Without Food There is Little Hope
by Chris Moran, IFC Executive Director

We all know, at least theoretically, what hunger is—discomfort and downright pain caused by lack of food. "Fighting Hunger in North Carolina," a website using research information from a UNC-G study, also defines hunger as "a recurrent and involuntary lack of access to food." Because of the weak economy, many of our clients are regularly hungry in both senses—no food in their stomachs and no money with which to buy it. Those who have lost jobs or had their hours cut back tell us that they are now forced to choose between paying rent and buying groceries, or between medicine and food. Here is a story about one of our clients, whom we will call Kathy.

Kathy, a single mother, has recently retired from a state job and now lives on an income derived from her retirement and social security. Kathy is buying her own home, and she is not eligible for any kind of public assistance or food stamps. However, Kathy’s mortgage payment takes up about 80% of her household income. Moreover, her adult daughter has a severe mental illness and has recently required more of Kathy’s care and financial help. Kathy is working on refinancing her house, and the access to our food pantry has helped her stretch her income until this happens.

The future is dim for Kathy and many of the hungry people we serve. Our Crisis Intervention staff and volunteers know this only too well. More and more, they tell us, the most common request is for food—a dramatic 61% jump over last year. The number of people waiting for meals at the Community Kitchen also appears to be increasing. In the last three months the Kitchen served 20,527 meals. That’s 228 people a day, 76 at each meal. If this trend continues, we estimate that the number of meals served this year will increase by 16%.

Unfortunately, our experience is a microcosm of national trends. "Fighting Hunger in North Carolina" says that food programs across the country assist 23.3 million people every year, and the Wall Street Journal last October reported a national 8.3% increase in food stamp applications. In North Carolina between 1996-1998, 2.6% of all households were reported to suffer from hunger, well above the national average of .43%. This number is probably higher today.

To meet the increased local need for food, IFC is turning much of the office space on West Main Street over to food storage. Kristin Lavergne, Community Services Director, is now recruiting more volunteers specifically to help us prepare for more food donations. Call Kristin at 929-6380, extension 16, to learn about how to provide food donations to IFC and become a volunteer. Also, Ginger Strickland, Kitchen Coordinator, can be contacted at 967-0643, extension 15, if you want to help at the shelter’s food kitchen.

Much praise should go to the Hillel Foundation and University United Methodist Church for the generous steps they are taking to help us in our ongoing struggle to provide all our neighbors with access to food. We are thankful to all the many individuals, organizations, congregations, businesses, and others who assist the IFC in our efforts to eliminate hunger in our community.