When I was ten years old, two years after my dad left and my mom was struggling to make ends meet while working at a power plant during the day and cleaning houses at night, I attended a Sunday school class focused on the Ten Commandments. When we reached “Thou shalt not steal,” my classmates asked all sorts of cheeky questions reminiscent of Bart Simpson, presenting scenarios where stealing might be seen as a forgivable act, especially when it came to taking food for a starving family. Most kids casually dismissed the idea, confident they’d never find themselves in such a predicament.
I remained silent, as I was all too close to that moral line. My father wasn’t paying child support, and it wasn’t unusual to open the fridge and find it empty. That same church frequently took us grocery shopping, and I often wondered if we might one day have to steal food ourselves.
Reflecting on that pivotal time and moral lesson is unavoidable when considering the rising issue of food insecurity in the U.S. today. A recent report from The Washington Post indicates that “an estimated 54 million Americans will struggle with hunger this year, a 45 percent increase from 2019.” With cuts to food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, as well as other federal aid nearing expiration, food banks are overwhelmed, with lines stretching for hours and thousands of people waiting for help.
“We’re seeing an increase in low-impact crimes,” said Jeff Zisner, CEO of a workplace security firm, in an interview with the Post. “It’s not about people running out with TVs; it’s more about individuals stealing food and essentials for their children.”
The heartbreaking reality of stealing to nourish your family is something no one should have to endure. While there’s hope with vaccine distribution underway, experts warn of a long winter ahead as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. This could lead to further lockdowns in many cities, with unemployment rates continuing to fluctuate, leaving little hope for improvement anytime soon.
According to the non-profit organization Feeding America, the U.S. is facing an unprecedented crisis of child hunger, with approximately 15.6% of households lacking sufficient food. Compounding this issue, critical federal programs like the Farmers to Families initiative, which provided food boxes during the pandemic, are running out of funds by the end of the month. Food banks across the country are struggling to meet record demands. Emily Slazer, food sourcing manager at New Orleans’ Second Harvest Food Bank, shared a heartbreaking visual: “We’re seeing clients sleeping in their cars, arriving as early as 2 or 3 a.m. It’s a stunning and heartbreaking sight.”
One particularly poignant story from the Post recounted the experience of a woman named Lisa in Maryland. Balancing college, work, and childcare, she had to quit her job when her daycare closed, leaving her without unemployment benefits. Faced with hunger, she started sneaking food into her child’s stroller at Walmart, taking essentials like ground beef and potatoes, but always paying for a small item, like a candy bar. Each time, she reassured herself that “God would understand.” “If I got caught, I’d say, ‘I wasn’t stealing a TV; I just didn’t know what else to do. We were hungry.’”
Interestingly, many store managers are opting not to report minor shoplifting incidents to the police, perhaps more focused on enforcing COVID precautions than pursuing small thefts.
Ultimately, the driving force behind these acts of desperation is hunger. What would you do if you couldn’t feed your children? The alarming truth is that much of this could be prevented. The COVID relief stimulus package has long expired, leaving families in dire situations and making decisions they otherwise wouldn’t have to face.
Congress must take action, putting aside political disagreements to pass a stimulus bill that can assist struggling families in avoiding crimes born out of the basic need for food—a fundamental human right. As a nation, we should strive to do better. The challenges are real, but we have the capacity to help our fellow citizens find nourishment.
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Summary:
The increase in food thefts among families is a heartbreaking response to rising food insecurity in the U.S., particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. With millions struggling to provide for their children, many are pushed to desperate measures, like stealing food. As federal assistance wanes and food banks face overwhelming demand, it is imperative for Congress to act swiftly to support struggling families and ensure access to basic necessities.
Keyphrase: food insecurity and theft
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