As a child, I remember attending a Sunday school class about the ten commandments when I was just ten years old. My father had left, and my mother was working tirelessly, juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet. During the lesson on “Thou shalt not steal,” my classmates raised various scenarios where theft might be seen as understandable, particularly when it came to stealing food for a starving family. Most of the kids dismissed the idea that they could ever find themselves in such circumstances.
I stayed silent, acutely aware of how close I was to that moral boundary. My father wasn’t contributing financially, and it was not uncommon for our fridge and cupboards to be bare. The church often helped us out with grocery trips, and I couldn’t shake the thought that we might one day have to resort to stealing food.
Reflecting on that time is painful, especially given the current rise in food insecurity across the United States. A recent article from The Washington Post revealed that an estimated 54 million Americans will face hunger this year, marking a staggering 45% increase since 2019. With cuts to food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, and federal aid on the verge of running out, food banks are overwhelmed, leaving many with no choice but to steal.
Jeff Zisner, CEO of a security firm, noted an uptick in low-level crimes, stating, “It’s not about people grabbing TVs; instead, it’s about those stealing food and essentials for children.” The reality of stealing to feed one’s family is profoundly heartbreaking. While there is hope with the distribution of vaccines, experts warn that a difficult winter lies ahead, with COVID-19 cases continuing to rise as lockdowns and fluctuating unemployment loom.
Hunger relief organization Feeding America points out that the U.S. is experiencing an unprecedented level of child hunger, with around 15.6% of households facing food shortages. Federally funded initiatives like the Farmers to Families program, which provided food boxes to families during the pandemic, are running out of resources, adding to the crisis. Emily Slazer from New Orleans’ Second Harvest Food Bank described heartbreaking scenes of clients sleeping in their cars, waiting for food assistance.
One particularly poignant story shared in the Post was about a woman named Sara from Maryland. While managing college, work, and childcare, she was forced to leave her job when her daycare closed unexpectedly. Lacking unemployment benefits, she resorted to discreetly taking food from Walmart, often paying for a small item while slipping essentials like ground beef and rice into her child’s stroller. She justified her actions by believing that her intentions were not malicious, simply driven by hunger.
Surprisingly, many store managers are choosing not to report minor thefts, as they are too occupied managing COVID-19 safety protocols. Ultimately, the desperation for food drives people to shoplift—and who can fault them? If you were unable to feed your children, what measures wouldn’t you consider?
This grim situation could be alleviated. The COVID relief package that was initially approved has long since expired, leaving families to make dire choices as unemployment rates soar. Many, like Sara, find themselves in positions where they feel compelled to steal food to survive.
Congress must take action. They need to set aside their differences and pass a relief bill that addresses the needs of struggling families, ensuring no one has to resort to theft for basic sustenance—a fundamental human right. As a nation, we must do better. We can support our fellow Americans in need, which is the very least we owe them.
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Summary:
More families are turning to theft to feed their children as food insecurity in the U.S. rises dramatically due to reduced assistance programs and the ongoing pandemic. Stories of desperation, like that of a mother who stole food to feed her son, highlight the heartbreaking reality many face. With Congress failing to act on relief measures, many families are left with no choice but to resort to stealing food—raising important moral and societal questions about how we support those in need.