The Issue Of Food And Water Acces In Flint City

Background

Just like freedom of speech, resources such as food and water are human rights that should be granted to everyone. Though, many residents in the town of Flint are struggling to find a way to access these resources due to a vicious cycle they are finding themselves in. According to the Food and Water Watch website, Flint, Michigan is the poorest city in the country (“A Call to Action”). On top of Flint facing a brutal amount of poverty, the state has decided to shut off water for residents who can’t afford to pay off the water debts they have accumulated over the past few years in result from the water crisis. Four years ago, Governor Rick Snyder demanded that the water supply for Flint be turned off, which was the beginning of the Flint Water Crisis (“A Call to Action). . The water that residents were offered from their faucets and showers became contaminated with bacteria and lead. Residents reported that it smelt foul and had a green, brown color to it. Since then, Flint citizens find themselves heavily relying on bottled water to cook, drink, and brush their teeth. Though, they can’t fully escape the contaminate water because they still have to bathe, wash their hands, and flush their toilets. Along with limited water access, Flint residents are also facing the barrier of limited food access. In a study involving African American women in Flint, it was identified that safety, price, availability, quality, and transportation were all factors that created an obstacle when accessing food (Mayfield et al. 519). The limited food and water access that Flint citizens are facing is putting them at serious risk for health and disease. These basic human rights shouldn’t be threatened or overlooked. PurposeThe overarching goal of this project is to deliver Flint residents with the food and water they need to live a healthy lifestyle free of disease and illness. With much of the affected population being children who are in the middle of their prime development, it’s a priority to find a way to nourish the children of Flint first. If the residents of Flint could be given the proper food and water they need, there would be less health concerns and more focus on things that are relevant and important within a community such as, children, schools and growth. The purpose of this project is to deliver residents the essentials they need to grow as a community.

In the above photo, five year old Grayling is getting a blood test for lead poisoning, administered by Nurse Brian Jones. As many children Grayling’s age have to worry about what game they will be playing at recess, Flint elementary students have to worry about if the water they took a shower in will give them a life threatening disease. These students and residents deserve clean food and water to consume without having to worry about disease or contamination.

Problem

There are many barriers that the residents of Flint are facing when it comes to the access of food and water. According to Mayfield et al. , Flint residents trying to access food experience barriers such as transportation, quality of food, cleanliness of stores, discrimination, and limited locations of free food from places like churches. These barriers directly affect how residents of Flint obtain their food, with many eating contaminated food or none at all. The limited access Flint residents are facing is leading to health-related chronic illnesses.

Clean water access is a big concern for the people of Flint as well. Many are realizing how hard it is to find uncontaminated water because of the lack of clean, healthy water available. Because there is limited food and water, health concerns have become prevalent in Flint’s society. Mayfield describes the battle children go through when fed contaminated food. “Researchers noted that differential access to healthy foods can contribute to chronic illness and overall health disparities. For example, fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet but most Americans do not eat enough of them and this deficiency is associated with diet-related diseases”. She goes on to suggest that having easy access to quality foods such as fruits and vegetables could help a lead-contaminated community such as Flint, because it counteracts the effects lead has and the way a body absorbs it. Families and individuals are finding themselves malnourished with many different illnesses from the food and water they have access to. The leading disease they have found themselves with is lead poisoning. Lead testing is done often and many results are coming back with higher lead contamination then there were in January because of the water many children are able to drink. The leading concerns Flint faces are health risks and limited food and water.

Goals

To give Flint residents better access to quality food and water, we must: Identify places close to or within Flint that would store food and water from people who want to donate (churches, schools, non-profits, shelters). Find donation sources that would be willing to give food and potable water to those in need. These could be big organizations, individuals, churches, universities, and nearby restaurants/stores. Find a way to give this extra food and water to the residents of Flint without having them to commute. This could be through their water delivery services.

Find volunteers who would be able to donate time, money, or service for the team of Flint. Put Flint, Michigan back in the media so others can understand the challenges Flint residents are facing. Proposed Solution Everyday, bottle water is delivered to residents of Flint. This is issued from the state and allows residents to rely on safe water to drink and cook with. A barrier that many Flint residents find themselves facing is the issue of transportation and quality of food. I’m proposing a program that would take in quality food and water donations that would then be delivered with the bottle water the state donates. If the donated food and water from this program is delivered with the water from state, there would be no extra cost. If the American Red Cross partnered with this donation program, they could become a platform to share the struggles that Flint faces on a daily basis, gather donations, aid in storage, and help with delivery services through volunteers. Donation services of quality food and more water should become an active part of Michigan society that go directly to Flint. Not only could individuals donate to this program, but big organizations such as nearby restaurants and stores, along with places like churches and universities could donate as well. The donations could be stored in Flint shelters, churches, and schools, with the help of the American Red Cross. As I said before, each week, the donated food and water could be divided out and delivered with the packaged water that is already being given out by the state. The state could identify which families and individuals were in the most need when it came to transportation, financial stability, and access to resources and become a top priority for this service. Families with children would also be a top priority. The American Red Cross values local impact and helping those in need. “The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors” (American Red Cross). This program needs help from a source like the Red Cross because of how the values of the program align with theirs. It’s about putting the town of Flint back on their feet and helping them grow as a healthy community.

In the picture shared through social media, teammates from the Lion’s football team show their volunteerism by delivering water bottles to those in need throughout Flint. It’s the acts of service like the one shown above that could help Flint. The small action could leave a big impact on the town. BenefitsIf this program was put into place, the health and growth of Flint would sky rocket. Contamination and disease would start to lessen and families would be able to get on their feet and focus on things that matter instead of having to worry about where their food and water is coming from. School children would be able to learn and develop in a normal way without any risk for possible deficits. Families could begin to shop without worry of what was in their food and water. Many could also start to see a change in the barriers that affect their access to resources. With the help of the American Red Cross and donations, Flint could be recognized as a functional part of society and properly taken care of.

Conclusion

The residents of Flint are facing a crisis of water, but even more a threat to their human rights. Every human being deserves quality food and water to help them grow and survive. It’s something that we should all be able to acquire. Knowing that it’s not possible for some is a sad defeat that should be recognized by all. It is up to the state of Michigan and people around the nation to notice and help these citizens. It’s also up to the citizens of Michigan to help out their fellow residents. If people in Flint were able to access quality food and water, their lives would change for the better. Disease and contamination would become an irrelevant issue and families and individuals would be able to grow and become a functioning part of society.