From Andy's Desk
Disappointment, but not surprise. Those are the emotions I experienced when I read that the Fresno metropolitan area now has the nation’s highest food hardship rate. Disappointment because the findings mean that more than 30,000 additional members of our community are going to sleep hungry, including as many as 11,000 children. But I was not surprised because our staff and community partners have been reporting a major increase in the number of families seeking assistance for the first time. Just last year, one of these families was a regular donor. Now they’re in line receiving food assistance from a partner agency. Another new client: A husband and wife, both recent college graduates who found jobs after graduation and soon lost them due to the economy. So, while disappointment without surprise was my first reaction, the longer I considered the situation, my sentiment turned to hope. Not a hope based on a wishful thinking that somehow things will improve, but rather a hope based on the tested and proven strength, compassion and commitment of the people of our Valley.
At this time we get to share two current stories of hope. The first is how the community rallied around the issue of hunger and “liked” Fresno into a strong second place finish in the Walmart Fighting Hunger Together campaign. The second is the touching story of little Matthew Yang, a 3-year-old with a heart much larget than his years. And these are only two of the many stories of how the men, women and children of our community are stepping up and are choosing to make a difference in the lives of those in our community who are less fortunate.
Here at Community Food Bank we have the privilege of being on the front line of fighting hunger, and doing everything we can to reach our goal of no one in our community going to sleep hungry. And as we continue to fight this battle, we only ask that you consider joining us in whatever way works for you. Whether it’s donating your time to volunteer or helping financially, every little bit helps. Together we can make a huge difference in the lives of families facing real hardships here in our community. Together, we can fight hunger, but more importantly, we can feed hope.