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Food Pantries Already in Crisis Mode As Summer Begins |
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For years in the United States, a strong network of regional food banks, local food pantries, and soup kitchens has been able to meet the needs of people who cannot afford to buy food. Not anymore. In many food pantries around the country, the shelves are bare and lines are growing.
The numbers of people seeking food is staggering in some places. In my small town, the food pantry is feeding about 150 people a week, which doesn’t seem like that much until you consider the fact that my town only has 3000 people. This means that 1 in 20 are being fed by our little church-run pantry.
Perhaps what is most distressing about the domestic food crisis is that it extends far beyond the demographic that we traditionally consider poor. According to Evelyn Nieves of the AP:
There are a growing number of “nontraditional” food pantry clients across the country. They include more formerly independent senior citizens, more people who own houses and more people who used to call themselves “middle-class” — those who are not used to fretting over the price of milk. “We’re getting calls all the time from people who want to know how to get here,” said Kristine Gibson, community outreach manager at the Stockton food pantry. “And when I ask where they live, they give an address of a nice neighborhood, one where you or I would want to live.”
With summer arriving, with higher electric bills (especially in southern states), with school lunch programs being suspended until the fall, and with gas prices not likely to go down during the heavy travel season - it seems that the problem will get worse before it gets better. The recent Farm Bill upped federal funding for emergency food (after being vetoed by Bush and overridden by the Senate), but it doesn’t take effect until October.
So it’s going to take the generosity of everyone who can afford food to help those who can’t get through the summer. Please - when you go to the grocery store, pick up a few extra items for your local food pantry. Or just send them a check.
And then, hopefully, our next president and our next Congress can help provide some long-term solutions for the problems that have led to this crisis.
I think that Jim has some very clear and great points in his column. I am glad that the church is helping to feed people in the town, but you are very right about needing a long term solution to the food shortage. It is shameful that President Bush vetoed the Farm Bill. I really was not aware that pantries were in need of such help, and thank you for spreading this knowledge. I think that I will take your advice about buying canned foods for the pantries, or sending them a check. Our church in Charlotte, the Unitarian Church, does a monthly program called “Room at the Inn.” We help feed the homeless for a night, and provide a place to sleep. I really would like to continue with this, and your column has helped me realize the importance of this action. Thank you.
I truly enjoyed the concise and clear column, Jim. I look forward to your future writing, as well.
I think that Jim makes some very clear and important points in this column. I was not aware of the national shortage of food, particularly in soup kitchens. I am glad that Jim’s church has been able to feed those in need in South Carolina. But, Jim is also correct about needing a long-term solution to this problem. I am pretty disgusted with President Bush for vetoing the Farm Bill. I think that I will take Jim’s advice about providing a donation to a church, or simply bringing the cans myself. At our church in Charlotte, the Unitarian Church, we have a monthly “Room at the Inn.” This is where we cook dinner for the homeless for a night, and provide somewhere for them to sleep. Reading Jim’s column really helps me put this in perspective, as something very valuable. Thanks so much Jim, and I will continue this over the summer.
I really enjoyed the column, Jim. I also really look forward to reading more of your writing, and will check the Seminal regularly.