Editorial: Growling stomachs

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 3:00 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Growling stomachs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has coined a phrase for a condition more and more families are encountering: "food insecurity." That's what they call it when you don't have enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle. The portion of the population struggling with food insecurity has increased from 11.1 percent in 2007 to 14.6 percent in 2008, according to a new USDA report. When 2009 numbers come in, they will show more of the same.

The Great Recession is taking its toll. The number of families receiving today's equivalent of food stamps is 8,219 in Rowan County, compared to 6,852 last year, according to the Department of Social Services. Many of these people have never asked for help before, and they feel their stomachs growling with "food insecurity" for the first time. Count yourself among the fortunate if buying groceries is not a problem — and find a way to help someone who has not been so lucky.

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