Food Emergencies In NYC Rise

In the distressing news pile today, a new study was released revealing that people are still going hungry in NYC in increased numbers. According to a report by the NYC Coalition Against Hunger (PDF), the number of people seeking emergency food services has risen nearly 21 percent from last year. While the survey finds "fewer agencies ran out of food than the year before," thanks to federal stimulus money, some food pantries are struggling to meet the growing need.

Rev. Paul Block, a pastor who works at the Bronx's Transfiguration Food Pantry, says, "In our neighborhood, there is an insatiable demand for food. Food insecurity is a significant problem. Even though we have increased tremendously the amount of people we serve, there continues to be people who are turned away." And last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture noted that hunger in the nation was at a 14-year high, with 49 million Americans in households lacking "consistent access to adequate food."

This seems like an appropriate moment to reflect on a different study released earlier this month by NYCCAH which found that the 56 richest people in New York had 27 times the money of the 1.5 million people living below the poverty line. More food for thought.

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By Ben Yakas in News on November 23, 2009 2:52 PM

Comments [rss]

Shinobi Shaw

I am assuming that the people who are growing hungry is the increasing homeless people in the city, because even the poorest of the poor in the city can afford food.

So I call shenanigans on that.

unklemike

No, I'm pretty sure the "poorest of the poor" can't afford food.

Or maybe they could, but then they couldn't afford housing, or electricity, or heat, or clothing...

5borough

Commies.

How many people are suffering from hunger? I don't see too many skinnies on those lines when they show them. How you can go hungry with WIC, Food Stamps, free pantries and soup kitchens is beyond me.

ides_of_march

"..the 56 richest people in New York had 27 times the money of the 1.5 million people living below the poverty line"

File this one under "duh". I didn't realize the colleges were giving away degrees in "the fucking obvious"

I'll believe there's a food crisis when I don't see so many fatsos waddling around the poor neighborhoods.

WesleySnipesAlot

Many of the "poor neighborhoods" do not have adequate supermarkets (or food markets at all aside from bodegas and Duane Reades) so the most affordable food is the calorie high, nutrition low crap that they sell at bodegas and Duane Reades. Hence, the poor's only source of food makes them fat... while 100 years ago, the poor were gaunt and thin. Funny how modernity works, huh?

ides_of_march

Thank Al Sharpton for that. He was the one giving the Korean fruit and veggie store owners shit when one dared to stop a black woman from shoplifting. Who in their right mind would open up a business in a neighborhood where shoplifting, armed robbery and racial demagoguery make it such a miserable and unprofitable experience?