| I can't quote actual figures, but for the last 15 years I can testify that the donations at my local hunger center drop dramatically on December 26th, and don't usually rebound until Easter/early Spring.
But the same hundreds of people who stop in at the center in the months of November and December are still coming back in January, February and March. And you can guarantee that their numbers are going to be growing as our economy continues to collapse and businesses close.
On December 5th, a small group of us kossacks (boatsie, rb137, JellyBearDemMom, srkp23, Kula2316, blue jersey mom, SpamNunn, Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse, blue jersey dad and myself) led by the indefategable noweasels, held a marathon blogging effort called "Filling Empty Bowls: 36 Hours for Feeding America" which helped us learn some pretty sobering facts:
• As of 2007, one out of eight Americans -- 36.2 million, including 12.4 million children -- suffer from Hunger.
• 11.1 percent of households (13 million households) were food insecure, a statistically insignificant increase from 10.9 percent (12.6 million households) in 2006.
• 4.1 percent of households (4.7 million households) experienced very low food security, a statistically insignificant increase from 4 percent in 2006.
• Households with children reported food insecurity at almost double the rate for those without children, 15.8 percent compared to 8.7 percent
• The Department of Agriculture's Food Stamp program (now called Supplemental Nutritional Assistant Program -- or SNAP) is simply not enough, providing only $21 a week/$3 a day/$1 per meal.
• 1 in 10 Americans receives Food Stamps. That number is expected to rise as the economy slides further into Recession.
These figures are bad when taken in context with the holiday season, but they worsen when you consider that those who were hungry last week are still hungry today, yet donations to hunger centers are dropping precipitously now that the holidays have come to a close.
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"So," you ask, "how can I help?"
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I have three suggestions.
1. Hold a food drive at your office/place of worship/community center. Take the info you've learned from these diaries and convince your coworkers, friends and neighbors to make another donation now that the need is greatest. Go here to find the nearest food bank in your area.
2. Sponsor a fundraiser Every New Year's Day I hold an omelet party called the Hair of the Dog Brunch in support of my local Heights Emergency Food Center. I ask that everyone attending brings something for the party, as well as $20 worth of non-perishable food or sundries (toiletries, paper towels, diapers, etc.) and/or cash in exchange for a gourmet omelet. Last year our event raised 600 pounds of food and nearly $500 in donations. This year I hope to top that (and if you're in Northeast Ohio, go here for details)
3. Make a donation to Feeding America These are the folks doing the heavy lifting -- and for every dollar you give, you'll help provide 20 pounds of food to food and grocery products to men, women and children facing hunger in our country. |
