Monday, February 8, 2010

Our Horn of Plenty

Feeding America, formerly America's Second Harvest, conducted their fifth study of hunger in America. Results from this study confirm that more and more Americans are seeking emergency food assistance.

Some of the disturbing statistics they compiled:
  • There is a 64 percent increase in the number of households with seniors facing very low food security—or hunger.
  • More than one-third of client households reported having to choose between food and other basic necessities, such as rent, utilities and medical care.
  • The number of children the Feeding America network serves has increased by 50 percent since 2006.
We are STILL one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It is up to US to feed the U. S. because "The curse of poverty has no justification in our age" (MLK, 1967).


Here is a link to the key findings of the Hunger 2010 report: Hunger 2010 Report: Key Findings

[The caption is from the Bill "Whitey" Sanders cartoon exhibit called 'Hunger in America' - courtesy of Western Kentucky University Library.]

Welcome to March on Poverty

The Inter-Faith Council (IFC) believes that now is the time to stop poverty in its tracks. Many in our community are struggling to hang on; and many need the inspiration of our community leaders to do something about poverty's influence and prominence. We need everyone who cares about reducing poverty's hold over increasing numbers of Carrboro and Chapel Hill households and unsheltered persons. Our new March On Poverty blog summons you to our call and the original call of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the countless among us who have followed in his footsteps. You ask, "how long will this take?" Dr. King said "Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Poverty is the primary cause of homelessness and hunger, two community challenges IFC volunteers and staff cross swords with daily. A lack of an adequate response by state, federal and local governments enable and procrastinate these conditions. We seek to create a just community, one that is committed to overcoming social problems by a greater commitment to the common good. We hope our blog will bring you more in touch with these issues. We hope you will come to know the facts about IFC future plans, new program models and new facilities commonly called Community House and FoodFirst. We hope you will join us.

Stay tuned! Stay in touch! March On!

Chris Moran, Executive Director

View the Community House Mission & Vision

View the FoodFirst Mission & Vision