Bread for the World......
This week was our monthly “Bread for the World” lunch in the basement of the meetinghouse. On the last Wednesday of each month a small group of people meet together to eat lunch and write a letter to one of our congressional representatives or senators concerning hunger issues. Last month we asked our legislators to cosponsor the Hunger-Free Communities Act. This bill urges our government to commit to cutting US hunger in half by 2010 and to oppose cuts to the Food Stamp Program and other national nutrition programs. So far it has attracted 25 senate cosponsors including Senator Lugar and Bayh, and 98 cosponsors in the house, excluding Rep. Mike Pence.
Hurricane Katrina highlights the problem of hunger in our nation. I’ve heard reports that nearly a quarter of New Orleans population lives below the poverty line. Many had no resources to remove themselves from harms way or to prepare for any type of disaster. Before the storm they experienced food insecurity, today their situation is critical. Whatever assets they had in their lives are gone. We helplessly stand and watch the displaced and homeless and those in desperately need of food and water suffer. And there is little we can to today but give financially to aid organizations and mourn the pain our brothers and sisters are experiencing.
The crisis this week highlights the plight of all those across our nation who live with food insecurity and low wages. While they may not suffer like those in New Orleans, Gulfport, Biloxi or Mobile this week, life will become more difficult for many because of this crisis. We complain helplessly about how fast gasoline prices increased and yet for many of us it really doesn’t alter our lifestyle. We are still able to go where we need to go, to drive work each day, and to fill our gas tank no matter what the total cost. It hurts, but it does not stop us from living our normal lives.
An August 31, 2005 AP article headline read “More Indiana residents are living below the poverty line”. The number of Indiana residents living in poverty increased 14% from 2003 to 2004. For those, these gas prices will do damage. Many people will have to make a choice between spending money for food or gas to go to work or to look for jobs. The food pantry in our community will be strained and stretched. After a summer of record use and at times empty shelves, this is not good news. We will do what we can to share our food with the food pantry, but we also need to ask our government to do all it can. We must ask our government to pass a budget that will reflect our country’s moral commitment to help hardworking people who are struggling to feed their families. Please write to Rep. Pence to encourage him to do what is right and to cosponsor the Hunger-Free Communities Act.
A hunger-free Randolph County would be a good thing.
Hurricane Katrina highlights the problem of hunger in our nation. I’ve heard reports that nearly a quarter of New Orleans population lives below the poverty line. Many had no resources to remove themselves from harms way or to prepare for any type of disaster. Before the storm they experienced food insecurity, today their situation is critical. Whatever assets they had in their lives are gone. We helplessly stand and watch the displaced and homeless and those in desperately need of food and water suffer. And there is little we can to today but give financially to aid organizations and mourn the pain our brothers and sisters are experiencing.
The crisis this week highlights the plight of all those across our nation who live with food insecurity and low wages. While they may not suffer like those in New Orleans, Gulfport, Biloxi or Mobile this week, life will become more difficult for many because of this crisis. We complain helplessly about how fast gasoline prices increased and yet for many of us it really doesn’t alter our lifestyle. We are still able to go where we need to go, to drive work each day, and to fill our gas tank no matter what the total cost. It hurts, but it does not stop us from living our normal lives.
An August 31, 2005 AP article headline read “More Indiana residents are living below the poverty line”. The number of Indiana residents living in poverty increased 14% from 2003 to 2004. For those, these gas prices will do damage. Many people will have to make a choice between spending money for food or gas to go to work or to look for jobs. The food pantry in our community will be strained and stretched. After a summer of record use and at times empty shelves, this is not good news. We will do what we can to share our food with the food pantry, but we also need to ask our government to do all it can. We must ask our government to pass a budget that will reflect our country’s moral commitment to help hardworking people who are struggling to feed their families. Please write to Rep. Pence to encourage him to do what is right and to cosponsor the Hunger-Free Communities Act.
A hunger-free Randolph County would be a good thing.
posted by Pam at 10:10:00 PM
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