Schizo America

Americans are getting food from Charity at a STAGGERING rate

Nearly 900,000 people in Arizona sought emergency food from charities within the past year, according to a national study released Tuesday by Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.

The study shows more than 37 million Americans — one in eight — receive emergency food each year through the nation’s network of food banks and the agencies they serve.

The findings by the Chicago-based group represent a staggering 46 percent increase since its previous study, conducted in 2006.

“Clearly, the economic recession, resulting in dramatically increasing unemployment nationwide, has driven unprecedented sharp increases in the need for emergency food assistance and enrollment in federal nutrition programs,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America.

The study shows St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance served more than 477,000 of those needing help, providing the bulk of charitable emergency food service in the Valley and throughout Arizona.

St. Mary’s helped gather local information in support of Hunger in America 2010. Among its findings:

• More than 40 percent of the households receiving emergency food assistance include at least one person who is working.

• More than 50 percent reported having to choose between buying food and paying their rent or mortgage.

• More than one-quarter reported having to choose between buying food and paying for medicine or medical care.

• More than 80 percent are U.S. citizens.

• Nearly a quarter are college-educated.

• Nearly 80 percent did not receive any form of government cash assistance, or welfare.

“This survey truly puts a human face on the issue of hunger in our community,” said Terry Shannon, president and CEO of St. Mary’s Food Bank. “We have always said that our work can only be done when neighbors help their neighbors. This shows how true that is. Hunger is an issue in every area, every city, every neighborhood the state.”

The 2010 study includes data collected from February through June 2009. Through participating food banks across the nation, Feeding America collected quantitative and qualitative feedback via 61,000 face-to-face interviews with people seeking emergency food assistance and more than 37,000 agency surveys, making this study the largest, most comprehensive ever conducted on domestic hunger.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in November that an estimated 49 million people, including 17 million children, are at risk of hunger in this country.

More than 50% had to choose between FOOD and HOUSING COSTS?

Something is fundamentally wrong with the corporate running of America…  We’ve been sold the myth of ‘you can create wealth here’, but the wealth is going to the banking industry while Americans are hungry.

Remember, this guy is up for $100 million in bonus money!