My name is Marcellus Wiley. In a single lifetime I've answered to ivy league graduate, professional athlete, sports commentator, friend and father. When you're in the public eye there's an assumption that the real you is known by all based on various television and radio interviews. When I saw Mario Batali in the news recently, it brought me back to the first title I ever had and that is "SON."

As a teenager I was often sent to the store by my mom to shop for the family. Whether it was for an extra ingredient needed for a certain dish, a gallon of milk...you name it and I was probably the one sent to get it. The journey I took to the store was not unlike that of countless kids all over the country. My team jersey was the same as most. My Chuck Taylors weren't too different from anyone else's and I gave the same "pound" to friends I saw along the way. The only thing that I was pretty certain set me apart from others was the currency burning a hole in my pocket. I knew that at the end of my shopping trip I would be paying the cashier with what I called "funny money", properly known as food stamps.

As a kid, I hated it. It's not like I was walking around like I thought I was better than others or some kind of Richie Rich but that didn't mean I wanted everybody to know THAT MUCH of our situation. In fact, sometimes I was so embarrassed that I would walk around the store in circles, up to 45 minutes in hopes to significantly delay the checkout process just so NO ONE would see me paying with those food stamps. 

When I heard that the Food Bank For New York City was doing a Food Stamp Challenge where people were actually CHOOSING to live on $31 for the week, I was intrigued. In all of the rhetoric today it's great to see people walking a mile in another's shoes in order to better understand their situation. When you're on any form of public assistance like food stamps, you're never thinking about the fact that you are one of almost 50 million Americans who are ALSO requiring assistance.

In my conversations with the Food Bank's president I learned that almost 80 percent of people on food stamps are mothers and their children. That's not different from my story. I also learned that many times teens would rather avoid using programs like free and reduced lunch assistance to keep from being embarrassed in front of their peers. That too is not different from my story. What's different for me now is that as an adult I better understand the necessity of a safety net for any family in need. Being needy doesn't mean anything about your character and certainly it doesn't say anything about your potential.

My mother firmly placed me on a path of success. The fact that part of that journey included walks to the store carrying food stamps makes me admire her even more. My sincere hope is that each person who has taken the Food Stamp Challenge will walk away understanding that what was an experiment for them is just called life for so many others. We live in a world where it's better to be called anything but poor. The Food Stamp Challenge reminds us that it's important that we use our voice and circle of influence on behalf of those who could truly use it. Food Bank For New York City is using this challenge to increase awareness and encourage all of us to act by letting our elected officials know that we care about those in need and expect them to do the same. If you'd like to join us in this effort just click here and let your voice be heard too.

Marcellus Wiley is a former All-Pro defensive end NFL analyst for ESPN, and co-host of "Max & Marcellus" on 710AM ESPN Radio Los Angeles. Wiley regularly appears on NFL Live, SportsCenter, First Take, and ESPNEWS, while also contributing to ESPN’s Super Bowl coverage.

By Chef Karl Wilder, 

What began for me as a month long project to live as a diabetic in support of the Harlem Hospital’s Stirring the Pot diabetes program also became a commitment to the Food Bank For New York City when I realized just how common diabetes and other diet-related diseases are in low-income communities — communities that also rely heavily on food stamps to get by.

To truly understand what low-income diabetics go through, I joined the Food Bank’s Food Stamp Challenge last week — an experience that for me will culminate in a twelve-hour Chef Challenge Marathon on May 19 in support of Stirring the Pot and the Food Bank.

Last summer I lived on a food stamp budget for two months in preparation for a benefit for the San Francisco Food Bank. I did okay then because I relied on high calorie foods that are filling and provide sustenance. But with the added challenge of a diet restricted by a very serious health condition, this time I sought to create an eating plan that had about 45 grams of carbohydrate per meal and never exceed $4.42 per day.

My morning cup of coffee with a splash of milk cost me forty-three cents, just 6 strawberries sixty cents, two slices of bacon forty two cents. In no time my budget has been consumed.

Now I am just hungry. Every day I am hungry. Thus far I have not been able to get my calories above 1,500 a day, though my goal is 2,200. I just can’t afford that many calories while eating the ”right” foods. I have managed to stay within budget but I feel weak and have less energy. My sleep patterns have been interrupted because I wake up feeling hunger.

When we think about people on food assistance we don’t often realize that many also have serious health issues like diabetes, celiac, heart disease.

We are not powerless. The Food Bank’s Food Stamp Challenge doesn’t just ask you to try experiencing life as a food stamp recipient for one week — it also asks you to take action by telling Congress to protect this essential program.

You can also host a Virtual Food Drive, where you can shop from aisles of healthy food options to support the Food Bank. Or, you can donate food to your local food assistance program — the Food Bank serves close to 1,000 of them throughout the five boroughs. But instead of pulling that extra pound of pasta or that can of beans from your pantry, head to the store. Pick up some high quality protein; sardines, anchovies, tuna, canned salmon, foods with omega 3 that are appropriate for those with health problems…and while you are at it…get some peanut butter for the kids.

By Jacquie Wayans,

My story is very complex. We don't meet the stereotype. My three kids all went to Gifted & Talented public schools. I worked and attended Columbia University, School of General Studies to finish up my BA while remaining active in church and community.

So why were we on food stamps? Our family started relying on food stamps when my former husband was diagnosed with kidney failure and had to stop working. Our family was very young and I was a stay at home mom — not because we could afford it, but because we would have ended up spending more in day care, food and transportation than I would have made. So, I applied for WIC, Food Stamps and Medicaid. I did eventually start working, but then became separated and needed food stamps again.

Jacquie Wayans

After having lived through that, you might be surprised that I would take the Food Stamp Challenge. My first thought when I heard about the challenge was, "I can do that." It’s sure not easy, but sometimes it helps to remember where you were and how far you’ve come.

Here's an example of my life before I had food stamps: When pregnant with my middle child, I stood in front of a refrigerator with groceries that had to last 2 weeks. I prayed at that moment, knowing that it was not enough. That child's birth weight was 5 lbs 8oz.

When on food stamps, people I saw in the supermarket were often struck by how much fresh fruit and vegetables were in my cart. If it wasn’t for food stamps I would not have been able to purchase the healthy foods a growing family needs.

Working in education, I know kids do best after eating a balanced meal. If the Food Stamp Program is cut, children will be the ones who lose the most. Nothing hurts a mom more than not being able to provide for her child's basic needs. I am fortunate that I had a very strong church family during those times, but many have no one.

For most families, getting to the point where food stamps aren’t necessary is a big goal. For me, I always knew that it would be temporary. The transition off is hard because once you make a dollar over the cut off point, you're on your own and the loss can feel big. However, you keep on pushing.

Today I have my BA and a new children's book, Ambrose. And that child who weighed 5 lbs 8 oz is now graduating from high school with her eye on becoming a fitness trainer. None of that would have been possible if I wasn’t able to feed myself or my family.

By Lisa Hines-Johnson,

Today, Mother’s Day, is the third day of the Food Bank For New York City’s Food Stamp Challenge — a call to supporters to spend just one week experiencing what it is like to have to rely on a food stamp budget of $1.48 per meal. 

As I reflect on the challenge and how powerful it will be for people who participate, it has struck me how fitting it is to have this experience on one of the most important days celebrating mothers — as the face of poverty is overwhelmingly that of a woman and her children. I am also reminded of my own mother and our experience, as a single mother and her only child, having to rely on food stamps.

Food Bank Chief Operations Officer Lisa Hines-Johnson, right, with her mother, Gladys Pesante

It was the early 1980s when my mother lost her job after fourteen years of dedicated service to her company. I was young, yet old enough to know that something was different. My mother still got out of the bed we shared in our one-bedroom apartment in the Bronx well before the sun came up, but she no longer put on her work clothes or those high-heeled shoes that I slipped on while playing dress-up. My mom was now home when I arrived from school. We spent more time together. That was good. Nothing seemed wrong….at least for a little while. I found out years later that my mother was able to provide for us for some time with the severance package her company had given her. Once that money was spent, things changed. 

I asked my mother how she felt during this time of transition from a life of modest comfort to trying to stretch a dollar until even it begged for mercy. She shared that she did what she had to at a time when her options were limited. It was hard. She talked about the embarrassment that quickly turned to anger when she noticed disapproving stares as she paid with her food stamps. She wanted to yell out “I’ve worked. I didn’t plan for this!” She felt defeated yet thankful for the neighborhood grocer who was kind enough to allow us to get food that we needed and pay him later. And worried about how we’d get through the next week with the stamps — which were actually stamps back then — and other support running low. 

I remember when I first noticed that our food supply was dwindling which, of course, always happened towards the end of the month. Those meals always consisted of scrambled or fried eggs, French fries and a canned vegetable, usually beets. I remember sharing in my own little girl version of my mother’s shame, anger and sadness.

I also remember that, despite her situation, my mother always tried to do things that would improve our reality even if only temporarily. From odd jobs in local shops, to babysitting for children in the neighborhood, to taking courses to become a dog groomer and grooming the same three dogs every month, my mother tried with everything she had to ensure that I still had gifts to open at Christmas, parties to celebrate my birthday and a new outfit to wear on picture day at school.

As a mother of three, my heart aches for what I can now fully comprehend was my mother’s struggle during this period in our lives. As someone who lived the Food Stamp Challenge and never thought she’d have to, my mother told me how important she feels it is for people who participate in this experience to talk about it so that others might know how urgently the people who rely on food stamps need this support to get through the next month, the next meal. My mother and I hope that this challenge might inspire more people to join the larger discussion around poverty and what needs to be done to move people back into the lives they had, or the ones they dream of having.

Lisa Hines-Johnson is the Food Bank For New York City's Chief Operating Officer.

By Margarette Purvis, 

Seven months ago I returned to the Food Bank ready to put forth my best effort in helping as many New Yorkers as possible connect to the plight of our poorest neighbors. Within the first month I met with our Director for all things policy related to discuss this Food Stamp Challenge I saw on CNN. We had a robust conversation where she gave me examples of how it could work and the many avenues we could take. As I walked out of her office, I said over my shoulder, “I definitely want us to do that.”

So here’s my Friday morning confession: when I said I wanted to do it…I had no idea that she was going to make it a reality six months later and that I would have to figure out how I would eat for one WEEK on $31! I remember the day that they raced in my office to say that Susi Cahn and Mario Batali had agreed to lead the campaign. I was just as thrilled as they were. I remember when Mario stood before the crowd at our recent Can-Do gala and spoke passionately about why people should join his family in the challenge to relate to almost 50 million Americans and 1.8 million New Yorkers. I’ve smiled every time a tweeter joins the campaign. I experienced all of that and still on the first day of the challenge…I FEEL INCREDIBLY ANXIOUS.

I’m no different than any other working professional. I love a great coffee and probably lean on it a little more than I should. When I actually get a chance to go out for lunch…I expect it to be pretty yummy. My days are long and I typically have no desire to spend those final hours over a stove. GrubHub.com and Peapod.com feel like personal gifts from the universe TO ME. They make this working girl…WORK. So now I stare at 7 days on a food budget that I usually have spent in a single day. The overachiever in me wants to do everything really well. But the negotiator in me immediately started figuring out how/where I could adjust the challenge to fit my lifestyle. Hey, don’t judge me. I warned you that this was a confession.

Eighty percent of the Americans who rely on food stamps are women and children

Yesterday morning as I stared in my fridge berating myself for not shopping BEFORE the challenge and still having nothing FOR the challenge, I had a bit of an epiphany. I think the first lesson for me was to remember that what’s causing me anxiety equals RELIEF for people who actually NEED these resources. Imagine if my anxiety was based in having NO FOOD. I’m blessed that this is not my daily reality so I’ve decided to be grateful to have the opportunity to highlight the daily struggle of others. This doesn’t mean that I won’t complain a lil bit on one of these days…it just means that the disposition of my inner foodie has been adjusted.

The Food Stamp Challenge is about people living on the BUDGET and not the actual benefit. My plan is to crack open my handy crock pot and make meals that will stretch. Thankfully the Food Bank has a great team of nutritionists who put together a $31 grocery list. (That’s not cheating because this resource is provided via monthly trainings to our member network and clients at our Harlem site.) While perusing my list, the first thing I noticed was that the array of fruit that I typically eat is MIA. I can get a couple of apples though. Not the kind I like but at least an apple. Also, according to the list I would have to eat ground meat rather than ground turkey…because it’s too expensive. So, I decided to go online to find coupons so that I could hopefully trade up. You can follow my journey on Twitter OR you can join me by participating in the challenge, sharing your experiences on Facebook and Twitter and CONTACTING YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS to encourage them to PROTECT this most valuable resource in our safety net….FOOD FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.

By Russell Gee,         

As you know if you have been reading this blog over the spring, the Food Bank’s EATWISE nutrition education interns completed a project to raise awareness for healthy breakfasts at our high schools this year — with in-class presentations, marketing materials, social media efforts and more. We wanted this project to make a real difference on our peers’ health and diets, but how would we define success and know that we were actually influencing our peers? 

To me, if my peers could demonstrate that they learned something and thought the information was useful, this would be a successful spring project. I realized the spring project made a difference when I talked to my friend Ryan. He was excited to try and make one of the healthful breakfast recipes we presented. My other friend, Kaitlin, even told me that she was eating breakfast more often and was careful to make healthier breakfast choices. To see my friends actually learn something and make changes to how they eat because of what we presented was very rewarding.

The presentation itself was also an interesting experience for me. It was different than just presenting a paper. Our EATWISE breakfast project included full-fledged presentations — with scripts, a slideshow, games and information used to educate others about breakfast. The experience itself was like viewing a kaleidoscope, as I was able to experience what it is like to be a teacher, having to expect that anything could occur. 

Russell Gee, one of the Food Bank's EATWISE interns, was part of the breakfast campaign marketing group.

For me, one of the most memorable parts of the presentation was when we informed a class that skipping breakfast could actually cause you to gain weight rather than lose weight. (That’s because your body enters a ‘survival mode’ and you don’t process food as efficiently.) Seeing the surprise and intrigue on their faces was priceless. Overall, being able to reach more than 900 of our peers, through in-class presentations, school announcements, marketing materials and social media content — all of which we created ourselves — gives me and my fellow interns a great sense of accomplishment. Our project showed how one can change their perspective so slightly and get something worthwhile in exchange.

 

By Triada Stampas,

The House of Representatives is giving us new cause for alarm about the future of the safety net against hunger. Not only would the House Budget Resolution — commonly referred to as the “Ryan Budget” — that was passed earlier this month slash and restructure the food stamp program (SNAP), it would make billions of dollars in additional cuts to agriculture and nutrition programs. And just this week, the House Agriculture Committee adopted a plan to take these additional cuts from just one program: SNAP.

At a time when local unemployment and poverty remain persistently high, these cuts would reduce the food resources of more than 46 million individuals across the country — including more than 1.8 million New York City residents. In addition, these cuts would force some SNAP recipients off the program entirely.

SNAP is our nation’s first line of defense against hunger. Our nation’s emergency food programs — which provide the majority of the food served by our network of soup kitchens and food pantries — are supposed to be the last line. However, our network has already lost nearly seven million meals this year as a result of cuts in the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Cuts to SNAP will place added strain on a network whose defenses are already significantly weakened — if our first line of defense is weakened, our last line of defense won’t hold.

Further, Congress’s production of the federal budget coincides this year with the reauthorization of the Farm Bill — which will set policy and legislation for agriculture and nutrition programs, including SNAP and TEFAP, for the next five years. However, spending levels set in the Ryan Budget would not allow for funding of improvements the Farm Bill may seek to make for TEFAP or SNAP.

At a time when our country is still struggling rise out of a deep recession, drastic cuts to our hunger safety net should not be an option.

Act now: email your representatives in Washington today!
 

By Patrycja Dziedzic, Mariama Camara, Ivette Paulino and Deyla Sabio, 

Not only are the EATWISE nutrition education interns doing in-class presentationsabout healthy breakfasts — we are bringing our message beyond the classroom and onto the big screen: THE INTERNET!

As the social media group for our breakfast project, we decided to set up Twitter and Tumblr accounts because they were all the hype this year at our schools. On our accounts, you can find delicious recipes, pictures we took of our breakfasts and quick nutrition facts that relate to issues teens care about, such as having clear skin and a fit body.

We accomplished a great deal on Twitter and Tumblr because we collected a lot of information that we know teens will find useful. It’s important for teens to be able to view this information in places they spend a lot of their time, like the internet. The topics we chose to display on our channels were picked by us because we know what teens like and what will catch their eye. For instance, we want quick and easy recipes to fill our breakfast plates!

Teens are constantly checking their Twitter feed and blogging on their Tumblrs no matter where they are. This gives them easy access to our healthy messages. We enjoyed putting the content together – especially the recipes, since we tried them all ourselves — and brainstorming how social media can impact our peers.

Being a part of the social media group was a lot of fun because we had the chance to create the content for accounts we would use ourselves! Not many teens get the opportunity to do something like this, and we hope our viewers enjoy our social media accounts just as much as we do!

By Russell Gee, Kamilah Newton, Elif Ajredini and Aditi Rai,

As our friends in the deliverables group wrote a couple weeks ago, the Food Bank’s EATWISE nutrition education interns are running a project to educate our peers on the importance of eating a balanced breakfast. Changing just one thing in your diet can make a big difference and is super simple. We’ve done it and they can do it too — and when our project reminds our peers that eating breakfast can have a real impact on their energy, productivity and overall focus, we’ll be working hard to make sure they listen up! 

As the marketing group, we want to capture our peers’ attention and connect breakfast to situations that teens actually experience, like studying for a test. We’ve produced our own flyers, with fun fonts and great images, and even a marketing script for our peers to use when conducting classroom announcements to promote our Twitter and Tumblr pages. At the very end of our presentations our peers will make a pledge to Change One Thing in their diet, and we will create a pledge wall with all of their responses. This will definitely be exciting and we can’t wait until we can share it with all of you!

Kamilah Newton of the EATWISE marketing group, left, talks with Mariama Camara of the social media group about marketing plans for the breakfast campaign

We want our peers to have fun learning! If they ask a lot of questions, then we’ll know they’re engaged, fully captivated and want to learn more! We want to convince them to Change One Thing and let them know that it’s not hard to make minor changes to their eating habits. No change is too small!

Personally, I’ve learned a lot about teamwork, and the power of consideration. Our group has open discussions and we all share our opinions. We’re not always on the same page, but we make compromises and our work looks great because we’re working together. It feels good knowing that everyone has contributed to the project and we are producing something that makes us proud!

 

 

What are you doing March 18? Hopefully dining at one of more than of 100 Time Out New York's favorite restaurants throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, that are donating 10% of the day's proceeds to the Food Bank as a part of Time Out For Hunger 2012. Whet your appetite by taking a look at some of the Food Bank's Staff Picks of their Time Out For Hunger favorites. Then head on over to the complete list of restaurants to find more delicious eats throughout the city.

Take a Time Out for Hunger on March 18, 2012

Rose Water (Park Slope)

"Within the packed culinary landscape of Park Slope it’s easy to feel like you’ve discovered an out of the way gem when you walk into Rose Water. Tucked into a residential block, I felt immediately at ease in the restaurant’s relatively small and homey interior. While there are choices to excite adventurous eaters — grilled pork belly with pickled cabbage anyone? — in my opinion it’s with the more straightforward entrees like the grilled pork chop with braised cabbage, sausage, marinated onions and baked apple that Rose Water really shines. With a great chef and excellent ingredients, less really can be more." —Daniel Buckley, Senior Online Communications Manager

Agozar! (East Village)

"Agozar! Cuban Bistro and Bar truly lives up to its name.  The atmosphere is lively and will have you practicing your mambo moves all the way to your seat!  The tapas are enough to share but you will want to keep these flavorful Cuban classics to yourself.  Since that isn't in the spirit of this playful space, for those with big appetites, consider one of the Platos Fuertes.  No matter what you choose, you won't be disappointed.  Bring your appetite, your friends and get ready for a great time and a meal that will have your taste buds dancing!" —Lisa Hines-Johnson, Chief Operations Officer

La Vigna (Forest Hills)

"La Vigna has some of the most delicious gnocchi I've ever tasted.  The atmosphere is quaint and homey, and it doesn't hurt that despite its neighborhood popularity I was still able to get a great table without having a reservation." —Jamee Brody, Business Partnerships Coordinator

Paulie Gee's (Greenpoint) 

“While Greenpoint’s dining scene continues to draw new attention from sophisticated palates, the two-year-old Paulie Gee’s remains worshiping grounds for pizza aficionados.  Reasons to go: charred, chewy crust from the Stefano Ferrara wood-fired oven, locally sourced ingredients and one of the most charming restaurant owners you’ll meet — Paul table hops throughout service.  Cruise over on the East River Ferry or hop on the G and make a day of it.  Stroll the thoughtful shops on Franklin Ave. after you’ve had your fill of pies — just make sure one of them is the “Anise and Anephew” or you’ll never forgive yourself.“ —Danielle Pagano, Director of Communications & Marketing

'wichcraft (Upper West Side)

"The Lincoln Center location of ‘wichcraft is housed in the beautiful David Rubenstein Atrium.  Maybe you are there to buy discounted Lincoln Center tickets, maybe you are there for the free concert on Target Free Thursdays, or maybe you just need a place to hide out.  While you are in the Atrium, grab a bite at the ‘wichcraft.  You can choose from an extensive list of sandwiches and salads, or you can just get a coffee or a wine.  As you eat, take a moment to admire the vertical gardens — yes, the grass grows on the wall!" —Julie Ho, Digital Media Intern

Chinatown Brasserie (NoHo)

"The Chinatown Brasserie has the best dim sum ever.  Prices vary, but are affordable.  The ambiance is to die for, and is the perfect setting for an intimate night for two, or a fun filled work event.  They offer dishes for all pallets, even the most picky like mine.  Favorite dishes include “Crunchy Vegetable & Peanut Dumplings” and “Three-Chili Chicken with Peanuts & Red Pepper.”" —Freddy Sanchez,  Cookshop Classroom Associate