3/15/06
Feeding the hungry is basic purpose of community
There is a false impression that those who go to local food shelves for food are the homeless and the jobless.
In Twin Cities area communities, more people with jobs are getting food at food shelves to make ends meet.
In Minnesota, officials estimate that half of the 1.7 million who visited food shelves last year had a job, and of those, 30 percent were two-wage-earner families.
Minnesota FoodShare officials believe 22 percent who visit food shelves are senior citizens on fixed income.
Many single parents use food shelves.
Contrary to what some believe, use of a food shelf generally is temporary, a stopgap measure during a tough time.
Some speculate that the loss of good paying jobs is resulting in more people waiting in food lines. Rising heating, fuel and medical costs are straining family budgets, and wages in general are not keeping up with cost of inflation.
Government balancing budgets by cutting human services is driving more of those in need to food shelves.
Last year 38 million pounds of food was distributed through food shelves throughout the state. Fortunately most food shelves had enough food and dollars to meet the demand.
Local food shelf officials report that the number who come for food is going up, and the trend is for greater usage.
March is Minnesota Food ShareMonth when local food shelves will have food drives, and dollars will be collected at the state level to raise $8.5 million in food and dollars. Last year $8.7 million was raised.
Minnesota FoodShare gives back money to local food shelves based on food and dollars raised locally. Officials believe $750,000 will be paid back to local food shelves this year.
The easiest way to contribute is to write a check and send it to the local food shelf or to Minnesota FoodShare. Dollars can be leveraged to buy more food than normal. To find a local food shelf go to the Web site:gmcc.org/foodshare, and click on ìMarch Campaign.î To find your local food shelf by zip code, click on ìfind a food shelf.î
Feeding the hungry is a basic purpose of organizing a community. Make the monthís theme happen: ìMinnesota Feeds the Hungry.î -- Don Heinzman
HometownSource.com
ECM Publishers, Inc.
4095 Coon Rapids Blvd.
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
