Cathedral Kitchen
Providing
essential life services to those in need.
Cathedral KitchenProviding
essential life services to those in need.
| It is hard to believe that hunger could exist in our nation of plenty, but the fact is that according to US Department of Agriculture statistics, fully 11% of families in the United States cannot afford to feed their families every month; and with the recent downturn in the economy that figure may be even higher. In Camden over one-third (38%) of the population lives below the federal government’s “poverty” guidelines: their yearly income is less than $20,650 for a family of four and $10,210 for an individual. Ironically, New Jersey has a median income of over $60,000 and is ranked as the richest state in the country. Paradoxically, often times those who can be classified as “hungry” are also obese. Low income people may consume greater amounts of less expensive, high-calorie and high-fat foods to guard against hunger, or may be unable to afford sufficient amounts of more nutritious food. Cash-strapped families may increasingly rely on fast food chains, which promote "value" meals, such as oversized burgers, extra-large servings of fries and soda. Healthier foods – such as meat, fish, fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains – often are more expensive than alternative junk food, or more difficult to obtain. Poor neighborhoods often lack large grocery stores that typically offer the lowest prices and greatest range of brands, package sizes and quality choices. For more information about hunger in New Jersey and the United States, click on one of the links below: Food Research and Action Center http://www.frac.org/ Food Bank of South Jersey http://www.foodbanksj.org/hunger101.html The Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties http://www.foodbankmoc.org/?page_id=76 New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition http://www.njahc.org/hunger-in-nj.html Feeding America http://feedingamerica.org/default.aspx Share Our Strength http://strength.org/childhood_hunger/hunger_facts US Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navtype=SU&navid=FOOD_NUTRITION |
