Hunger Is Not a Disease

November, 2014

GNP45

“Say goodbye to the landlord for me;

Sons of bitches always bored me.” – Guy Clark

Yet another round of food stamp cuts went into effect just a year ago this month.  This national event with far reaching repercussions didn’t negatively affect everyone.  After all, a person not receiving SNAP card funds wasn’t even affected unless s/he was politically conservative.  In that case, November 5, 2013 was a glorious day.

FOR THOSE RECEIVING SNAP CARD FUNDS, THE IMPACT WAS SERIOUS.

Diane, a pantry shopper has been a widow now for a little over 2 years.  She depends totally on her low social security check.  Her SNAP card allotment was reduced to $45.  This $45 is her total food budget.  After Diane pays her rent and utilities, she has no $$$ left for food.  All the food she eats comes from the SNAP card and a pantry.  She purchases her clothes at the Family of Woodstock free store.

Diane’s old car recently needed repairs and she tried to borrow the needed $$$.  That never happened so she wisely gave up and moved to Saugerties to be on a bus line.  Honestly, I don’t know how she managed to pull off a move.  They are very expensive endeavors.

FOR PANTRY VOLUNTEERS, THE NOVEMBER 5TH CUTS BROUGHT DREAD.    We know  reducing SNAP card benefits isn’t the answer.   When people shop for groceries with SNAP funds, they not only offer nourishment to themselves and their families, they bring much needed outside $$$ to the area, which is often depressed.

Many people have financial problems today which they are never going to overcome without a serious change in our country’s attitude toward poverty.  People have no $$$ for food because of:

lack of viable employment

high housing costs

high medical costs

Pantry shoppers lack resources to get beyond a chronic condition of lack in their lives.  A few people today are rich at the expense of the poor.  According to Couleecap, the richest 1% increased their share of total income by 10%, while, on average, the remaining 99% saw their piece of the pie shrink by 1-2%.

As food benefits were gutted on that fateful day in November, pantry volunteers had valid concerns:

THEY FEARED A NEW WAVE OF OVERWHELMINGLY LONG LINES OF HUNGRY PEOPLE.

They feared we would all run out of food for the people and be unable to get enough  to feed the ever increasing number.

There was a realization that few understand:   it’s been a long time since we really were emergency food providers.

MANY FEARS BECAME REALITY.  Pantry shopping has definitely become more popular.   Every week Prasida and Francine bring back more and more food and every bit of it is distributed.  Sean Bigler records our weekly journey on a chart on the Reservoir Food Pantry Facebook page and on our website.

The Food Banks of Northeastern New York and the Hudson Valley mustered forces to provide enough food every week.  They send trucks to farms, grocers, food manufacturers and bring food back for pantries to take to their shoppers.  If the hungry can make it to a pantry, they are fed.

POOR AND STRUGGLING PEOPLE HAVE SLIPPED YET ANOTHER NOTCH AWAY FROM THE RICH.   I am convinced, every time I open the pantry doors, that there are now 2 Americas:  the haves and the have nots.

We recently received a request for statistics:

How many have we turned away?

How long is our waiting list?

THE QUESTIONS WERE ENDLESS, IT SEEMED.   Well, we don’t have those statistics in the Reservoir Food Pantry because we feed the people.  The weekly trip to Latham continues rain,  shine or snow.  The monthly food drives at the Kingston Walmart are important for pantry volunteers.

Most weeks we run out of food about the same time we run out of people so we don’t turn anyone away.  We offer a heartfelt “thank you” to everyone who donates food to food banks and food pantries.

At the pantry’s close last Monday, there were 4 carrots left over in a small box, and another small box 1/2 filled with green beans.

We cannot do our job week after week without the continued support of:

Migliorelli Farm,

Ulster Corp gleaners,

Shandaken Community Gardens,

Kingston Walmart,

Boiceville IGA.

Father Nicholas at Holy Ascension Monastery shares donated yogurt with our pantry.

Pieta Williams brings items of dignity.

Lisa Library sends new books for the children.

Beecher Smith and John Parete at Boiceville Inn are the reason we have a pantry with shelves now.

LAST MONTH WE SERVED 856 PEOPLE.  In September the number was 834.   We expect November’s number to be higher.  It has never gone down yet.  Why should the trend be different this month?

THE ACTUAL NUMBER DOESN’T MATTER.   We don’t plan to turn anyone away.

Thank you for reading this blog/book.

Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.

Please send a comment.

Don’t forget to sign up on the email list.

Peace and food for all.

Thurman Greco