201cadopted\u201d more than 20 new grandparents that summer. For each of them, food also brought companionship that sustained life and improved quality of life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-5jpwog-4e6d6b4bcfb4d7deb864622a3719b149\">\n.flex_column.av-5jpwog-4e6d6b4bcfb4d7deb864622a3719b149{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-5jpwog-4e6d6b4bcfb4d7deb864622a3719b149 av_one_third  avia-builder-el-20  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpeafa7a-bd74a5721e3343cdd572b997bdd560db\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-bd74a5721e3343cdd572b997bdd560db img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-bd74a5721e3343cdd572b997bdd560db .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpeafa7a-bd74a5721e3343cdd572b997bdd560db av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-21  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2791 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2791 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_63086252_Preview-300x200.jpeg\" alt='' title='AdobeStock_63086252_Preview'  height=\"200\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_63086252_Preview-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_63086252_Preview-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_63086252_Preview-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_63086252_Preview-705x470.jpeg 705w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_63086252_Preview.jpeg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_5'  class='avia-section alternate_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-22  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2782'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kw13t9vp-81dc3bff8648183c3a3c331a67c826a8\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-81dc3bff8648183c3a3c331a67c826a8{\npadding-bottom:25px;\ncolor:#222222;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-81dc3bff8648183c3a3c331a67c826a8 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-81dc3bff8648183c3a3c331a67c826a8 .special-heading-inner-border{\nborder-color:#222222;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-81dc3bff8648183c3a3c331a67c826a8 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-kw13t9vp-81dc3bff8648183c3a3c331a67c826a8 av-special-heading-h2 custom-color-heading  avia-builder-el-23  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  no-uppercase basic-title'><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Mobilizing our Community Best<\/h2><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-dwis0-8dd6fe568628706a8932335d0d0dd4fc\">\n.flex_column.av-dwis0-8dd6fe568628706a8932335d0d0dd4fc{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-dwis0-8dd6fe568628706a8932335d0d0dd4fc av_one_third  avia-builder-el-24  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_two_third  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpeafa7a-943f3eb2016a1d6dacd0a63f647762a2\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-943f3eb2016a1d6dacd0a63f647762a2 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-943f3eb2016a1d6dacd0a63f647762a2 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpeafa7a-943f3eb2016a1d6dacd0a63f647762a2 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-25  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2792 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2792 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_93417441_Preview-300x200.jpeg\" alt='' title='AdobeStock_93417441_Preview'  height=\"200\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_93417441_Preview-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_93417441_Preview-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_93417441_Preview-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_93417441_Preview-705x470.jpeg 705w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_93417441_Preview.jpeg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1xhrj4-52fcd73ee93212c881d3ffe28e07158b\">\n.flex_column.av-1xhrj4-52fcd73ee93212c881d3ffe28e07158b{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-1xhrj4-52fcd73ee93212c881d3ffe28e07158b av_two_third  avia-builder-el-26  el_after_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-khuoo1cl-ce781f115f1bca6731491b2a01d2617a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Working at a food bank during the holidays is like working retail during the holidays. It\u2019s long hours, massive inventory, and a spike in demand for services. That was my job in my 20s, and it wasn\u2019t easy. On the Monday before Thanksgiving, I was assigned to work the late shift on the warehouse docks. But I wasn\u2019t prepared to see the long line of cars waiting to pull up to our docks \u2013 a line waiting to drop off donations of frozen turkeys. I\u2019ll never forget the family that had just come from the grocery store, where each family member picked out the biggest turkey they could carry. That donation of frozen birds was about family unity, sharing, and a new giving tradition. Donating Thanksgiving meals brings my organization\u2019s mission to life: improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_6'  class='avia-section alternate_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-28  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2782'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kw13t9vp-cbe6fc8f96672e1d7b9f9da91c78f908\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-cbe6fc8f96672e1d7b9f9da91c78f908{\npadding-bottom:25px;\ncolor:#222222;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-cbe6fc8f96672e1d7b9f9da91c78f908 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-cbe6fc8f96672e1d7b9f9da91c78f908 .special-heading-inner-border{\nborder-color:#222222;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-cbe6fc8f96672e1d7b9f9da91c78f908 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-kw13t9vp-cbe6fc8f96672e1d7b9f9da91c78f908 av-special-heading-h2 custom-color-heading  avia-builder-el-29  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  no-uppercase basic-title'><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Delivering Food to Address Whole-Person Health<\/h2><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-dwis0-8dd6fe568628706a8932335d0d0dd4fc\">\n.flex_column.av-dwis0-8dd6fe568628706a8932335d0d0dd4fc{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-dwis0-8dd6fe568628706a8932335d0d0dd4fc av_one_third  avia-builder-el-30  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_two_third  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kw15688s-e88916b754c243cd355d5c2e25d3b98b\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-kw15688s-e88916b754c243cd355d5c2e25d3b98b{\nheight:50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-kw15688s-e88916b754c243cd355d5c2e25d3b98b hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-31  el_before_av_image  avia-builder-el-first '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpeafa7a-2737b544cf00542f54b7472aa1bb45df\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-2737b544cf00542f54b7472aa1bb45df img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpeafa7a-2737b544cf00542f54b7472aa1bb45df .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpeafa7a-2737b544cf00542f54b7472aa1bb45df av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-32  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/ride-united-last-mile-delivery-curbs-food-insecurity-for-worldfoodday2021-301394244.html\" class='avia_image' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2793 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2793 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver.jpg\" alt='' title='Last-Mile-Deliver'  height=\"801\" width=\"801\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver.jpg 801w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Last_Mile_Deliver-705x705.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1xhrj4-52fcd73ee93212c881d3ffe28e07158b\">\n.flex_column.av-1xhrj4-52fcd73ee93212c881d3ffe28e07158b{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-1xhrj4-52fcd73ee93212c881d3ffe28e07158b av_two_third  avia-builder-el-33  el_after_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-khuoo1cl-ce781f115f1bca6731491b2a01d2617a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>In 2020, United Way and 211 launched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/ride-united-last-mile-delivery-curbs-food-insecurity-for-worldfoodday2021-301394244.html\">Ride United: Last Mile Delivery<\/a>, which provides free deliveries of food pantry boxes, meals, and other essential items to those who can\u2019t access food any other way. Ride United has been supported by more than 400 nonprofit, public, and business partners, including food pantries, schools, restaurants, community gardens, and places of worship to serve families in neighborhoods across the nation. Since the pandemic began, the program has made more than 650,000 deliveries in more than 350 communities, providing more than 8 million meals to date.<\/p>\n<p>But again, it\u2019s about more than food. Philip, a 59-year-old man, called 211 in Cleveland for help finding food. Talking to Philip, the 211 call specialist realized his challenges went far beyond a bag of groceries. Philip was living in an unfurnished apartment and dealing with a spinal cord injury that impaired his movement. He had a chair, a blanket, and a single can of soup. Even if he could have comfortably traveled to a food pantry, he didn&#8217;t have a pen or paper to write down the address 211 could provide.<\/p>\n<p>The 211 call specialist immediately arranged for food to be delivered, and helped Philip access a case manager to address his longer-term needs. 211\u2019s response opened the door for Philip to take action to improve his quality of life and renew his independence. Philip\u2019s call for help provided nourishment, but also sparked his journey back to health and safety.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_7'  class='avia-section alternate_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-35  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_hr  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style='background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.01);  '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2782'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kw13t9vp-b7cd9375b7a50848aa69e50be81beb49\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-b7cd9375b7a50848aa69e50be81beb49{\npadding-bottom:25px;\ncolor:#222222;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-b7cd9375b7a50848aa69e50be81beb49 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-b7cd9375b7a50848aa69e50be81beb49 .special-heading-inner-border{\nborder-color:#222222;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kw13t9vp-b7cd9375b7a50848aa69e50be81beb49 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-kw13t9vp-b7cd9375b7a50848aa69e50be81beb49 av-special-heading-h2 custom-color-heading  avia-builder-el-36  el_before_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-first  no-uppercase basic-title'><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Feeling Safe and Secure<\/h2><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1xhrj4-4a01398ee3ba1f553ea33c2b4ebbef34\">\n.flex_column.av-1xhrj4-4a01398ee3ba1f553ea33c2b4ebbef34{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-1xhrj4-4a01398ee3ba1f553ea33c2b4ebbef34 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-37  el_after_av_heading  avia-builder-el-last  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-khuoo1cl-ce781f115f1bca6731491b2a01d2617a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Though my own days of worrying about how to feed my kids are thankfully behind me, I know that the struggle is still real for many across America.\u00a0 Until we have solutions to the problems of hunger and other social ills in this country, 211 is committed to being there, offering food assistance and much, much more.<\/p>\n<p><em>Want to donate in your community? Contact your local United Way <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedway.org\/find-your-united-way\/\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><em>.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>If you or anyone you know needs help, please call 211 or visit <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.211.org\/\"><em>211<\/em><\/a> <em>to be connected to support and programs in your community.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='after_section_7'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2782'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div  class='hr av-3805ni-87c1a0784105ebd392a2a25d365a9ae5 hr-default  avia-builder-el-39  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guest Blogger Joshua B. Pedersen, Interim Senior Director 211, United Way Worldwide<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":2788,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food - Defining US<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food - Defining US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Guest Blogger Joshua B. Pedersen, Interim Senior Director 211, United Way Worldwide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Defining US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-11-15T20:56:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-09-27T14:35:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dutch\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dutch\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Dutch\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6a0ecfe133a7812e04e728d20670d6f8\"},\"headline\":\"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-11-15T20:56:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-09-27T14:35:42+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4583,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg\",\"articleSection\":[\"blog\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/\",\"name\":\"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food - Defining US\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-11-15T20:56:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-09-27T14:35:42+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6a0ecfe133a7812e04e728d20670d6f8\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":667,\"caption\":\"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/2782-2\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/\",\"name\":\"Defining US\",\"description\":\"Changing Hearts and Minds\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6a0ecfe133a7812e04e728d20670d6f8\",\"name\":\"Dutch\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/55b5d2bb67a42fb18330bf90f25e8ccf652ca24f9261e0b2d146b65b8be3b888?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/55b5d2bb67a42fb18330bf90f25e8ccf652ca24f9261e0b2d146b65b8be3b888?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/55b5d2bb67a42fb18330bf90f25e8ccf652ca24f9261e0b2d146b65b8be3b888?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Dutch\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nycsel.com\\\/defining-us\\\/author\\\/dutch\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food - Defining US","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food - Defining US","og_description":"Guest Blogger Joshua B. Pedersen, Interim Senior Director 211, United Way Worldwide","og_url":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/","og_site_name":"Defining US","article_published_time":"2021-11-15T20:56:43+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-09-27T14:35:42+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dutch","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dutch","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/"},"author":{"name":"Dutch","@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/#\/schema\/person\/6a0ecfe133a7812e04e728d20670d6f8"},"headline":"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food","datePublished":"2021-11-15T20:56:43+00:00","dateModified":"2022-09-27T14:35:42+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/"},"wordCount":4583,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg","articleSection":["blog"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/","url":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/","name":"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food - Defining US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg","datePublished":"2021-11-15T20:56:43+00:00","dateModified":"2022-09-27T14:35:42+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/#\/schema\/person\/6a0ecfe133a7812e04e728d20670d6f8"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_249343865_Preview.jpeg","width":1000,"height":667,"caption":"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/2782-2\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Food Programs Provide More Than Just Food"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/","name":"Defining US","description":"Changing Hearts and Minds","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/#\/schema\/person\/6a0ecfe133a7812e04e728d20670d6f8","name":"Dutch","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55b5d2bb67a42fb18330bf90f25e8ccf652ca24f9261e0b2d146b65b8be3b888?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55b5d2bb67a42fb18330bf90f25e8ccf652ca24f9261e0b2d146b65b8be3b888?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55b5d2bb67a42fb18330bf90f25e8ccf652ca24f9261e0b2d146b65b8be3b888?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Dutch"},"url":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/author\/dutch\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}