Justin Azzarella
Executive Director
Elmwood Village Association

“I'm hungry. Really, really hungry. I'm only not eating because I really want to try sticking to this budget for the day. I'm feeling what it must be like to be in poverty, if only a little bit. If I had more money I would buy food.

I can't imagine what would happen if I got sick or had an emergency. I think that's the most terrifying part of the Poverty Challenge so far. I ate at a food pantry today to cut back on my lunch expenses. I saw many people with failing bodies and minds. It became clear that they do not have the luxury to care for themselves like I do. The meal I received at the food pantry was filling but very unhealthy! It was filled with carbs and sugars and almost no protein at all. What was available on the menu was what I was given to eat. I don’t eat tuna fish so my tuna fish sandwich went uneaten. Now that it’s almost dinner time I’m wishing I sucked it up and ate the sandwich. It’s food, why on Earth was I being so picky!”