My essential questions have updated. They are now: How can I make food more accessible to people in poverty? How can I work to improve my own baking and food understanding?

I know that especially because of covid, food has been more inaccessible to people in poverty. Shelters are trying their best to provide pre-packaged meals to homeless people in NYC, but it’s difficult during this time. I know that grocery stores put higher prices on “organic” products, making it sound healthier but a lot of people can’t afford it. This is important to me because I have volunteered at The Bowery Mission in the past, but it was pre-covid. I especially want to learn new things about food security and help out now because of the pandemic and what it has done to so many New Yorkers. For the second question, baking brings me happiness and relieves my stress. I know how to measure ingredients carefully, how to whisk, combine, and even out the ingredients. I know how to use an oven, stovetop, and dishwasher. I know that cleaning up is a huge part of baking and is very important. Also that some ingredients need to be softened, at room temperature, melted, or cold in order to create a certain texture in the baked goods/pastries. This is important to me because I love to bake and I want to improve my skills and make things that my friends and family will enjoy.

I don’t know how pre-packaging meals work for homeless people, and I don’t know what the individuals are going through. I want to learn more about food security and what that means during the times of covid. I want to learn how I can do more, and what others are doing to help people in poverty. I want to learn as much as I can about baking so I can do things on my own. I want to have recipes in my head and not have to rely on other’s recipes. I want to learn how to present my baked goods more beautifully, and how to make a certain texture in cakes/pies etc. I want to explore other people’s baking methods and learn from anyone who will teach me what they know. Lurking under these essential questions I have more questions about the food industry and its secrets. Where does the food for people in poverty come from? What is the US government doing about food security because of covid? Why does baking make me happy? How can I become independent with my baking?