Rising gas, food prices leave charities going hungry

[Bluebear]

Even in not-so-nice weather, Lequita Johnson still has a job to do. “It’s wonderful job. I get out here in rain, sleet, stormy weather. I feed my clients and make sure they are taken care of.”

Johnson delivers about 70 meals a day for Meals on Wheels even though soaring gas prices are driving up costs everywhere. “It’s a bother that the gas prices are up, but hey I have job to do and somebody’s got to feed them.” Interfaith Ministries runs the Meals on Wheels program Johnson works with.

Officials say the rising cost of fuel has forced them to be more strategic about how their money is spent. For now, instead of expanding programs like adding more to the delivery lists, managers are setting money aside just in case prices continue to increase.

From gas prices to food prices, everything is going up.

At the Houston Food Bank, officials say they are already feeling the crunch. Brian Green is the Houston Food Bank president. “These costs have made it more difficult for us to acquire food.”

So far this year at the food bank, food donations from the federal government are down more 2.5 million pounds. “We’re trying to gear up more,” says Green. “The one of the things we need is more volunteers, a lot of the product we can get donated requires extra work.”

http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou080310_jj_charitiesdown.40048189.html

[Skittles]

1. it will be awful, PT

I myself am not in dire straights but I find that by having to help out friends and neighbors who are, it cuts into the amount I would donate to charity

[Bluebear]

2. Hell, how many people who donate to charity will NEED charity themselves soon?

People up in the northeast are deciding between heating oil and medicine already. Working people who are putting $70, 80, 90 into their gas tanks every week.

[Skittles]

3. $4 gas won't help

I'm sure bush and cheny are right on it :puke:

[Dave_Fl_50]

4. Maybe the clown who was looking forward to an economic collapse will read this along

with those who are so gleeful to see collapse as confirmation of Bush's failure. The most vulnerable will be hit by this, not the wealthy

[greyghost]

5. What was it Bush said?

Mission accomplished! Yeah that was it.

All those yuppie Rethugs who voted for him are going to be out of a job as well. That's the bright side.

The down side is, those of us who knew better will have to suffer through it too.