When I was a child, living with my mother who was striving to make ends meet after my father left, I attended a Sunday school class where we discussed the ten commandments. When we reached “Thou shalt not steal,” the other kids chimed in with questions reminiscent of Bart Simpson, suggesting scenarios where stealing might be justified, particularly if it was for a family in need. Most of my classmates laughed, confident they would never find themselves in such dire straits.
I remained silent, acutely aware of the thin line separating right from wrong. My father wasn’t contributing financially, and it was common for our fridge to be nearly empty. The church often helped us with grocery trips, and I often wondered if we would eventually have to resort to theft ourselves.
Reflecting on that formative experience, I was struck by the growing issue of food insecurity in the U.S. today. A recent report from The Washington Post highlighted that “an estimated 54 million Americans will struggle with hunger this year, a staggering 45 percent increase from 2019.” As programs like SNAP and WIC face cuts and other federal assistance programs near expiration, food banks are overwhelmed, with lines stretching for hours. Many individuals are left with little choice but to steal food to survive.
Jeff Zisner, CEO of a security firm, noted a rise in low-impact crimes, stating, “It’s not about people stealing TVs. Instead, it’s individuals taking food and items for children.” The heartbreaking reality is that stealing food to feed a family is becoming an all-too-common scenario. Although vaccines are being distributed, experts warn that we face a tough winter ahead, with COVID cases likely to rise and lockdowns enforced, leaving many families in precarious situations.
Feeding America, a hunger relief non-profit, reports that the U.S. is experiencing an unprecedented level of child hunger, with about 15.6% of households facing food shortages. Compounding this issue, vital programs like the Farmers to Families initiative, which has provided food boxes during the pandemic, are running out of funding. In New Orleans, food bank manager Emily Slazer described a heartbreaking scene of clients sleeping in their cars, arriving hours before food distributions began.
One poignant story in the Post’s report involved a woman named Sarah, who was balancing college and childcare when her daycare abruptly closed, forcing her to quit her job without any unemployment benefits. In desperation, she began sneaking groceries into her stroller at a local store, always paying for a small item like gum to absolve her guilt. “If I got caught, I’d explain that I wasn’t stealing anything extravagant, just trying to feed my child. It wasn’t malicious, we were just hungry,” she shared.
Interestingly, many store managers report that they are not involving police in these minor thefts, focusing instead on COVID safety measures. Ultimately, what drives individuals to steal is the deep-rooted need to provide for their families — and who can condemn that? What measures would you take if you were unable to feed your children?
The unfortunate truth is that so much of this distress could be alleviated. The COVID relief stimulus package has long expired, leaving families to navigate decisions they would otherwise never have to make, as unemployment remains at record levels. Congress must take action, setting aside political disputes to pass a stimulus bill that supports struggling families and prevents them from resorting to theft for food — a fundamental human right. As a nation, we must do better.
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Summary:
The rising issue of food insecurity in the U.S. has led many families to resort to stealing food, driven by desperation and the need to provide for their children. As government assistance dwindles and food banks struggle to keep up with demand, personal stories reveal the heartbreaking lengths individuals will go to when faced with hunger. The need for immediate and effective action from Congress is critical to support families and ensure that no one has to choose between morality and survival.