Although hunger had been a steadily worsening problem in America in the 21st century, there was some good statistical news released in late 2006 about last year.
In each of the first five years of the Bush Administration, the number of “hungry” Americans surged, a record-setting run for number of years and total hungry people which hit 38 million in 2004.
But in 2005, the number of hungry people fell, to 35 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture whose 2005 figures were released this winter. However, according to the San Francisco Food Bank, the number of people in California and in Mendocino County stayed the same or showed a slight increase during that time period.
The word hunger was also replaced as a statistical category in the USDA lexicon in 2005.
Instead of hunger, the word became “food insecurity” in all references last year, defining people who do not have the money or resources to get enough food for active, healthy living. The USDA will now use the term “very low food security” to describe people who used to be considered “food insecure with hunger.” The word hunger is now defined by the USDA as the painful sensation caused by a lack of food.
Although the USDA made the move because surveyors don”t ask about the physical symptoms that cause the pain of hunger, the move was attacked by pundits as an effort to correct the language but not the actual problem.
Worldwide, the term “food insecurity” has been replacing hunger among aid groups for many years.
According to the Associated Press, the rate of food insecurity was 11 percent nationwide in 2005; for female-headed households it was 30 percent, for black families it was 22 percent and for Hispanic families it was 18 percent.
Among the states, Hawaii saw the biggest drop in the number of hungry people ? down 5.1 percent from 1998 to 2005.
The food security report is based on Census Bureau data on poverty. Census figures show a quickly widening gap between the people at the top and bottom of the income scale in America, with the working poor now a larger group than ever, farther away than ever from the 20 percent of wealthiest Americans.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors study found that 56 percent of those requesting emergency food assistance were employed, a number that has been increasing while requests from the poorest Americans have been decreasing.
High housing costs, low-paying jobs, unemployment, and economic uncertainty led the list of reasons contributing to the rise in the working poor numbers.
In Mendocino and Lake counties, University of California Los Angeles figures have shown about 50,000 hungry or “food insecure” people every year. The two counties are lumped into a “region,” meaning the numbers represent both county populations, which are 88,000 and 58,000 respectively. Lake County has the highest percentage of families receiving assistance in the state.
However, other reports show that more than half of the $4.8 million available in federal food stamp assistance is going unused in the two counties. The UCLA study wasn”t done for 2005, but is planned for 2006, with release in April.
2006 has been a tougher year for Mendocino Coast residents than 2005, judging by the 17 percent rise in the number of people needing the services of the Fort Bragg Food Bank, according to Director Nancy Severy.
Season of Sharing”
Since 1995, the Advocate-News and The Mendocino Beacon have sponsored “Season of Sharing,” an annual community fund-raiser for the Food Bank. Proceeds of the holiday drive, which runs from Thanksgiving until the end of January, help fund the Food Bank”s services all year long.
Once again this year, the Community Foundation of Mendocino County is administering the fund-raiser free of charge, enabling 100 percent of your tax deductible donations to directly benefit the Food Bank.
Checks should be addressed to the Community Foundation of Mendocino County (CFMC), and mailed to Advocate-News, P.O. Box 1188, Fort Bragg, 95437. Donations can also be dropped by the newspaper office, located at 450 N. Franklin St.
The newspapers provide weekly updates on the total dollars raised, with the names of contributing individuals and businesses, unless they wish to remain anonymous.
This week”s update
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Season of Sharing fund drive had raised $8,584.
Here”s the list of the week”s contributions: Nancy Murouv and Julie Starobin, Mary and Howard Makela, Roslyn and Bruce Moore, Jane Lamb, one in memory of Jean Lee, one in the name of Elaine and Carl Moore, and two anonymous donations.
Collection barrels
Collection barrels can be found at Safeway, Harvest Market, Purity, the Savings Bank, Fort Bragg Post Office and Curves.
Walk-in food donations can be taken directly to the Food Bank warehouse at 910 N. Franklin St. during regular business hours.
The Food Bank office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It is closed on Tuesday. For information, call 964-9404.
