Thanksgiving can be time of need

A story on National Public Radio highlights how all Americans don't face plentiful food year-round.

While some 250 million Americans know they'll get their next meal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says some 38 million Americans face "food insecurity," which means the "can't be sure they'll have enough money for food. About a third of that group at times goes without eating."

With the exception of Virginia and Florida, every Southern state has a higher percentage of food insecure households than the national average (11.4 percent of 111.3 million households). Here's the breakdown:

Alabama.............1.8 million households......12.2 percent food insecure
Arkansas............1.1 million...........................14.8 percent
Florida................6.8 million..........................10.8 percent
Georgia...............3.3 million..........................12.3 percent
Kentucky............1.7 million..........................12.2 percent
Louisiana............1.7 million...........................11.8 percent
Mississippi.........1.1 million...........................15.8 percent
North Carolina...3.3 million..........................13.8 percent
South Carolina...1.6 million..........................14.8 percent
Tennessee.........2.3 million...........................11.5 percent
Virginia..............2.8 million.............................8.5 percent

[Source, "Household Food Security in the United States, 2004," page 20; Economic Research Service, USDA]

Alan Essig of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute noted in an email sent around earlier today:

This time of year it is more important than ever not to lose sight of those who struggle to put food on the table every day. ... While hunger is increasing The House of Representatives is proposing to cut the food stamp program by $700 million over 5 years, which would result in 220,000 to 250,000 low-income people each month losing food stamps. The Senate, with the strong support of [GOP] Senator [Saxby] Chambliss, has proposed no cuts in the food stamp program. The Senate and House are currently negotiating the budget differences in a conference committee.

Words to take to heart.