Hunger Has Reached Unprecedented Levels

Just as word spreads that our economic recession is now over--you did get your check in the mail, right? Just kidding--a new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture says that hunger in this country is at its highest levels...ever.

The New York Times wrote:

"...the number of people in households that lacked consistent access to
adequate nutrition rose to 49 million in 2008, 13 million more than in the
previous year and the most since the federal government began keeping the data
14 years ago....about a third of struggling households had what the researchers
called 'very low food security,' meaning that members of the household skipped
meals, cut portions or passed on food at some point during the year because they
lacked money. The other two-thirds managed to feed themselves by eating cheaper
or less varied foods, relying on government aid like food stamps or resorting to
food pantries and soup kitchens, which have been seeing heavier and heavier
traffic in recent years."

This is troubling, to be sure. That's why we're encouraged by a number of things going on right now that are not only addressing the issue but are doing something about it. For instance, to recognize national hunger and homelessness week, local service providers here in the Kanawha Valley (like Covenant House and the YWCA of Charleston) took part in the annual "Night Without a Home" event.

Like Blessed Sacrament's Cardboard City event we participated in earlier this year, the Night Without a Home brings people together to sleep outside at Magic Island here in Charleston to call attention to the people in our community who experience homelessness on a daily basis.

For our part, we're taking part in the "33 Cans 33 Miles" event, which takes place on the last day of this year's American Baptist Senior High Convention. It's at Hurricane First Baptist Church this Sunday, November 22. The event is raising food for our Christmas food distribution, which takes place on December 19. (Our Thanksgiving food distribution is this Saturday; check back for live updates here, on Twitter and on Facebook.)

If you can make it on Sunday, we'd love to have you stop by and say hello. We'll have a "We Feed People" truck there collecting canned goods.