Calling all neighbors to help feed struggling families
SEATTLE -- People who didn't have much trouble running a household a year ago are now lining up at food banks. And our own neighbors need help, according to Mayor Greg Nickels.
$14 worth of food stamps doesn't go very far feeding Kathy Smith's family. At the Rainier Valley Food Bank, she fills her basket with cans of chili, refried beans to stretch her resources.
"It's hard. (We) do without some things cause it's just too expensive. Cheese is very, very expensive right now," she said.
And meat is beyond her budget. The mayor wants to make sure the city's budget doesn't leave families like the Smiths out in the cold.
"The budget I've provided the city council, even though it has cuts in a number of areas, does not reduce our commitment to making sure people have enough to eat," said the mayor.
Seattle spends $3 million each year for emergency food. The mayor is asking the city council to approve an additional $500,000 for critical food programs, including home delivery of food, bulk buying and food distribution. And he's urging the public to step in where the government leaves off.
As food prices climb, so does the number of clients, especially seniors on fixed income, "from 5,000 clients to over 9,000 each month," according to Gwen Mitchell of Rainier Valley Food Bank. The food bank served 800,000 pounds of food last year. This year, it's on target to serve 1.4 million pounds.
The huge jump requires the help of hundreds of volunteer hours every months. Single mom Ashley Suggs helps out gets help in return.
"Times are really tight but I just have to really make it work," she said.
And as the holidays near and more families struggle, food banks are urging the public to donate time or money to heelp neighbors in need.
One way to help is by making a contribution to the Problem Solvers' Stuff the Truck Food Drive on Thursday, Nov. 20. We'll be taking donations at Fred Meyer stores in Issaquah, Bothell and Federal Way.
$14 worth of food stamps doesn't go very far feeding Kathy Smith's family. At the Rainier Valley Food Bank, she fills her basket with cans of chili, refried beans to stretch her resources.
"It's hard. (We) do without some things cause it's just too expensive. Cheese is very, very expensive right now," she said.
And meat is beyond her budget. The mayor wants to make sure the city's budget doesn't leave families like the Smiths out in the cold.
"The budget I've provided the city council, even though it has cuts in a number of areas, does not reduce our commitment to making sure people have enough to eat," said the mayor.
Seattle spends $3 million each year for emergency food. The mayor is asking the city council to approve an additional $500,000 for critical food programs, including home delivery of food, bulk buying and food distribution. And he's urging the public to step in where the government leaves off.
As food prices climb, so does the number of clients, especially seniors on fixed income, "from 5,000 clients to over 9,000 each month," according to Gwen Mitchell of Rainier Valley Food Bank. The food bank served 800,000 pounds of food last year. This year, it's on target to serve 1.4 million pounds.
The huge jump requires the help of hundreds of volunteer hours every months. Single mom Ashley Suggs helps out gets help in return.
"Times are really tight but I just have to really make it work," she said.
And as the holidays near and more families struggle, food banks are urging the public to donate time or money to heelp neighbors in need.
One way to help is by making a contribution to the Problem Solvers' Stuff the Truck Food Drive on Thursday, Nov. 20. We'll be taking donations at Fred Meyer stores in Issaquah, Bothell and Federal Way.