Listen and Learn from Our Research on Under-resourced Communities

Knowing that under-resourced communities are often some of the most overlooked, nonprofit organizations around the world are focused on tackling issues that often affect them like poverty, homelessness and food insecurity. These organizations, along with the volunteers and businesses that support them, lend their time, talent and resources to addressing these tough issues through volunteering, donating and using their voice – all elements of the

Points of Light Civic Circle

^®

. The Civic Circle framework is an essential tool that not only opens more pathways to civic engagement, it allows you to make your activism and advocacy work even more impactful. One of the best places to start is by

listening and learning

. With that in mind, let’s look at some lessons learned from our Points of Light

research

on these cause areas.

Questions to Ask When Engaging with Under-resourced Communities

POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS

Poverty and homelessness is a prominent issue, with 4 in 10 people surveyed indicating concern. When we look at the ways that people are getting involved, the “Top Actions Taken” and what people consider to be “Most Influential” are

donating

and

volunteering

. These are certainly critical actions, but it’s important to ensure that they’re not misguided or performative. With the absence of listening and learning, volunteers and donors may not be making the greatest impact they can – or worse, their impact may not be what’s needed most by the people who are most affected. That’s what makes listening and learning such an integral first step. If you’re engaging with activism around poverty and homelessness, start by asking yourself a few questions:

Am I listening to what the community needs?
Could I be more effective with a deeper understanding of the issue?
How do the social organizations I’m partnering with incorporate listening and learning into the opportunities for action they’re already providing?

Read about how Diannah Pennyman launched her nonprofit to aid people who are unhoused in Ohio and beyond.

FOOD BANKS AND HUNGER

Food insecurity is still prominent in communities around the world, even in the most developed nations. Hunger and food insecurity have been pervasive and enduring needs for a long time and, as with many other issue areas, the pandemic revealed the disparity and urgency around these issues. Thirty percent of people are concerned about food banks and hunger when compared to other issues, according to our research. Food banks are a critical service to communities, both in times of disaster and day-to-day. It makes sense that the ways people are taking action around these issues are the traditional ways we respond to this need – by volunteering and donating. However, by incorporating other forms of engagement, like

voice

and

vote

, we may be able to work collectively toward addressing the root causes. In other words, by combining elements of the Civic Circle, you can amplify your efforts and make a bigger impact. When engaging with activism around food insecurity, consider a few questions:

How can I use my voice to campaign for more balanced allocation of resources in underserved communities?
How can I advocate for better legislation that supports food insecure communities?
How are the social organizations I’m partnering with address systemic change that could increase impact on a larger scale?

Check out how Miami teen Julia Krass is working to solve hunger and food insecurity in South Florida.

Want to keep diving? Take a look at these topics to find out how you can leverage our research to take civic action in your own community:

Three Ways to Relieve Food Insecurity in Winter

Food insecurity in the United States is a year-round issue, but during chilly winter months the situation can become especially fraught. From severe winter storms that leave grocery stores depleted and cause shipping delays, to food pantries that don’t have enough goods to serve unhoused populations, to increased utility costs that leave Americans pinching pennies, food insecurity is particularly problematic at this time of year.

Fortunately, a host of organizations and initiatives exist to shed light on this issue. You can join the effort to put an end to food insecurity by using a couple of key elements from Points of Light’s

Civic Circle

framework. In the process, you can also support Black-owned and Black-led organizations working on this issue as a way of participating as an ally in

Black History Month

Donate to Organizations Addressing Food Insecurity

There are countless nonprofit organizations devoted to ending food insecurity in the United States. You can donate money or food itself — just ensure that the organization is accepting the type of food you’re donating. Or you can take another creative route like Daily Points of Light

Kendyl Lewis

and

Humza Zaidi

, who set up systems at their colleges to donate unused meal passes to people who could use them.

Do research on which organizations are taking on this issue in a big way, or search for a

Points of Light Global Network affiliate

near you. Then, decide what you’re able to contribute to the cause, either with a one-time donation or on a repeating basis.

Volunteer to Help Solve the Issue

Donating certainly helps immensely, but

volunteering

with one of these organizations is yet another way to lend your time and energy to solving food insecurity. Take it from Daily Points of Light

Debby Cheng

who volunteers with her local food pantry,

Jagger Barnes

who delivers groceries to 100 local families a week or

Nithin Parthasarathy

who is committed to ending food waste while decreasing food insecurity.

There are plenty of in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities to address this issue. Check out

Points of Light’s Engage

platform to search for a volunteer opportunity in your community.

Use Your Voice to Advocate for Change in the Space

Your voice is a powerful vehicle for creating the change you wish to see. You can contribute to the cause by

using your voice

to spread awareness about food insecurity on social media, petitioning for funding for your local food pantry or promoting the organizations working to solve this issue. Volunteering and donating are just two ways of effecting change. Your voice matters, and how you use it can have a critical impact.

People of color are

disproportionately affected

by food insecurity, which points back to the systems and structures that leave them unsupported. So if you’re able to donate, volunteer or use your voice to support a BIPOC-led initiative, you can help empower these organizations and their leaders with your time, effort and resources.