Food insecurity inflation
Inflation has caused the price of food to rise so quickly that some working families are facing food insecurity. (Photo by Syd Wachs on Unsplash)
A United Methodist Insight Column
Food insecurity seems to be the theme for this week’s Crisis Watch columns. After earlier reports on food justice from the West Ohio and Arkansas conferences, word comes from the Chronicle of Philanthropy via an Associated Press article, High Inflation Leaves Food Banks Struggling to Meet Needs.
The AP’s Thalia Beaty and Glenn Gamboa reported May 12 on the Nunamakers, a working family “grappling with the 8.3 percent inflation in the consumer price index in April announced Wednesday (May 11).” The story continues: “The national average gas price reached a record high Wednesday of $4.40 a gallon. And global food prices are climbing after shortages caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine and other supply-chain problems.”
Beaty and Gamboa report further: “Food banks across America say those economic conditions are intensifying demand for their support at a time when their labor and distribution costs are climbing and donations are slowing. The problem has grown to the point where last week President Joe Biden called for a Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September, the first since 1969. … The struggles of families are heightened by the fact that government benefits that were increased during the pandemic like food stamps or unemployment insurance have stopped or will end shortly.”
What’s happening with your church’s food pantry or other local food ministry supported by your congregation? Send your stories to Food Ministries at UM Insight.
Climate change affects our mental health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and more and more local congregations are offering or developing ministries that seek to aid people’s mental health, such as the GriefShare ministries that John W. Coleman wrote about this week.
Peter Girard of Climate Central points out: “Climate-influenced weather extremes like heat waves, hurricanes and heavy downpours can damage not only our physical surroundings and our physical health, but they can affect our mental health, too. Among the findings in Chapter 7 of the UN climate report released in February:
- “As many as 1 in 3 people who live through a hurricane or a flood develop depression or PTSD in the months following the disaster.
- “Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to post-traumatic stress after an extreme weather event.
- “Weather-linked mental health problems in young people can linger into adulthood.”
Girard also reports that “studies show a quantifiable connection between extreme heat and suicide,” another area where churches are developing ministries of support.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we are highlighting the links between mental health and climate change, and providing resources on the topic.
For churches seeking more information about possible ministry opportunities, Girard suggests these resources:
- Climate Change Is Affecting Our Mental Health
- Mental Health and Our Changing Climate
- Hope, Health and the Climate Crisis
Does your church have any new or innovative mental health ministries? Send your stories to Mental Health at United Methodist Insight.
Climate resilience workshop
Avery Davis Lamb, co-executive director of the ecumenical Creation Justice Ministries, reminds us that his organization will sponsor a workshop on how churches can prepare to be sources of help and hope when disasters strike.
“Climate Disasters, Faithful Resilience: Preparing your congregation for climate disasters” will take place online from 6:00-7:00pm ET on Thursday, May 19. Click here to register.
“The question around disasters is not if something will happen here but when—especially as we see climate change increasing the severity and frequency of severe weather events,” Lamb writes in a press release. “When disasters occur, congregations can offer vital care and resources for their members and wider communities. Advance preparation and planning can position churches to respond well.”
The workshop will feature the Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold, associate director for domestic disaster response for Week of Compassion, the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Media Mentions as of May 12, 2022
Locally made clothing to aid Ukrainian refugees | News, Sports, Jobs - Times Observer
Men's caregiver group to meet Friday, invites new members | Local News | tylerpaper.com
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.