As More Go Hungry, The Neediest Cases Offers Help

The following items have been excerpted from the above named New York Times article written by Kari Haskell, published on January 9. 2010.

"A growing number of families in the United States are having trouble putting food on the table. According to federal data, in 2009, 49 million people lacked consistent access to adequate nutrition, an increase of 13 million from 2008. Short of cash, parents are forced to make difficult decisions. To make their money stretch farther, they may buy cheaper, less nutritious foods, cut back on meals or skip meals altogether so another member of the family can eat instead. More people are relying on food stamps, but they do not always cover a family's needs. This year, safety nets like food pantries and soup kitchens have had less resources and have faced increasing demand. Below, the seven agencies supported by the New York Times Neediest Cases Fund discuss how the fund helped families not go hungry."

"The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York

Now, more than ever, Catholic Charities feeds not the abstract "hungry," but rather a child with a grumbling stomach, a senior too frail to cook, and a family whose breadwinner is out of work. The number of New Yorkers forced to turn to our vast network of neighborhood-based soup kitchens and food pantries rose by 20 percent in the past year, hitting children, struggling families and seniors the hardest. Last year’s helpers now need help.

Thanks to essential support from the New York Times Neediest Cases Fund, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York not only provides needy families with a meal but also performs screenings to help families qualify for food stamps and meet ongoing food needs.

With joblessness soaring, children, seniors, and struggling families find help and hope here at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. Not merely the help of food, but also the hope of a better future is part of the compassion and dignity that each person receives at Catholic Charities.

Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York"

Read the full article on NYTimes.com

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