26. November 2024 – Last week was very eventful, to say the least. It was an incredible journey into two pressing issues: food insecurity and global health. From hands-on volunteering with the Greater Boston Food Bank to engaging in the inspiring Paul Farmer Symposium, I gained fresh perspectives on the importance of partnerships and community-driven solutions.
Volunteering at the Greater Boston Food Bank and Insights Into Food Insecurity
The week started off with a volunteering project for Harvard Medical School graduate students at the Greater Boston Food Bank. At 8 a.m., a shuttle took me and my colleagues to a giant warehouse. We were quickly put to work, folding boxes and distributing products like oatmeal, sandwiches, and cereals, to the family boxes. Working with my hands – rather than just my head – while listening to rock classics felt rewarding.
How many individuals in Boston do you think are affected by food insecurities?
I was shocked to hear the number one in three. I am a triplet, which means statistically speaking, either me or my siblings would not know how to afford the next meal. A reason for this inflation, food prices have increased by about $60 per household within a year. Also, the cost of living is extremely high in general. Compared to my apartment in Salzburg, prices are about twice, sometimes three times as high here – and Salzburg is known to be expensive. I asked myself what I would do if I didn’t know how to fill my plate. Instead of choosing wholefoods I would have to buy the cheapest products I could find. Those products often have an ingredients list longer than an IKEA manual and are barely nutritious. Apart from having to choose the cheapest options, almost half of the individuals affected watered down their food or had to sell and pawn personal property in 2023. Shocking right? Well, if we imagine, we don’t know where the next meal might come from, this surely has effects beyond our nutrition and our physical health. It is no wonder that mental health conditions like depression or anxiety increase as well.
Fortunately, there are options for individuals affected, like the Greater Boston Food Bank, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and WIC. While it is amazing that those options exist, they don’t reach everyone. If you want more insights on the data or possible solutions proposed for programs, or the government, you can find them in the 2024 Annual Report of the Greater Boston Food Bank.
While it was rewarding to see all the hundreds of family boxes packed, the inequalities in food access reminded me of how important collective and systematic change are to addressing this issue.
Lessons on Accompaniment at the Paul Farmer Symposium
While two people share a journey, who is walking with whom?
Another event that I had the pleasure of attending was the Paul Farmer Symposium.
I am lucky to have people in my life who walk this path with me together, who share my adventures, guide me whenever I get lost, carry me when my feet are tired, and allow me to guide and carry them when they are in need. This idea of being there for each other, not just until the next high or low, but in the long run, is the concept of accompaniment. While walking together on a shared path, the lines between roles like doctor and patient, teacher and student, or sender and receiver get blurred. This idea of accompaniment was a guiding light in the global health work of Paul Farmer. Paul Farmer was the chair of the “Global Health and Social Medicine” department where my program is in and among the founders of the organization Partners in Health. My passion for global health work and my aspiration to understand more about it have grown, and I am grateful to know inspiring role models and organizations who build systems with individuals affected together rather than for them. I’m convinced there is so much to learn from each other along this way.
Weekly High, Low, Buffalo & Lessons Learned
High: Paul Farmer Symposium
Definitely, the inspiring people I listened to, and the conversations I had.
Low: Juggling Events, Classes and Assignments.
Almost every day brought another great event which I was fortunate to attend. Still, it was probably the most exhausting week that I have had at Harvard so far. I was happy to catch some much-needed rest on Sunday.
Buffalo: Go Harvard!
I had a great time attending it with my amazing colleagues. Still, I have to admit that football is just not interesting for me to watch – probably a buffalo, given that I used to do cheerleading in Mississippi.
Lessons Learned
Apart from the invaluable insights into global health work, I started understanding the concept of being truly present for others better. Accompanying someone on a shared path isn’t about physical proximity. You can stand shoulder to shoulder with someone and yet be distant. Simultaneously, you can be miles – or oceans – apart and yet share each other’s path.
I’ll get back to you again next Tuesday. Feel free to reach out and continue to let me know what you’re interested in!
Until then,
Liebe Grüße aus Boston!
Sophie
Is there anything you want to know about me or my experience? Feel free to leave a comment or reach out!