| Hear what the Walk Against Hunger means to people in Greater Philadelphia.
 Listen to Patience Jacobs of Crusaders for Christ Feeding Ministry (1.1MB, 2:26)
Listen to Derek Felton, Community Organizer for the Coalition Against Hunger (1.3MB, 2:52)
In December 2007, this nonpartisan organization released the results of it annual survey. Philadelphia was one of twenty-three cities reporting. Their findings below reveal that there is still much to be done to make sure our neighbors are nourished*:
- Requests for emergency food assistance increased in 80 percent of the survey cities, with an average increase of 12 percent.
- The major causes of hunger in survey cities are poverty, unemployment and high housing costs. The hunger crisis is exacerbated by the recent spike in foreclosures, the increased cost of living, and increased cost of food.
- In the survey cities, 17 percent of all people in need of food assistance and 15 percent of households with children are not receiving it.
And how do food cupboards and soup kitchens respond in times of growing need? From early September to early November 2007, the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger conducted a survey of 198 community feeding programs and found that:
- Fifty-eight (58%) responded that they "generally did not have enough food to distribute to meet their current demand." This increased from forty-two percent (42%) last year.
- Seventy-eight (78%) said that they had more people coming to their feeding program in the past year compared to the year before. Reasons cited for this increase ranged from "people have to make the choice between food and medicine" to "incomes aren't increasing, but costs are."
- Sixty-six percent (66%) said that they had to reduce the amount of food distributed to each person and thirty-seven (37%) hadd to turn people away because their feeding program lacked enough resources (money, food, equipment, volunteers, etc.)
- Unfortunately, only 2% of community feeding programs expected to see a decrease in clients coming to them for food in 2008. Eighty-four percent (84%) responded that they anticipated that the demand for food from their feeding program would stay about the same as in 2007. Additionally, eighty-one percent (81%) responded that they expect the demand for food from their feeding program by families with children will increase.
How can you, as a concerned individual, make a difference in the lives of these struggling families and the community feeding programs dedicated to feeding them? The Walk Against Hunger offers a place to start-a step in the right direction.
Walking or contributing in support of the Walk Against Hunger demonstrates your commitment to being part of the solution. The funds you raise or contribute will be used to help fight hunger-through the hot meals served in soup kitchens, the bags of food distributed at food cupboards, and the anti-hunger policy work that takes advocates to Harrisburg and Washington, DC.
Participate in the Walk Against Hunger, and convince your friends, family members, co-workers, co-congregants, and fellow students to join you in this worthy endeavor. You can make a difference-on April 12, 2008 and all the other days on which you set your heart and mind to the challenge. Let your soles take you on the road toward justice. *U.S. Conference of Mayors-Sodexho Hunger and Homelessness Survey 2007.
Call us at 215-430-0555 or email us at info@hungercoalition.org
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