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Working families are hungry
SAN FRANCISCO — Almost half the families visiting Bay Area emergency food services have one or more people working, according to study on hunger released Wednesday.
The national study, “Hunger in America 2001,” shows continuing need in the world’s richest country.
More than 25 percent of the people getting food from Bay Area emergency food services have at least some college education, according to the study commissioned by America’s Second Harvest.
America’s Second Harvest is a network of about 80 percent of the nation’s food banks. The food banks collect donations from farmers, the food industry and others, and distribute the food to community organizations, soup kitchens, day care centers and local food pantries run by churches and other groups.
While changes in the welfare law and a growing economy meant more people were working, the Bay Area’s high cost of living still left many low-paid workers on the edge of poverty.
Paul Ash, executive director of the San Francisco Food Bank said state officials recognize the problem but what they need to do is makes it easier for working people to get food stamps.
