America's Second Harvest

Have you bought bread lately?  Because my wife does all of our grocery shopping, I have always been somewhat oblivious to the trends in food prices.   It's becoming difficult to remain in the bliss of ignorance as the unprecedented inflation in the food sector is now in the headlines almost daily.  Not only are food prices at an all-time high.  But in some places around the country stores are actually beginning to ration basic staples.  It seems unthinkable that food rationing is beginning to happen in the "Breadbasket of the World."

I make a pretty good income for a household of two, and we're feeling the pinch.  I can't imagine trying to balance a household budget when the income places that family near or below the poverty line.  But that's where organizations like America's Second Harvest come in.

I spent a couple of hours yesterday touring the Second Harvest Food bank here in Columbus, GA and learning about their organization.  I was shocked to learn that, through their food distribution program, they are attempting to meet the basic food needs of just over 1 million impoverished people in the counties that they serve.  In just the two counties where I live and work there are over 44,000 persons in poverty.  Of these, Second Harvest is able to provide supplemental food to about 3,800 families and 9,187 individuals each month.

They also operate a program called, "Kid's Cafe," which provides cooked meals to various sites around the city where children gather after school Monday through Thursday.  Each day about 470 children show up at the sites for a hot meal.  In 2007 approximately 94,000 meals were served. 

The economy isn't going to get better any time soon.  In fact, many are suggesting that the worst days of our food and fuel crisis are still ahead.  Food services such as Second Harvest, who meet the needs of so many people, are struggling as well with a decline in private contributions and the near disappearance of surplus contributions from food producers due to "on-time" manufacturing.

If you're looking for a way to "do good," please consider contributing to America's Second Harvest.

This afternoon I'll be spending a couple of hours visiting our local chapter of Girls, Inc.  I'll share my experience with you a post tomorrow.