Food bank struggles to meet holiday demands

[Kurtz]

Ask Mary Stengel what the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank wants for Christmas and after a pause she softly says, “That no child should go hungry.”

North Texas gives a bitter reflection of the nation this holiday season; too many people, among them millions of children, are living on the margins of hunger. Increased demand and shortfalls in donations have left food banks scrambling to feed families who must often choose between paying utility bills and getting enough to eat.

“We’re grateful for every donation but our food drives were down this year compared to others,” said Stengel, WFAFB executive director, pointing to the recent U Can Share Drive. “We’re even short on turkeys and hams that go into our holiday boxes.”

Stengel explained that when food donations run short, the agency has to buy what’s needed to help not only families, but senior citizen centers, after-school programs, food pantries and other service agencies in 13 surrounding counties.

“Cash donations help balance the shortages but one of our most important missions is to keep food from being wasted,” she said. “Donated staple food allows us to use cash resources to provide fresh produce, expand outreach and other needs.”

This week America’s Second Harvest, with which WFAFB partners, reported that food banks across the country are experiencing dramatic declines in food inventory. Surplus food donations of USDA bonus commodities have declined more than 70 percent in the past three years. Transportation costs have also risen sharply.


Food Bank Shortages (http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2007/nov/17/food-bank-struggles-meet-holiday-demands/)

[Semantics]

My local school system does a holiday food drive the first two weeks of November every year and the coordinator told me that the donations were significantly less than they had been in previous years.

People are scared. :shrug

My area has been affected pretty badly by the housing problems and we have many foreclosures in my town. Add to that the cost of gas and heating oil in New England and people start :twitch

[Deadshot]

For the richest country in the world, we need to do better.:theman

[Kurtz]

Trickle down economics :whistle

[Kurtz]

For the richest country in the world, we need to do better.:theman


Where the hell ya been, DS?

We been spendin' all our money on that bush war,
think we're still the richest nation in the world? :confused

[Deadshot]

Where the hell ya been, DS?

We been spendin' all our money on that bush war,
think we're still the richest nation in the world? :confused

I've been Quaranteened for a while ;)

And China seems to think that we're the richest!

[Kurtz]

I've been Quaranteened for a while ;)

And China seems to think that we're the richest!


:D

[crazierthanever]

Trickle down economics :whistle

I wondered why my head smelled like piss.

[Semantics]

I've been Quaranteened for a while ;)

And China seems to think that we're the richest!

Maybe that's why they're trying to kill us slowly with poison!

:sick

[MW]

Considering that gas is up to close $1 a gallon more this holiday, than last year, and paychecks haven't risen to match that, more than food banks are going to suffer from lack of donations this year.

[issac the dragon]

I read a story yesterday in the local paper about a woman who went to a food bank for thanksgiving dinner supplies. She recieved a box containing;
1 box of cornmeal
a can of string beans
pinto beans
and one box of muffin mix.

There was no turkey. Or stuffing. Well, how about a little giving from those of us who are going to be stuffing ourselves come Thursday. Buy an extra bag of groceries today and donate them. The story was written by an employed mother of two, who is struggling to just feed her children.

[Kurtz]

I read a story yesterday in the local paper about a woman who went to a food bank for thanksgiving dinner supplies. She recieved a box containing;
1 box of cornmeal
a can of string beans
pinto beans
and one box of muffin mix.

There was no turkey. Or stuffing. Well, how about a little giving from those of us who are going to be stuffing ourselves come Thursday. Buy an extra bag of groceries today and donate them. The story was written by an employed mother of two, who is struggling to just feed her children.

I think that's gonna be more the case than one of unemployed.

I remember last year ya could get a free turkey for a certain amount spent at the grocery store the week before T-Day, I stored 'em up and gave 'em to friends I got here in town. I had to sneak around to hang 'em on their doorknobs, mailboxes or fence poles coz I can't stand that thank you stuff from friends. Thank goodness it was cold a few days before T-Day. :lol Anyway, my stores down here in the boonies didn't make that offer this year. Our li'l community down here does a joint effort thru our ministerial alliance who runs our food bank, took food donations this last Saturday, I don't know if they're gonna have turkeys. I can't hang around those folks too much, they keep invitin' me to their churches. :lmao

I hope they get some kinda meat for T-Day here, gonna be a cold day too, food cookin' in an oven always warms the house and smells good too.

issac, have a great Turkey Day today. :heart

[Sassafras]

I'm going to do what I can to help.

[Sassafras]

If you want to shop for yourself, AND help feed a family, here is a great program, that finishes TODAY!!

http://www.greatergood.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/GreaterGood.woa/wa/directShop?promoid=EG129_220m

All orders placed in any of the GreaterGood Network stores today will automatically generate additional funding to provide two meals to a family of four through the work of our charitable partner, America's Second Harvest-The Nation's Food Bank Network.

This contribution costs you nothing extra, and is in addition to the good you do with every purchase in GreaterGood Network stores. To increase your impact on the fight against hunger, place your order in The Hunger Site store where every item purchased funds at least 25 cups of food for the hungry worldwide every day. Shop today to help those in need this holiday season!

[Cookie Parker]

For the richest country in the world, we need to do better.:theman

Ah, but we're not the richest country in the world anymore...and we don't even have high ranks in healthcare, education, standard of living...google..find out where we rank...

[cassandra]

I don't buy the things cost too much crap. The problem is people in this coutry are far too selfish. Period that is it. It is so sad really.

My BIL is on disability, when he went to the government office to get his check they offered him an entire Thanksgiving dinner. He declined and told them to give it to someone more needy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpzDJFvmYwk

[Trueblue]

They are collecting at work for Christmas food baskets. It seems like something Christmassy should be in them.

I have to have oranges, chocolates, nuts in the shell, and peppermints at my house during Christmas.

I always give all the kids a box of candy, whatever is their favorite kind.

[Ariel]

:( Our pantry is actually having to turn people away for Thanksgiving. Hard times. For everyone.

[Kurtz]

:( Our pantry is actually having to turn people away for Thanksgiving. Hard times. For everyone.


Such a shame, so sad for those less fortunate or down on their luck.

What's that sayin'?
There but for the grace of God...

[MW]

I have been there a few times . . . I am thankful that I"m not this year . . . hopefully next year, I"ll be able to donate a full dinner to someone.