February 28, 2003
Beginning the Hunger Conversation
Thursday morning, Governor Kulongoski convened a summit, of sorts, to begin the statewide conversation about Oregon's hunger ranking:
If Oregon can preserve the most pristine environment in the country, it can conquer hunger, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said Thursday.
Presiding over a "hunger summit" in Salem, Kulongoski kicked off what he portrayed as a long citizen-led campaign to help struggling families put food on the table.
"When 50,000 children go to bed not having eaten a meal in the last 24 hours, that is not the Oregon I know," he said.
And in today's Oregonian, David Sarasohn, who has written much about the state's hunger problem, takes a look at the summit as well.
What's the issue? Going back to the Statesman Journal article:
Nearly 6 percent of Oregon residents, or more than 200,000 people, reported during 1999-2001 that they did not have enough to eat for reasons beyond their control, according to a recent report by the Center on Hunger and Poverty at Brandeis University.
Nationwide, the rate was 3.1 percent; seven of the eight states reporting the highest levels were in the West.
Almost 14 percent of Oregon residents — fourth-highest in the nation behind New Mexico, Florida and Utah — were ranked as food insecure, meaning they lacked enough money to meet basic nutritional needs.
Oh, but I forgot. According to some of the state's libertarians, this is because these people have made bad life choices. Silly me.
Comments (1)
Julie Minor on 15 Apr 2004
Great article! I am attending the hunger summit tomorrow, as I know all too well what it is like not to have food in the house, and healthy food at that. I am one of those that ALWAYS pays my bills first and I do not live beyond my means as I am a single mother of two. I only get paid once a month and I have learned to make that stretch...and stretch...and stretch. I realize all too well that my landlord and utility providors do not care if I have food in my home. Cable TV..can't afford it, long distance or any extra services on my phone...can't afford it, cell phone, "yeah right!" Taking my kids out to dinner, "not even gonna happen!" I bet Vera Kats doesn't go hungry and I know for sure her chauffer doesn't as our tax paying dollars are paying his salary, since she doesn't drive. Why is she too good to take the max or bus like us? IF the politicians that our supposedly out there for the regular everyday struggling citixen, they wouldn't be taking advantage of tax dollars that could be used so much more wiser.