Wednesday, February 14, 2018

FOOD IS A NECESSITY, NOT A LUXURY

By ROBERT EICHNER

According to FeedingAmerica.org, a non-profit organization lifting American citizens out of poverty, “41 million Americans struggle to feed themselves and their families” each year.  It is no coincidence that this statistic is almost equal to the 40.6 million Americans living below the poverty line with just over $9,000 in annual income. 

Poverty and hunger go hand in hand, and are often a direct result of several other issues that make access to food quite challenging.  Demographics, unemployment, and physical disabilities can make acquiring nutritional food an unimaginable luxury for so many.  Perhaps the most devastating notion is the fact that ⅓ of the 41 million Americans in poverty are children.  This epidemic is often swept under the rug resulting in rising statistics; something must be done.

ROBERT EICHNER FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY
Here in Washingtonville, St. Mary’s Church, in conjunction with the community,  has taken up the task of  helping to provide food and other necessities to the less fortunate in our area.  The Country Kids Food Pantry is a nationwide organization coming to communities like ours and setting up food pantries for anyone in need of nutritional assistance.  John Flores and his team of volunteers and church members help feed over 125 families.  This is an impressive average of 400-600 people every month.  They provide canned assistance instead of financial assistance to take starvation at its source.

The food pantry provides its services every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month and is open for 6-8 hours each day in order to serve as many people as possible.  Volunteer, Matt Nieves, describes the experience as “an opportunity to give back to the community in one of the most genuine and personal ways possible: nutrition.  The gift to continue life is endless and will never be forgotten.”

Volunteering is not the only way to help continue the mission.  Every community member can help by supplying the Country Kids Food Pantry with financial and canned donations or the precious gift of time.  The organization will never turn down volunteers as the hunger epidemic continues to grow.  Food is a necessary part of life and should not become a luxury for any American.

There is hope in sight as unemployment rates have “steadily decreased to 4.9 percent which is extremely low considering 2014’s rate of 6.6 percent,” according to the National State Conference Of The State Legislature.  As for the 4.9 percent who are still unemployed,  “We will continue to help and provide assistance to any that may be in need in our community,” proudly informed Max Kissack, president of the Community Service Club at the high school. The Village of Washingtonville is prepared to fight the war on starvation to make sure not one man, woman, or child in our community goes hungry.

No comments:

Post a Comment