FOOD, SHELTER, HOPE

Message from State Senator Liz Krueger . . .

Every year, starting around Thanksgiving going through New Year's Day, many of us re-visit the age old questions of thinking about how things have gone during the last year.  Have we accomplished our personal goals? Where are we compared to a year ago? What are we thankful for? What will be our resolutions for the New Year? And what is our shared responsibility for improving our community and the lives of others? 

There are plenty of different ways to answer.  I am reminded of why I got involved in public service work nearly 30 years ago.  Much of my career has been invested in efforts to alleviate hunger, through my work with Food Banks and other fine anti-poverty organizations.  Unfortunately, 30 years later, our public policy failures combined with a serious economic downturn has resulted in a growing hunger crisis here in our City and throughout our Country.  The Food Bank for NYC ( www.foodbanknyc.org ), an organization I am proud to have helped found back in 1983, explains the current NYC reality this way:

"Hunger is caused by food poverty, or a lack of geographic and financial access to nutritious food. In New York City, one of the richest cities in the world, food poverty is around every corner. Throughout the five boroughs, approximately 1.4 million people -- mainly women, children, seniors, the working poor and people with disabilities -- rely on soup kitchens and food pantries. Approximately 3.3 million New Yorkers experience difficulty affording food for themselves and their families, an increase of 60 percent since 2003.

 

Financial pressures such as unemployment, health issues, health insurance issues and low wages continue to strain the budgets New Yorkers with low to moderate incomes. Low-income New Yorkers often have to choose between providing enough food for themselves or their families and paying the month's rent or utility bills. Middle-income New Yorkers are also feeling the pressure, reporting increasingly difficulty affording groceries. With food prices steadily rising, struggling New Yorkers' ability to buy food for themselves and their families is at a crisis level.

 

To make matters worse, more than 3 million New Yorkers live in low-income neighborhoods that lack access to affordable, nutritious food. With their budgets already strained, and the prevalence of low-cost, low-quality food in these neighborhoods, these residents face significant challenges in leading a healthy lifestyle -- leading to high concentrations of diet-related conditions such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension."

 

There are many wonderful charitable organizations throughout our great City, and I don't mean to tell you which are the most deserving of assistance.  But, I do hope that during this end of year season of reflection, that if you are able to help others, you will think about how to help neighbors most in need of the basic necessities of life:  food, shelter and hope for the future.

Happy Holidays to you and your family!