GrowMemphis, a philanthropic project of the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center aimed at helping poverty afflicted communities turn vacant lots into community gardens, is trying to educate Memphians of every socio-economic class by hosting a special screening of the film, “A Place At The Table.”
The film discusses general problems about poverty across the country and how it is affecting people’s access to nutritious foods. The film will also talk about the problems that could result from cutting Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Programs (S.N.A.P.), more commonly known as welfare.
“People have a misconception of the ‘welfare queen’—a single African American woman who abuses the system through receiving governmental aid,” said Carole Coulter, food policy coordinator at GrowMemphis. “That simply isn’t true. Most of the people that benefit from welfare programs are children and the elderly.”
Christopher Peterson, executive director of GrowMemphis, said in Memphis a significant portion of welfare recipients live in Collierville. Suburban food stamps are not talked about that much because of the stigma associated with it.
“Even if someone goes to a food pantry to receive donations, the majority of it is processed and lacks sufficient nutrition,” Coulter said.