Hunger crisis hits local counties, survey shows
Effect of national economic downturn 'impacts families across the board'
Half of the at-risk people reported that they have had to choose between buying food and paying rent or for medical care, according to an advance press release. Agency officials said they are still going over the numbers for the final report.
At-risk people range from families having trouble keeping their kitchens stocked for more than a week to people who "don't know where their next meal is coming from," said Lynn Crocker, a representative of the local Second Harvest Food Bank, which conducted the local Feeding America surveys.
The surveys show a connection between the 25 percent "at-risk" finding and the recent national economic downturn, Crocker said in the release. The food bank's client base increased by 17 percent in the second half of 2009, she said.
"You hear that the economy is turning around, but so many families are still struggling," Crocker said in an interview with the Weekly.
The mid-March report will include data from 650 interviews conducted in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties by Second Harvest staff from February to June 2009, Crocker said.
There is a strong emotional reaction to worrying about being hungry Crocker said.
"A lot of first-time clients always had a job, had never been unemployed, but now they've been unemployed for one or two years. They're a little embarrassed to have to ask for food," she said.
Some clients are "desperate," she said.
Half of the households surveyed "have had to choose between buying food and paying for housing, (and) nearly one third had to choose between buying food and paying for medicine or medical care," the release said.
Entire families are a major at-risk group as well. Crocker said in the release that 44 percent of Second Harvest's clients come from families with members younger than 18, nearly a third of which have children under 5, she said.
The hunger crisis is "definitely impacting families across the board," Crocker said.
| Comments |
Posted by Judith, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Feb 8, 2010 at 11:43 am What can we do to help? |
Posted by Misha, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Feb 8, 2010 at 11:59 am Yes, what can we do to help? Please list places to donate food, money, and time. |
Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Feb 8, 2010 at 1:17 pm I give to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties: Web Link |
Posted by Jim, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Feb 8, 2010 at 1:53 pm If you want to help locally, you can donate food, money, clothing, household essentials and time to the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP) in East Palo Alto. EHP is one of the oldest non-profits in East Palo Alto and it is located at 2411 Pulgas Avenue in East Palo Alto (phone number is 650-323-7781 and website is Web Link). EHP works with the Second Harvest Food Bank and is one of the organizations that distributes the food to the families in need. |
Posted by DD, a resident of Mountain View, on Feb 9, 2010 at 9:04 pm Community Services Agency in Mtn. View is a very effective organization. |
Posted by Norm, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Feb 10, 2010 at 2:15 pm All Saints Church on Waverley at Hamilton has had the Downtown Food Closet for decades to help feed those at risk of not having enough - be they housed, unhoused, young, or chronolgically excelled. They are open 10AM-3:30PM Monday thru Friday. It is on the Hamilton side of the church and would love bags - with or without groceries - checks or time. |
Posted by random thoughts, a resident of the Greendell/Walnut Grove neighborhood, on Feb 11, 2010 at 5:23 am How can there be a simultaneous "at risk" factor of 25% of our population for hunger..with a bursting obesity problem? And why are the kids who are most obese also in the most "at risk" category? Something doesn't add up right. As an immigrant coming to America from India said on TV a few years ago "I want to go to where the poor people are fat". Not trying to be unsympathetic or mean, and of course this comment has nothing to do with the great urge we Americans always have to help..just trying to sort it all out. What the heck does "at risk" for hunger mean? With so many food stamps left unclaimed every year, why is this? Anyway, just random thoughts connecting the dots. |
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