Demand growing for holiday food assistance

With the holiday season approaching, more and more food banks and assistance centers around Massachusetts are receiving requests for help.

The slowing economy, which has led to increasing levels on unemployment and tighter credit, has pushed some Americans over the edge. Many people struggling to make ends meet during the holidays last year are now turning to relief organizations for help.

One of the factors making the situation so difficult for consumers is the high cost of food.

Increases in fuel prices have driven up the price of many groceries, especially essentials such as milk, meat and fruit because of the need for those products to be refrigerated. The increase in the price of a turkey, for example, from last year to this year means that unless they get more donations, relief organizations will not be able to help as much as they could in the past.

According to the Boston Globe, the state’s food banks paid about $.80 per pound for turkeys in 2006, but will pay over $1.05 this year. These higher prices translate into an increased need for generosity, but unfortunately the weakening economy may make that a difficult goal.

In order to combat what could be a difficult holiday season, the Salvation Army is planning to begin their signature red kettle campaign earlier this year.

Beginning November 12, bell ringers will begin appearing around Massachusetts.

"We trust the Lord," Major William H. Bode, commander of the Massachusetts division of the Salvation Army, tells the Boston Globe. "And trust the donor."

--Bridget O'Sullivan

Can you survive on $21 a week?

Shining a light on the economic challenges many of the nation's impoverished face on a daily basis, bloggers at United Way's SpeakUnited.org are trying to survive on a $ 21 a week food budget.

Basically it means that they can go to a super market and buy groceries for an entire week, but at the billing counter, it cannot exceed the grand total of $21.

Why that figure? It's the amount of money a person in need is given in food stamps for the entire week. The SpeakUnited crew is calling it the "Food Stamp Challenge."

The rules are simple:

• Each person should only spend a total of $21 on food and beverages during the Challenge week.
• All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge week, including fast food and dining out must be included in the total spending.
• During the Challenge, only eat food that you purchase for the project. Do not eat food that you already own (this does not include spices and condiments.)
• Avoid accepting free food from friends, family or at work.
• Keep track of receipts of food spending and take note of your experiences throughout the week.

Paola Ferrer, one of the candidates taking up the challenge, is realizing that fighting Lance Armstrong for the Tour de France title is much easier. Because she's forced to be on a gluten-free diet because of her medical condition has made this more interesting. On her shopping list were eggs ($2.89 doz), deli meat ($4.09), deli cheese ($1.50), ground beef ($4.50), coffee ($2.49), potatoes ($2.29), carrots ($2.19) and tortillas ($ 2.15). Grand Total = $22.1. To make this last for an entire week would call ingenuity of an MIT grad student.

Another person trying to live frugally is Meghan Keaney. At this budget she is tempted to eat out at the friendly neighborhood burger joint where the dollar menu is doing great business. Even without taxes, assuming a basic burger is available for $1. Eating it three times a day will make it $3 per day and multiplying it by seven will make it $21.

But then this is without taxes. Not to mention the raised eyebrow of the kid at the cash register when you order that seven days in a row! Luckily one is not expected to tip at these places.

Impossible is a good word that comes to my mind. But, then to think that many of our brethren are forced to live on such tiny budgets every week makes me shudder.