Poem by Jeffrey Banks

Only in America Can Extreme Poverty & Prosperity Co-Exist
Underlying Motives Benefit from Feeding the Most Vulnerable in Urban Cities
Really Cheap Food While Many Executive Directors Take Home Hefty Paychecks


Atrocities Happen Daily Caused by the Malnourishment of Food Insecurity
Creating A Disproportionate Amount of Diabetes, Hypertension & Obesity in Our Socioeconomic Centers
Taking a Moment to Ensure Fresh Fruits & Vegetables are in Tandem with Pre-Packaged Groceries
Inviting Neighbors in a Poorer Economic Bracket to Have More Nourishment in Their Diet
Obesity Increases When Refined Sugars, Simple Carbohydrates and Vitamin-Depleted Food Outweighs Nutrient-Dense Dietary Choices, Causing This Population to Eat More Junk Food to Get Energy
Spiking Glucose Levels and Sending Blood Pressure Up from the High Sodium in Pre-Packaged Food


American Cities Have an Abundance of Affluence, Yet Poverty Thrives as the Rich Can Profit Off of the Poor Resources Repurposed Can Allow Those Who “Don’t Have” to Do Better If Hunger Isn’t an Issue
Eating Nutritious, Healthier Food Improves One’s Cognitive Ability Allowing Kids to Learn & Adults to Earn


Opportunity Has Been Stolen by Those Throwing Away Food Not Spoiled, Unexpired & Fresh
Undermining Volunteers Who Can Be “Good Samaritans” to Thousands of Neighbors Homeless
Restaurants, Grocery Stores and Hotels Daily Dispose of the Food that Could Help Those Eat for Weeks


Feet Citizens Daily Try to Get Up On, Stand On & Walk On to Victory Fit the Shoes Many Don’t Understand Unctioning Intuition Can Allow Poorer Neighbors to Look for Work, Financial Opportunity & Stable Housing
Trying to Help Those Who Are Trying to Help Themselves is Better than Profiting Off of Their Misfortune
Under This Mentality, Executive Directors “Check a Box” for Every Patron Served Food & Offered a Bed
Rarely Do The “Bean Counters” Care Deeply about What Goes On in the Chronic Homeless Person’s Head
Every Person Who Exits “The System” is One Less “Guaranteed Paycheck” for Services from the Government


Zoom In on the Money Trail, I Have Seen Both Sides of This Situation...Volunteers are Loved as “Free Labor”
Except When You Fall on “Hard Times”...Then You are *Really* “One of Them” Walking in Their Shoes
Rushing to Hungry Neighbors’ Aid is Sometimes Made but Don’t Ask for a Job from Where You Volunteered
Oversight Wasn’t an Accident, Your Free Service Were Revered & You Might Threatened Their Livelihood


Help Others Without Expecting Anything in Return & Those Who Keep the Poor Down Eventually Learn
Umbrellas of Provision Can Help Friends Rebound Better Through Their Stormy Weather
No One Has to Go Hungry & Direct Services Can Bring Fresh Food to Poorer Neighborhoods By
Galvanizing Volunteers to Drive Food Trucks with Daily Stops, Deep Freezers to Preserve Perishable Food
Every Day a Rotation Can Help Those Who Struggle to See Better Days & The Giveaways Can Strengthen
Robustly for Villages to Thrive, Communities Will Become Alive If We’re Genuine & Not Contrived
 
World Food Day

​by Jeffrey E. Banks

---

Jeffrey Banks, poetically known as "Big Homey" has had opportunities for his artist activism as an advocate against homelessness recognized nationally through presentations at universities, conferences and churches. His work in this arena has been recognized by notable figures such as Dr. Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, Richard Gere and NBA All-Star Allan Houston. In 2019, his poetry was featured in the National Association of Poetry Therapy Annual Conference and published in their anthology.

---