On Saturday, November 20th, attorneys David Daggett and Griff Shuler of Daggett Shuler Law appeared on a special episode of Triad Today to discuss food insecurity in the Triad, and how people can help combat this very serious issue. Eric Aft, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, was their guest. Watch the segment:
Second Harvest is a food bank that serves eighteen counties in Northwest North Carolina, and one of their functions is to source food for a network of over 500 programs that fight hunger. The other part of Second Harvest’s mission is to address and help fight the root causes of hunger and food insecurity right here in the Triad.
You may not realize it, but there is not a “typical” person who experiences food insecurity. These people are your friends and neighbors, who wonder how they will put food on the table for the day, make ends meet, or determine which bills to pay. Shockingly, 1 in 7 people in our area experience hunger in one form or another.
While there was already a great need for these services in Northwest North Carolina, with the pandemic, need has vastly increased. In pre-pandemic times, Second Harvest would invest about $400,000 annually for food for its clients. In 2020 and 2021, it cost them over $400,000,000 in order to supply the community with basic nutritional needs, and that is expected to continue into the foreseeable future.
Food insecurity affects multiple sections of the population. Some of those hardest-hit include children, veterans and service members, and college students. Again, the statistics are alarming when you realize that 20% of children in our community face food insecurity. Lack of healthy food can cause school performance to suffer, and lead to lifelong health issues. Veterans, and active service members, routinely deal with hunger issues. And up to 20% of college students routinely skip meals, facing decisions like are they able continue their education when they need to provide for themselves or their families.
Second Harvest will soon open a new, more centrally located facility that will make it easier for the people of the Triad to access fresh, healthy food such as vegetables, fruit, and meats. This new facility will increase their cold storage from 4,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet. The new building serves to further Second Harvest’s mission to care for and feed our community.
If serving this mission is something you’d like to assist with, community support is always welcomed. You can check out multiple ways to participate, including through financial donations and volunteering opportunities here.
Later in the episode, David Daggett also participated in the Roundtable discussion with Ogi Overman and Keith Grandberry. They talked about current news items and political issues. Watch the video:
We Support the Triad Community
As always, the team at Daggett Shuler Law is proud to help support efforts to make a positive impact in our local area, including our annual food drive. Our firm is heavily involved in the Triad community. We believe in setting an example and supporting those working to improve the quality and health of our communities.
About Daggett Shuler
The personal injury and disability lawyers at Daggett Shuler Law represent clients throughout North Carolina. Visit our website or call 336-724-1234 for more information or a free consultation.