1 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 1: Hey Bessies, Hello Sunshine. 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 2: Today on the bright Side, we're getting the tools to 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 2: give back during this holiday season. CEO of Feeding America, 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 2: Claire Babineau Fontaneau, joins us to share what we can 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 2: all do to fight food and security and show up 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 2: for each other every single day. It's Monday, November twenty fifth. 7 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 2: I'm Danielle Robe. 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 3: And I'm Simone Voice, and this is the bright Side 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 3: from Hello Sunshine, a daily show where we come together 10 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 3: to share women's stories, laugh, learn and brighten your day. 11 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 2: On My Mind Monday is brought to you by Missus 12 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 2: Meyers Clean Day, inspired by the goodness of the garden. 13 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 3: Simone. 14 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: There's no better way to kick off the week than 15 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 2: with a good source of inspo. 16 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: What's on your mind today? 17 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 3: Well, you say inspiration, I think you have to hear 18 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 3: what I have in store first. What do you mean 19 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 3: I'm coming in hot today? 20 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 4: Okay? 21 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 3: Starting with this question, Danielle, what is the last thing 22 00:00:58,160 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 3: that made you cry? 23 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: Okay? 24 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 2: Well, I have to go back a little bit because 25 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 2: I turned the spigot on of my crying when I 26 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 2: was about twenty eight and it has since never turned off. 27 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: I don't know if that's like a common thing, like 28 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 2: once the faucet turns on, you just can't turn it off. 29 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 2: So I cry it a lot. I cry at movies. 30 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: I cry if I'm frustrated, I cry. I cry all 31 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: the time. I cry if I like see something sad 32 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: or something hopeful. 33 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: When's the last time you cried? I don't know if 34 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: I could pinpoint mine. 35 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 2: Yours are probably with your kids, Like if you saw 36 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 2: like Logan do something amazing. 37 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 3: No, I'm not going to cry over that. I'll be 38 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 3: so happy. But that's not the thing that's going to 39 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,839 Speaker 3: make me cry. You know, it's funny that you said 40 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 3: that the spigot turned on for you at twenty eight. 41 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 4: I think that's a real thing. 42 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 3: That we go through these transitions in life that really 43 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 3: open up the floodgates. I feel like my spigot was 44 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 3: open to like high school. Then when I went out 45 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 3: into the world, I shut it off. But when I 46 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 3: became a mom, it opened up in unexpected ways, Like 47 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 3: new things will make you cry when you become a mom, 48 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 3: like seeing kids and you know, getting harmed in movies 49 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 3: or you know, the subject matter has a greater impact 50 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 3: on you. That being said, I am still the same 51 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 3: teenager that I once was, because I teared up the 52 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 3: other day watching the Wicked trailer. 53 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 4: Your kidding, just. 54 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 3: Just putting myself in the headspace of like being in 55 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 3: the theater and watching it like I'm gonna cry. So 56 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 3: I preemptively cried watching the trailer. 57 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 2: Oh my God, like because for good makes us cry, 58 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 2: that song makes us cry, but like, is there something 59 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 2: more to it? 60 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 3: I always am a sucker for like a good crescendo 61 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 3: or like really heartfelt string arrangement. You know, music just 62 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 3: really gets to me. I am emotionally intertwined with music. 63 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 3: So ye, trailers, you know, they engineer them for emotion, 64 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 3: and they got me. 65 00:02:58,160 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. 66 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: You know what, now that you've said that, I know 67 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 2: the last time I cried. Anything that has to do 68 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 2: with a veteran makes me lose it. I can't handle 69 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: it and soldiers all over. It doesn't matter what country. 70 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 4: I lose it. 71 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 3: Well, we both have been reading The Women I sobbed. 72 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 3: I cried a lot reading that book because it is 73 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 3: all about veterans. 74 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 4: So I'm with you there. 75 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 3: But the reason why I'm asking you about this is 76 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 3: because the New York Times put out a quiz that 77 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 3: tells us what kind of crier we are. So they 78 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 3: partnered with author and clinical psychologist ad Vingerhoutz, who Mind 79 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 3: You has spent more than two decades studying when and 80 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 3: why we cry to help us understand what makes us 81 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 3: tear up. 82 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 4: So there's a twelve question quiz. 83 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 3: It tells you if you're an attachment, compassionate, sentimental, or 84 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 3: societal crier. 85 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:52,839 Speaker 4: Or maybe you're not a crier at all. 86 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 3: Maybe you're just a stoic, you know, with a ice 87 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 3: cold blackheart. But that's not me because I took the 88 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 3: quick and I've learned a lot about myself. 89 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 4: What did you get? 90 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 3: I'm an attachment crier and a compassionate crier, So what 91 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 3: does that actually mean? Okay, so I'm going to read 92 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 3: this for Batam from the New York Times. Attachment criers 93 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 3: enjoy developing deep, trusting relationships with the people in their lives, 94 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 3: and those strong connections can sometimes turn on the water works. 95 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 4: They're saying. 96 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 3: Separations and reunions may also evoke in emotional reaction and 97 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: attachment criers. This tracks for me because weddings, I'm a mess. 98 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 4: Yeah. 99 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 3: Same, And then compassionate criers show sensitivity toward people who 100 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 3: are experiencing misfortune or suffering, and their empathy motivates them 101 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 3: to lessen others' pain. Studies have found that those who 102 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 3: feel empathy are more likely to cry easily. 103 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 4: Experts have suggested. 104 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 3: That this might be because highly empathic people have the 105 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 3: ability to experience other people's distress alongside their own. 106 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 2: Also tracks, one of my close friends was pregnant and 107 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: found out her husband was cheating on her, and she 108 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 2: called me and was crying. I was trying to hold 109 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 2: it together for her, but I lost it. And so 110 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 2: the compassionate crier makes that makes a lot of sense 111 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: for me. If my friends are in pain, I cry 112 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:06,559 Speaker 2: with them same. 113 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 3: You know that story I told a couple weeks ago 114 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 3: about my friend who thought she was going to lose 115 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: her baby. It's perfect example of that. I was like 116 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 3: sobbing right along with her, and there's like no containing it. 117 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 3: There are two other results that you can get from 118 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 3: this quiz. A sentimental crier responds emotionally when they see 119 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 3: good things happen. So if they see someone showing concern 120 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:33,599 Speaker 3: for another person, someone being altruistic, or even just like 121 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 3: achieving an impressive goal, sentimental criers tend to get a 122 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 3: little weepy at that. And then finally, societal criers are 123 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 3: the people who are invested in the well being of groups. 124 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 3: So that could be people who are really invested in 125 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 3: their family members or even in their religious congregation. And 126 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 3: this means that these types of criers actually get emotional 127 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 3: whenever they see people that they love and care about 128 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 3: in conflict with one another. That's an interesting dynamic that 129 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 3: is really interesting when you think about the types of 130 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 3: criers in your life. 131 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 4: Who do you think of? Danielle. 132 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 2: My grandma's a sentimental crier. She's like she will have 133 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 2: like a holiday dinner and stand up to make a 134 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: speech and she'll be like, hello everybody, and we're like, already, 135 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 2: who is this? 136 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: Didn't even say anything. My mom's mom, Oh my god. 137 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 2: She cries at everything, but tears the thing. Tears are 138 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: such a release. I actually think there's such a beautiful 139 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 2: part of the human experience. We actually release oxytocin when 140 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 2: we cry, and so they're made to sort of re 141 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 2: energize rejuvenate us. That said, like, when I go through 142 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 2: a breakup and I'm crying, it exhausts me. 143 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: I wake up exhausted. Do you ever feel that if 144 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: you have a big cry? 145 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, thousand percent, like a full day cry, like 146 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 3: a you. 147 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,479 Speaker 1: Know you got a yeah, Like that's naughty one. 148 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly. You know what's funny. And I don't know 149 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 3: that any of it. Dy else agrees with me. This 150 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 3: is like my simone theory on crying. But the feeling 151 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 3: that I get after a good cry is the same 152 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 3: feeling that I get after I step out of a 153 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 3: salt water ocean. 154 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: That's very interesting. 155 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 3: I wonder if it has something to do with like 156 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 3: the salt quality and the tears and the ocean. I 157 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 3: don't know, it just feels it's the exact same sensation. 158 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 2: I love that for you because I never feel better 159 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 2: than when I get out of an ocean. So if 160 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 2: that's what you feel when you cry, I'm so happy 161 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 2: for you. 162 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 4: You know this. 163 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 3: This conversation feels very fitting for our episode today because 164 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 3: we just had an opportunity just now to understand our 165 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 3: emotions better through the kinds of things that make us cry, 166 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 3: and also understand everyone else around us and how they 167 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 3: process emotions too. And I think the more we can 168 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 3: understand each other, the more we can connect and that 169 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 3: is the purpose. 170 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 4: That's why we're here. 171 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: One hundred percent, and that's part of I think what 172 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: Thanksgiving is about, which has come up this Thursday, and 173 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 2: it's a day for gratitude and spending time with loved ones, 174 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: connecting as you said. 175 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: But here's the thing. 176 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 2: It also is a day that centers largely around food 177 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 2: and there are millions of people across the country that 178 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 2: experience food and security, which means they don't have enough 179 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: food to eat or don't know where their next meal 180 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 2: will come from. I'm really passionate about this issue because 181 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: we have so much food in our country. There is 182 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 2: an abundance of food, and so much of it is 183 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 2: going to waste. 184 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: We could really be solving this problem. 185 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 2: Well. 186 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 3: Today is a chance to feel empowered around this issue 187 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 3: because we have Claire Babineau Fontane on the show. She's 188 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 3: the CEO of Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger relief 189 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 3: organization in the country, and she's here to tell us 190 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 3: all about the organization's effort to fight against hunger and 191 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 3: what we can do today to help alleviate food insecurity. 192 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 4: That's after the break, stay with us. 193 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 2: Thanks to our partners at MISSUS Meyers. When it comes 194 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 2: to cleaning, it's more fun if it smells like the garden. 195 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 2: Missus Meyer's collection of household products Smell, grate and pack, 196 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 2: a punch against dirt and grind. Visit missus Meyers dot com. 197 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 2: Claire Babineau Fontino, Welcome to the bright Side. 198 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: Well, thank you so much for having me. I'm excited 199 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: to be here. 200 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 2: We're really excited to have you. I feel particularly passionate 201 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 2: about the issue of food and security because in a 202 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: country like ours, where grocery stores are just overflowing with 203 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 2: aisles of food, we waste so much food, tons of 204 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 2: food each year, and there's no reason that anyone should 205 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 2: be struggling to find their next meal in America, and 206 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 2: yet the reality is completely different. The USDA's recent Food 207 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 2: Security Report found that around forty seven million people in 208 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 2: the US live in food and secure households. And what's 209 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 2: really upsetting to to me is that nearly fourteen million 210 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 2: of them are children, meaning one in eight kids in 211 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 2: America are food and secure. So I think, before we 212 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 2: get into solutions, I'd love to take a step back. 213 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 2: What does it actually mean to be food and secure? 214 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 2: And it's core, it's really about whether or not people 215 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 2: have consistent, predictable access to the food that they need, 216 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 2: and the reality, the sad truth is that nearly fifty million. 217 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: People in this country don't, and as you said, nearly 218 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: fourteen million of them are children. Inside of those big 219 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 1: numbers are actual, real people. They include real grandmas who 220 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: are famous for particular recipes that they've always been the 221 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: ones who made that over a holiday, and that knowing 222 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: as I do, that there are millions of grandmas out 223 00:10:55,160 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 1: there who are making impossible choices right now about am 224 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: I going to pay for my utility bills? Or am 225 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: I going to pay for my medicine? Or am I 226 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 1: going to have enough food? So over the holidays, I'm 227 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: reminded of those grandmas and it causes me to find 228 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: more energy to work harder to make certain if fewer 229 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: and fewer of them ever have to make those kinds 230 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: of choices. 231 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,839 Speaker 3: Well, Claire, we got to give you your flowers real quick. 232 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 3: Because of your advocacy in this space, you are named 233 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 3: one of times one hundred most influential people of twenty twenty. 234 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 3: Belated congratulations too, because that is such a huge accomplishment 235 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 3: and I think part of the reason why you're such 236 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:43,719 Speaker 3: an essential voice in this space is because of your 237 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 3: compelling backstory. You grew up with one hundred and seven 238 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 3: siblings through childbirth, adoption, and foster care, with about fifteen 239 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:57,079 Speaker 3: to sixteen children living in one house at one time. 240 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 3: I've heard you say that your parents essentially operate did 241 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 3: a food pantry out of your home. How did you 242 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 3: harness your experience and your upbringing into the advocacy that 243 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 3: you're doing today. 244 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: My childhood has everything to do about everything that I 245 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: aspire to be in the world. My grandparents on both 246 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: sides were actually sharecroppers. Neither my parents had the privilege 247 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 1: of graduating from high school, and something that I've known 248 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: my whole entire life, all sixty of my years, I've 249 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: had a keen awareness that we do not need to 250 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: look to distant shores to find children experiencing hunger, because 251 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: hunger was right here. So my mom did not chide us, 252 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: nor that my father that we better eat our broccoli 253 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:48,719 Speaker 1: because they're hungry children in Africa, as many of my friends' 254 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: moms might have chided them. It was not necessary for 255 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: them to find a distant place. So I'm sure that 256 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: in direct response, to your question. I'm sure that everything 257 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:05,599 Speaker 1: that I do I do imperfectly. But I certainly am 258 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: working to apply all of the investments that have been 259 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: made in me by my parents, by my brothers and sisters, 260 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 1: for whom I was mostly an annoyance, by the way, 261 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,079 Speaker 1: and by so many people throughout the course of my life. 262 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,719 Speaker 1: I'm hoping to leverage all of those things for this. 263 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: The most important opportunity I've ever had in my life 264 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: to serve is the chance I get right now inside 265 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: the privilege of being CEO Feeding America. 266 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 4: I often talk about my grandmother Bonnie on this show. 267 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 4: She was extremely poor. 268 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 3: She had one pair of shoes that she wore to 269 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,839 Speaker 3: school every day and they were falling apart, and they 270 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 3: didn't have enough food at home. But she always told 271 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 3: herself that her education would be her ticket out, and 272 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 3: she wound up becoming such an incredible activist and public 273 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 3: servant because she always prioritized her education. And you mentioned 274 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 3: that you enjoy privileges that some of your other family 275 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 3: members don't have. What do you think is that set 276 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 3: you apart? 277 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: Well, I've never had that question asked in exactly that way, 278 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: and the most honest answer is I don't know, mostly 279 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: because contrary to what I'm told i'm supposed to say, 280 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: when people say, oh, congratulations, you earned that, I'm supposed 281 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: to say thank you, and I'm supposed to act as 282 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: if I think that's true. I don't think I have 283 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: somehow earned this opportunity. There are people who are smarter 284 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: than I am. I have family members who worked harder 285 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: than I did. I have brothers and sisters who had 286 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: obstacles in front of them that I have never had 287 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: in front of me, and for whom success is getting 288 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: up in the morning, brushing their teeth, going off and 289 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: going to work. But what I'd say was a key 290 00:14:55,520 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: differentiator for all of us in our family was although 291 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: there are one hundred and eight of us, and I 292 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 1: know that's a hard number for people to wrap their 293 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: heads around, my parents, and especially my mom, she saw 294 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: each of us as individual children of hers for whom 295 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: she had a responsibility. So you didn't tend to get 296 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: lost in our family. What was so extraordinary, in addition 297 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: to how many of us there is in our family, 298 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: was how there was space created for us to realize 299 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: our own individual potential. 300 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 2: Having gone through food in security, you must have just 301 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 2: a very unique perspective on how you want to fight 302 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 2: food in security. Now that you're at the helm of 303 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 2: feeding America, what are the efforts that you've put in 304 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 2: place to fight this. 305 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're absolutely right. I was just thinking about it 306 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: today on what it meant for me to have a 307 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: lot of expectations that I put on myself and others 308 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: put on me as well, and to find myself in 309 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 1: school and unable to find have any food, to truly 310 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: have no money, no gas, no food, and going into 311 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: a salvation army in the town that I was going 312 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: to school in and having someone treat me with such 313 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: kindness and dignity and respect, and the contrasts that I 314 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 1: felt between the shame of my head being down when 315 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: I walked in and the sense of belonging and grace 316 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: that was given. So I certainly have an aspiration in 317 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: the work that we do, that we meet people where 318 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: they are, and that we expect of ourselves, that we 319 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: create dignified spaces for people, that we work on wrong 320 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: perceptions around whom it is that experiences hunger in this country, 321 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: that we use our platforms to make it more likely 322 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: people have more choice. Those things, for sure. 323 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 2: What are those misconceptions, Claire, We have data that show 324 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:13,719 Speaker 2: that most people in this country, no matter what their 325 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 2: political leanings are. Other ways you might slice and disis 326 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 2: that we have this misconception that most people experiencing hunger 327 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 2: in the country are lazy. Nothing could be farther from 328 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 2: the truth, and we have data that shows that that's 329 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 2: simply not true. I'll throw out this fact that were 330 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 2: you to take out children and the elderly and people 331 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 2: with unique challenges like physical challenges, etc. The vast majority 332 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 2: of people experiencing hunger in this country have at least 333 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 2: one job. Wow, many of them have more than one. 334 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 2: And we have lived expertise around that on this very podcast. 335 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 2: From what you were said just a few minutes ago 336 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 2: about your grandmother, wouild you characterize that as laziness. Of course, 337 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 2: not the most resourceful, vigilant, hardworking people that I get 338 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 2: to meet or people in this country experiencing hunger. 339 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 1: So that's one of the things. So along with the 340 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:25,159 Speaker 1: perception of laziness comes shame and some people actually sometimes 341 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: there are resources that could be so helpful to people, 342 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: but they don't get access to them because of the 343 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: shame and because of the stigma. 344 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 3: We have to take a quick break, but will be 345 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 3: write back, stay with us, and. 346 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 1: We're back with Claire Babino Fontanelle. 347 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 3: Well, I know that our bright side besties are extremely 348 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 3: compassionate and empathetic, and they're going to want to know 349 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 3: what they can do to help. How can we come 350 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 3: alongside your efforts at Feeding America. Where's a good place 351 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 3: for us to start? And let's say, just give us 352 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 3: three actionable things that we can do right away. 353 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: So may I make certain that everybody understands what Feeding 354 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 1: America as a network is. This is just in case, yes, please, 355 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: I'm hoping you all know and you're all already doing 356 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: at least one of the three things that I'm about 357 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: to say. But Feeding America is a network that includes 358 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: hundreds of food banks all across the country. So when 359 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 1: you think about food banks, think about big warehouses where 360 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: food comes to for ultimate distribution inside of communities, and 361 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: over sixty thousand agency partners and meal programs. So when 362 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: you think about those, they are you typically pantries. Some 363 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:48,120 Speaker 1: pantries are big, some pantries are little, small, church basement pantries. 364 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: So we run the gamut of these types of embedded 365 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: organizations inside of local communities all across the country. So 366 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 1: we're throughout the country, all fifty states, and when or 367 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 1: do they go as well. So that is the Feeding 368 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: American network. To give you one more round on that 369 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: to get a sense of scale. In twenty twenty we 370 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 1: provided meals to write around sixty million people and we 371 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: provided six point seven billion meals, So huge, huge network. 372 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: And although we have a national presence, we are fiercely local. 373 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: So now to your question about what people can do, 374 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: I like to put it in three you can donate. 375 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: A data point for you to know is that the 376 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 1: actual food in securior eates in this country are higher 377 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 1: today than they've ever been other than during the economic 378 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: downturn of two thousand and eight two thousand and nine. 379 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: Since the USDA started recording food in security eights, they're 380 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: higher today than they were at the peak of the pandemic. 381 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:59,199 Speaker 1: Right however, fundraising is significantly down, So donate if you 382 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: can donate what you can donate money, if you can 383 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:11,359 Speaker 1: donate food, if you can donate. The second one would 384 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 1: be volunteer. If you go to Feeding America Org, it's 385 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 1: a great resource for you to figure out one where 386 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: you can actually put your resources, the resources that you 387 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: have to donate it. Also it has a food bank 388 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: locator on it, so you go in and you put 389 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 1: the zip code of the community that you care the 390 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 1: most about, and what will pop up will be an 391 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: organization in our network that's serving that community. You can 392 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: reach out to them to donate. You can also reach 393 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: out to them to go and volunteer. Now, I've got 394 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 1: to tell you, I don't know what you think when 395 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: you think about volunteering, but I have volunteered and lots 396 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: of banks and there's a lot of joy inside of 397 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 1: that volunteering. I've seen so many parents bring their kids. 398 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 1: I've seen kids connecting with their parents in different kinds 399 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:02,640 Speaker 1: of ways because they're doing something that's not centered on them, 400 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: but that's centered on their communities. I've seen elderly people 401 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: go out and find community and fight social isolation because 402 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 1: they've got a team of people that they get to 403 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 1: volunteer with them. They know that they're doing something good. 404 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: So you can definitely go and volunteer. You can volunteer 405 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: all by yourself, or you can come up with a 406 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 1: cute little team that goes and volunteers. But volunteer. That 407 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:27,719 Speaker 1: would be the matter two, and then the final one 408 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 1: would be advocate. We each have a voice, and those 409 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: voices matter, and they're so powerful when they all come 410 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: together for good. Meeting America as a non partisan organization, 411 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: it's not five partisan, it's not partisan. We learn from 412 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: people experiencing hunger what matters the most to them. We 413 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: learn whom it is that's in those long lines. We 414 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: learn why it is they're in those lines, and what 415 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 1: it'll take to get them out of those lines. They 416 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 1: tell us they're the experts. Then engage in advocacy that's 417 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:05,360 Speaker 1: designed to make certain that that happens. You can join 418 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: us an Unfeeding America dot orgy. There are opportunities for 419 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: you to engage in advocacy with us as well. And again, 420 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 1: doesn't matter what your party affiliation is. All that matters 421 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: is that you agree that it is simply unacceptable for 422 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: people in this country, the richest country and the history 423 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: of civilization, to not be able to find the food 424 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:31,679 Speaker 1: that they need to thrive. That's all you have to 425 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,119 Speaker 1: really be aligned on, and then we've got pathways for 426 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,919 Speaker 1: you to be a part of the change that's necessary. 427 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 3: I love that you mentioned volunteering. I think it's actually 428 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 3: really important to volunteer, because if we're not experiencing this ourselves, 429 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 3: sometimes it can be hard to jump that empathy gap 430 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 3: and really come alongside and support people who do need it. 431 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 3: And it also reminds you that this could happen to 432 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 3: any of us. This could happen to me tomorrow, this 433 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 3: could happen to me next year. I have some really 434 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,439 Speaker 3: fond memories of volunteering at the Bowery Mission in New 435 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 3: York with some of my friends, and we would do 436 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 3: it on Thanksgiving or around Christmas. And I'm so glad 437 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 3: that you mentioned that because it just reminded me that 438 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:12,199 Speaker 3: I want to get back into doing that. 439 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:17,120 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I feel gratified every time I find out about 440 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: anyone who's giving back in a positive way to their communities. 441 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 1: I feel that makes us part of the same, big 442 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: old community. So thanks for every bit of that. And 443 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 1: you know, one of the things I feel to do 444 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:31,199 Speaker 1: that I want to make sure I don't let too 445 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,920 Speaker 1: much time pass without saying, is if you are listening 446 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 1: and you yourself are struggling to make ends meet, please 447 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,680 Speaker 1: reach out as well. So go to Feeding America dot org. 448 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: Still put in that zoom code, and there'll be someone 449 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: in this network who are rolling their sleeves up to 450 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 1: try to make certain that you get the resources that 451 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 1: youn need. And by the way, a lot of people 452 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: who volunteer at Feeding America have received resources as a 453 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: part of the Feating America network. People experiencing hunger are 454 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: not a monolists. They have resources, they want to share 455 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: the resources that they have. They're talented, hard working, and 456 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 1: dedicated as a rule, so it is often the case. 457 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: And one last point that I'm inspired to say based 458 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 1: upon your comment is, especially like during disasters or during COVID, 459 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: there's so many people they used to volunteer at the 460 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: food bank or at their pantry, and they never imagine 461 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: they'd find themselves on the other side of the right 462 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: and then there they are, yes, And many of them 463 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:41,199 Speaker 1: tell me when I meet them, and tell others with 464 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 1: whom I work, I will get back on the other 465 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 1: side of that line and I won't forget what it 466 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: felt like to be on this side. 467 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 2: When we think about food and security, I can't help 468 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 2: but think about food waste as a big part of this. 469 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 2: The US wastes approximately thirty to forty percent of its 470 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 2: foods apply each year. That's an incredibly high percentage. It's 471 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 2: about one hundred and eight billion pounds of food, and 472 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 2: yet there's millions of Americans who can't access food. So 473 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 2: there's like a paradox here that I think is highlighted 474 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,440 Speaker 2: by food waste and the distribution system. 475 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: Are there ways during the. 476 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 2: Holidays or tricks that you can share for eliminating food waste, 477 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 2: even home by home. 478 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,439 Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely. So let's start with the fact that Feeding 479 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 1: Merrick's the largest food waste recovery organization in the United States. 480 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 1: We have an initiative that we're undertaking right now called 481 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 1: the Food Rescue Challenge, and a little tag for it 482 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: is turn Access into Access Right And in it we're 483 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 1: going to go after another billion pounds, another billion pounds 484 00:26:54,960 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: of perfectly edible, nutritiously dense food. So, in terms of 485 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 1: what individuals can do, I keep sending people Defeeding America 486 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:08,679 Speaker 1: dot orgy. We've got lots of helpful information there. But 487 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: in your day to day there often is number one. 488 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: Don't buy stuff you don't want right and eat the 489 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 1: stuff you do buy. There's that part. Another is that 490 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: often we have things in our cabinets that are perfectly 491 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: edible that we thought we were going to use but 492 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:30,400 Speaker 1: we didn't. And you can take those things and bring 493 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: them down to your local pantry or your food bank 494 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 1: in the town that you live in and or care about, 495 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 1: and provide and donate those foods in that way as well. 496 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:46,360 Speaker 1: You can use your voice with large organizations where you've 497 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 1: witness wayte happening. So there's some common sense things that 498 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:51,919 Speaker 1: each of us can do, and then all together it 499 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: just translates into what I'm hoping for, which is a 500 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: real movement to end hunger in this country. And even 501 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: inside of some of these really regrettable and avoidable things 502 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 1: that we've talked about around hunger, that happens with bright sides, 503 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:11,919 Speaker 1: like in the middle of a global health pandemic, we 504 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: figured out ways that could significantly reduce food and security, 505 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 1: and we did a lot of them. We learned about 506 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 1: the power of the child Tax Credit, the single biggest lever, 507 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 1: if you will, tool in reducing child poverty. We put 508 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 1: it in play during COVID and it worked. We found 509 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 1: out what happens when America is excited and understands and 510 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: energize around the cause of hunger, that we find ways 511 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: to donate, we find ways to volunteer, and we find 512 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 1: ways to advocate during those times. So we've got proven 513 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: methodologies that came out of COVID that we are applying 514 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 1: right now, and that give me a lot of reason 515 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: I believe to be optimistic. Another source for optimism for 516 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: me is that I visited all fifty states in Puerto 517 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 1: Rico during the pandemic. Every place I went to, there 518 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 1: were people who, in the middle of the global health pandemic, 519 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: even when they're risk to them, rolled their sleeves up. 520 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: In every community I went into and did neighborly things, 521 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: they made certain that the people around them had access 522 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: to food. So it reinforced what I had hoped was 523 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: true of America, that we are fundamentally a good nation, 524 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: that when we know better, we do better, that we 525 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: can come together. I've seen us do it, and it's 526 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 1: one of the great gifts of this work for me. 527 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,719 Speaker 2: Claire, thank you so much for sharing your time with 528 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:01,320 Speaker 2: us today. 529 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Thank you for having me. 530 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 4: Thank you so much. Claire. 531 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 3: Claire Babino Fontano is the CEO of Feeding America. 532 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 2: That's it for today's show. Tomorrow, We've got another edition 533 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 2: of Shelf Life. Namonte and Keimo and Mitch Anderson join 534 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:25,280 Speaker 2: us to talk about their book, the latest Reese's Book 535 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 2: Club pick. 536 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 1: We will be Jaguars. 537 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 3: Join the conversation using hashtag the bright Side and connect 538 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 3: with us on social media at Hello Sunshine on Instagram 539 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 3: and at The bright Side Pod on TikTok oh, and 540 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 3: feel free to tag us at Simone Voice and at 541 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 3: Danielle Robe. 542 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 2: Listen and follow The bright Side on the iHeartRadio app, 543 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 544 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:50,240 Speaker 4: See you tomorrow, folks. 545 00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:56,680 Speaker 3: Keep looking on the bright side.