Food Banks Headed Toward Crisis
by KAREN MURPHY, Contributing Writer
Food banks are in crisis. More people are hungry across America than ever before. And, despite record-breaking donation rates in some areas, demand and spiraling food costs far outweigh donations.
In 2006, 35.5 million Americans were euphemistically classed as "food insecure." That number rose to 36.2 million in 2007, and is even higher today. Not only are the numbers increasing, but the faces are changing. Embarrassed nouveau poor wait as long as possible to get help, and are far more likely these days to be younger, better educated, and more what we used to call "middle class" than ever before.
Despite the U.S. Postal Service’s annual Stamp Out Hunger drive earlier this month, which in 2008 netted a record 73.1 million pounds of food, food banks are still suffering. The Quad Cities (Davenport, IA) soup kitchen is seeing an increase in kids under 5. There are empty shelves at the Jacksonville Second Harvest Food Bank in Florida. And the postal drive itself has suffered setbacks: in Fresno, California (home to a tent city of about 2000 homeless), donations that normally support the postal drive dried up entirely, in part from a loss of corporate sponsorship.
If it sounds like a desperate situation that’s only going to get more critical, it is.
The good news is we can do something about it.
1. If you’re a gardener, plant a row for the hungry. Grow a little extra (or a lot!) and donate part of the harvest.
2. Donate directly to your local food bank. Every dollar you donate buys about 10 pounds of food. Feeding America has a large network of food banks all over the country. Find your local one here. There are very well organized food banks in every major city, including New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
3. Volunteer at your local food bank. Mine has a three-month commitment, so be prepared to give the gift of your time and strength for a while if you can. People need to know who they can count on. You can help by repackaging food for use at food pantries, transporting food to charities, or clerical work. Find your local volunteer opp here.
4. Buy a little extra every time you shop. Even a few items will add up, and you can drop off what you’ve accumulated monthly.
Photo by chispita_666, flickr
- Posted by Causecast
Related causes: Health
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That is very sad. I thought there was an improvement because in one of the article I read, many have donated. I thought, it would be enough. But I was really sad to hear this. I hope that everyone should partake in donating. What is a few dollars taken way from your credit cards. Rather than buying stuff that you don’t really need, at least donate some. You have helped other people with your action. Just a few dollars, you have helped a family already.