Overload at the Food Banks

In an article written by the Associated Press of MSNBC News, food banks are now finding that more and more people are showing up in line for their share of donated food. Hunger-relief advocates came to Congress and presented their case that they are struggling to meet the need of for food assistance when the country needs it most. The public policy manager for Northern Harvest in Seattle, Josh Fogt says that “In our 42-year history, we have never witnessed a demand for our services like we are seeing now.” While this only re-enforces that fact that our economy and the people in it are still struggling to put food on the table, it becomes an especially touchy subject as we near Thanksgiving. The Northern Harvest pantry gets 2,500 people per day on average. With these numbers, there’s little hope to meet every single of their needs with just donations. The charities brought up the subject to lawmakers and presented the idea that they give people tax incentive to donate and expand programs that help people put food on the table and help them get back on their feet.  About 14.6% of American households are lacking the food for and active and healthy lifestyle. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34048610/ns/us_news-giving/)

With everything that the government spends on countless other costs, including the war and the $825 billion dollars that’s in the stimulus bill, is it that hard to give a little extra money to food banks in order to ensure that American families are getting the proper nutrition to function properly? This goes to show that because the people suffering greatest from the economy and are living in poverty, they have little to no power in how the money gets spent from the government and because they have no power, they remain at the poverty level barely getting by.

Lauren Downs

2 Responses to “Overload at the Food Banks”

  1. Erica Brown (Edison) says:

    Lauren, I completely agree. In our quest to become a more productive and prosperous nation we have overlooked a portion of our most valuable assets-people. All people are valuable not just the have’s but the have-nots as well. I think instead of just bailing out banks or Wall Street, more support should be given to food banks and organizations that help the poor. Grant money is drying up and these places should not have to shut their doors, especially around the holidays. The idea of a tax-incenetive could work, we’d just have to make sure no one abused the policy.

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