Feed the Children, a Oklahoma-based non-profit with a distribution center in New Jersey, and provides food and other necessities to needy children, held an event at Forest Park in Woodhaven last Wednesday, providing needy families with food, toiletries and other necessities.
Senator Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), who sponsored the event, said that the lingering effects of the recession has families struggling to put food on the table.
“Food pantries across my district have informed me that the increasing number of individuals they feed is now more diverse than ever before,” Addabbo said. “Working people, seniors, veterans, those who had taken pay cuts, lost their jobs, or could only
find part-time work, are coming to food pantries.”
According to Addabbo’s office, the southeast Queens district, represented by Congressman Gregory Meeks, reported a hunger rate of 27.5 percent, while Congressman Joe Crowley’s district, which includes Maspeth and Astoria, followed with 25 percent. Overall in Queens, 89.4 percent of agencies experienced an increased demand for food compared to last year. According to the Food Research Action Center, New York ranks fourth in the nation for hungriest city.
Poverty rates are on the rise in New York as well. The U.S Census Bureau announced on Sunday that 16 percent of New Yorkers are living in poverty. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services set the 2011 poverty level as $22,350(total yearly income) for a family of four.
Nationally, the poverty rate is the highest it has been since 1983, while the U.S household income dropped by an average of two percent last year. Forty-six million Americans are living in poverty.
At the event, families with vouchers, that were distributed by Feed the Children, received a 25-pound box of food, 10-pound box of personal care items and a box of AVON products, which co-sponsored the event. The items are enough to help a family for up to one week.
