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Authors, sign in!Did you see the CNN story on last Monday about the growing number of Americans signing up for the Food Stamp program?
Here's a taste of the report, Tough Choices for America's Hungry...
As Walter Thomas knows, it's hard to look for a job when your stomach is rumbling. The 52-year-old from Washington, D.C., started skipping meals in early January when his savings account was running dry and his kitchen cabinets were almost empty.Thomas at first didn't want to turn to the United States' food safety net, the food stamp program, for help.
But after being laid off in July from what seemed like a steady job in sales at a furniture store, Thomas swallowed his pride and applied for the monthly food aid.
"It lets me think, 'OK, well, tomorrow I'll be able to eat. If nothing else, I'll be able to eat,' " he said.
With the national economy in meltdown, more Americans than ever are relying on the federal aid program to keep from going hungry. In October, more than one in 10 people -- about 31 million -- were using the food stamp program to get by, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
More recent numbers are not available, but advocates for the poor say the number of those in need of aid probably has increased since then.
Read the entire report here.
The report contains this photo of little Samirah, 2, who asked her mom to take her picture to show that hungry people "are like everyone else."
Mounting an effective national response to the growing numbers of our fellow citizens who falling into poverty will be a challenge. What do you think? Are we up for the challenge?
What about your church or other faith community? Is your group ready to get involved?
What do you intend to do personally?
Published February 11, 2009 by Larry James |
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| Tags:
Children
Economy
Food
Hunger
Poverty
Unemployment
