US families rely on handouts in world's richest country

[babylonsister]

US families rely on handouts in world's richest country

Working parents feed their children in soup kitchens as cost of living soars
Chris McGreal in Gassaway, West Virginia
The Guardian, Friday 1 May 2009


Food bank employees in Gassaway, West Virginia. Photograph: Kevin Lorenzi/Rapport


Each Friday, teachers in elementary schools in a corner of the richest country in the world quietly slip packs of peanut butter, fruit and granola bars into some pupils' bags - enough food to get them through the weekend before school dinners resume on Monday.

Not a word is said to the pupils or their parents because, even as the number of families in West Virginia dependent on food handouts continues to rise, many are ashamed to admit to their friends and neighbours that they need help.

"The teachers spot the children they think aren't getting enough to eat at home, those from families they know are having difficulties," said Carla Nardella, who heads the state's main food bank which distributes free boxes of groceries and supplies soup kitchens in West Virginia.

"These are proud people, so the teachers do it discreetly. We call them backpack snack packs, and started distributing them this year to give extra food to children because the situation is getting more difficult.

"We've begun with 400 children. It's our hope that one day there will be a programme like this in every school in West Virginia, because there are children in every school who need help. It's so hard seeing children go hungry."

It is not just the children. One in six of West Virginia's 1.8 million people receive government food stamps - one of the highest rates in the country - and the total is rising by the week.

more...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/01/recession-food-handouts-america-virginia

[mmonk]

1. I thought this was about Dubai.

We spend all our money on the MIC and corporate give aways.

[sasquatch]

2. Thank you Boomers

:eyes:

[babylonsister]

4. You're blaming this solely on Boomers? Please.

You have quite a broad brush there.

[Turbineguy]

11. Somebody should be attacking

the teachers. SCOLIASTS!!!

[Hannah Bell]

5. excuse me, "boomers" aren't the responsible parties. but the responsible parties are very happy to

have folks attack "boomers," "mexicans," "white people," "young people," "black people," "men," "women," "christians," "muslims," "jews," ad infinitum....

for the system that they create, control, & benefit from.

don't be a dupe or shill. divide & conquer is always part of the program.

[SoCalDem]

7. Reagan was not a boomer.. this is the ultimate end of HIS "plan"

carried out by "hangovers" from his administration..

Boomers are/were just the foot-soldiers, trudging through life...to jobs with no pensions, explod-o-401ks, unaffordable college for their kids, unaffordable health care, while caring for their own aged relatives , their grown kids and grandkids..

Hang in there, young'uns, we'll be gone soon enough, and then y'all can make your own way without us "dragging you down"..of course there will be no "Mom & Dad's place" to crash at when you are down on your luck..no Mom to "watch the kids" because daycare's too pricey, or no more Nat'l Bank of Mom to loan you the money for a down payment, or to make a car payment for you..

[Joanne98]

6. Don't blame us . "We dirty fucking hippies were right!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKEZoY-TMG4

[valerief]

9. I think you mean "the greatest generation." Boomers are suffering because of them. nt

[sandnsea]

10. Joe the Plumber is 48

That generation grew up on Reagonomics, who sure as hell wasn't a Boomer.

[Joe the Liberal]

3. But, but......but....America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth!.....

Isn't it?


What makes this country so great again? You can be the richest country in the world but if all that wealth is kept at the top by only a handful of people then it's not all that great.

[sandnsea]

8. Bear Share Snack Packs

This is what Michelle Obama organized in DC, with the 150 Congressional spouses. I wrote about it because it followed an event just south of me, where high school senior boys raised $10,000 which will allow the program to be expanded into another area elementary school next year.

http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=218