Existing comment:
1980s-1990s
During the 1980s, the federal government made major cuts to food stamps and other anti-poverty programs. The HIV/AIDS epidemic was in full swing, a homelessness crisis was sweeping the nation, and many of the District's most vulnerable residents were literally dying of starvation.
In response, Washingtonians mobilized to feed their neighbors. Many of the large food non-profits that operate in the region today -- like the Capital Area Food Bank, Martha's Table, Food & Friends, and DC Central Kitchen -- were birthed in this moment. But the activists behind these organizations did more than serve food. They also forged community among marginalized people and pressed for the government to re-invest in solutions. |