Food bank hosts virtual simulation to address racial wealth gap impact on hunger
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore held a virtual simulation to educate elected officials about the impacts of policies on hunger.
In conjunction with Hunger Action Month and Elected Official Engagement Day, the organization demonstrated how problems like the racial wealth gap are seen in the community.
“The racial wealth gap is sort of the difference between the median net worth of a white household versus a Black household or people who are not already living in poverty. There’s a 13 to 1 difference,” said Leah Williams-Rumbley, who is the senior director of advocacy for the food bank.
Williams-Rumbley says that difference is thousands of dollars, which can mean having food or not on the table for some families of color.