Salem-Area Food Share Warehouse Nearly Empty

In each of the last three months, an average of 5,257 families had to rely on a food box to avoid hunger.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Food reserves in the Marion-Polk Food Share warehouse in Salem are at dangerously low levels.

That’s significant, since Food Share supplies the majority of the emergency food supply for each of 73 member charities/programs that work cooperatively to aid the hungry in the two-county region.

“If food stopped coming in today, our warehouse would be empty in five days,” said Executive Director Ron Hays.

“And the shelf-stable items [canned & dried goods that require no refrigeration] we have could be gone in two days. We could use the public’s help right now.”

While food is in short supply, signs of increasing need are up sharply. In each of the last three months, an average of 5,257 families had to rely on a food box to avoid hunger. That’s up from the monthly average of 5,070 families this past year.

And Food Share’s most recent service numbers reveal that 44% of those eating from food boxes in the Salem-Keizer area are children.

During the 12 months ending June 30, 2007, Food Share distributed 4.8 million pounds of food to fight local hunger.

In the average week, over 92,000 pounds of food is loaded on trucks headed for area food pantries and sites where meals are provided to low-income residents.

Lately, charities hard hit by increased requests for emergency food assistance have been seeking extra shipments because they have run out of food.

Responding to these critical needs has tapped a food supply that was already at its lowest point of the year following lean summer months.

People who want to help can mail a contribution or bring donations of non-perishable foods to: Marion-Polk Food Share, 1660 Salem Industrial Dr NE, Salem, OR 97301.

Canned soups, stews, chili, vegetables, fruits, meats, and fish. Also helpful are packaged items such as macaroni and cheese, cereal, peanut butter, or any easy-to-prepare meals in a box or can. Garden produce is great, and provides added nutrition for families in need.

Another way to help is to donate during the annual Realtor’s Food Drive from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday at these stores:

All Salem-Keizer Fred Meyer and Roth’s grocery stores, and at the Roth’s in Stayton.

For more information on how to help, call Marion-Polk Food Share at (503) 581-3855.

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Henry Ruark September 11, 2007 8:20 am (Pacific time)

To all: Given wellknown strong, fine characteristics of Oregonians, what is being done, by whom, and NOW to correct this sad situation ? What's use of solid-fact, well-communicated, to those who CAN ACT --if nothing-new then occurs for some rapid remediation-- rapidly ? Are we ALL so inervated by own ongoing economic and other pressures that we cannot NOW summon small strengths for those who really need our help now ? Where's that vaunted Oregon and American ingenuity and drive to get it done, somehow by someone ? IF you too have ever been in "hungry"-situation you will recognize "intensity" here.

Henry Ruark September 10, 2007 12:33 pm (Pacific time)

Neal: Yrs re many drops and mountain precisely what "Noise Machine" for GOP has done ever since the Reagan era, from whence stemmeth some of those myths you've been imploding. What we-others gotta do is create flood much heavier than drop-volume and direct it on top of "other side" -which ironically has now perverted original foundations of that side in Founder dialogs...

Henry Ruark September 10, 2007 11:01 am (Pacific time)

Neal: This time agree absolutely, unanimously. Meant only facts now prove corporate control, NOT that opposition is missing. Major shake-up coming inevitably, as you point out, and already underway. Will add to yr examples fact of several million protests now building re regidities, unfair demands, obvious intent to damage education for malign political purposes, in NCLB; and heavy shaping response to FCC trend toward assuming the posture for further corporate penetration. You dead on about something possible to be done, every time...which is why I wonder about your "Ah, well..." which seems to me subsumes acquiescance rather than the absolutely-needed revolt. Again, dialog strengthens stand from us both via clarification and further detail. Long live S-N !!

Neal Feldman September 10, 2007 8:38 am (Pacific time)

Henry - no disagreement. I never said my list was all inclusive and I would include your additions of course. As for uncontested I do not think corporate controll is uncontested it has just not been as significantly contested as it needs to be. Get enough people angry about it and congress can be forced to act. Look at how congress, all ready to do the AMNESTY immigration bill changed course due to the anger about it from their constituents. The key is getting involved in large numbers instead of apathetically grousing that there is nothing you can do. There is always something yiou can do. No one is likely to fix things overnight by themself, but over time with each doing a little... there is an old proverb that many drops of water will wear away the mightiest mountain. Same principled. Unfortunately the principle can work both ways for good or ill. It is our duty to make sure it works the right way towards freedom instead of towards tyranny. Ah well...

Henry Ruark September 9, 2007 11:39 am (Pacific time)

Neal et al: Again, we close to agreement. I would add "small government" and "private over public liberties" to yr myth-list. Truth is closer to competent management by government where demanded on both; in 21st Century, with corporate world control uncontested fact, we have no other choice --if we insist on Constitutional principles carefully conceived by Founders, insightful enough to provide even for this mass of confusion --if we wise enough to listen, learn, act.

Neal Feldman September 8, 2007 11:42 pm (Pacific time)

I just love the whole neocon 'welfare queen' myth. Point is not everyone pinches pennies until Lincoln screams for mercy. So what? Ive seen some of the most judgemental gadflies in supermarket checkout lines... grousing about how someone is buyin this or that. I just point out all the name brands in THEIR cart that are the same as half price store brands and ask if I should berate THEM for their wastefulness? Usually shuts them right up. Ah well...

Henry Ruark September 8, 2007 6:42 pm (Pacific time)

To all: Again, it seems to me honest open dialog has taught us all more than a bit about seeking out further clear understandings. I, too, have felt same way strongly in encountering same kind of irresponsibles seeming to forget kids' needs while they pursued "entertainment" for themselves. But that's a problem in its own right, as we seem to have come to agree here. Thanks, all, for straight shooting; can't help but help.

Vic September 8, 2007 6:19 pm (Pacific time)

I agree, Henry, and I apologize to Peter for perhaps misinterpreting your post. I agree with you that many so-called parents can always find money for dope, cigarettes and THEIR needs , and ignore or expect others to help their kids. I have seen people dump their whole paychecks into video poker machines when they had kids at home and were basically living in a state of poverty. I did volunteer work dropping off food baskets and was surprised to see new cars and stse of the art electronics at some of the homes I delivered "emergency " food boxes to. So I see your point, Peter, and I also see that perhaps I read a lot more into your post than intended. My sincere apologies.

Henry Ruark September 8, 2007 1:45 pm (Pacific time)

Vic et al: Agree with your "intensity", Vic; but suggest we give some of these UNthinking "feeling-response" types a bit more chance to cogitate before firing so futilely --and one is tempted to say "foolishly", given world religion emphases on caring for all of us.

Vic September 8, 2007 9:03 am (Pacific time)

So what is your point, Peter?? If the parents smoke, don't feed the kids ? If their TV had anything bigger than a 21" screen, cut em off ? As of today at 8:30 AM, the war for profit has cost us $449,758,998,055. And we arent helping anyone. Maybe your righteous indignation should be applied to this waste of money which dwarfs any food or welfare programs ever thought of, let alone applied. It amazes me how people...many of whom call themselves Christians, get all upset at the thought of spending money on feeding kids (hey, some of those kids might be illegal!!) but ignore the plundering of our treasury and the waste of our servicemen and women. Hypocrites !!

Henry Ruark September 8, 2007 8:13 am (Pacific time)

Peter: Yr Comment proves how well and how deeply much neocon propaganda, spread by much of the media, has penetrated otherwise conscientious and sensitive people. Deep,authoritative, solid documentation disproving such charges exists and will send references to you if you ID-self with Editor.

Peter September 8, 2007 12:02 am (Pacific time)

I wonder how many parents of those hungry kids smoke, drink, use drugs and have big-screen TVs with cable or satelite. It is amazing the they find money for just about everything lse.

Neal Feldman September 7, 2007 7:58 pm (Pacific time)

I find it amazing how if the 'economy is doing so well" as Shrub and Co like to claim there is so much more need for food boxes than ever before. Just more of the rich getting richer and the poor getting screwed. Ah well...

Henry Ruark September 7, 2007 6:26 pm (Pacific time)

To all: What kind of democratic culture do we really have, when we allow Big Tobacco to spend millions in desperate defense of profits from deadly drug --while we also allow others just like us except for circumstance to face the rigors of hunger ?

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