Dramatic increases in food and gas prices are leaving some religious hunger-relief groups praying for relief.
Problems were already apparent in 2006, but U.S. churches now report increased difficulty getting meals to people who need them. Food distributors see a perfect storm: a huge jump in requests from new clients, decreased donations, and a thinning food supply.
Hunger activists are experiencing severe challenges in at least two areas — a new farm bill that they say is “inadequate” to meet current needs, and a drop in food supplies for local food pantries and soup kitchens.
The nearly $300 billion farm bill that cleared Congress Thursday (May 15) was deemed only “half a loaf” by the Rev. David Beckmann, president of the ecumenical anti-hunger group Bread for the World.
Now this is a serious matter. People need to keep up their giving of time and money to their favorite charity to offset this.
From Fiddler on the Roof:
Begger: alms, please
Lazar Wolfe: here you go.
Beggar: one kopek? But last week you gave me two kopeks!
Lazar: I’ve had a bad week.
Beggar: Oh, so, because you had a bad week, I should suffer?