Rising Prices + Sagging Economy = Bare Shelves

Today newspapers in two separate areas of Texas, the Dallas Voice and the Austin American-Statesman, published articles with a nearly identical message: demand for charitable food is up, and donations are way down.

Both are symptoms of the sagging economy, say those at the front lines. "I think [it's] indicative of the fact people have less to give because they're struggling themselves," said Capital Area Food Bank CEO David Davenport. But "people recognize there are people out there who've been hanging on for years and years now [whom] this economy's pushed over the edge."

“We’re trying to bring in more food, but it’s been a struggle just to bring in the same amount as last year,” said Andrea K. Helms, communications director for the Tarrant Area Food Bank.

The squeeze in supply & demand means less food for those who now need it, as well as pressure to lower the quality of food distributed. Said North Texas Food Bank CEO Jan Pruitt, “We are in a recession, yes...and that doesn’t mean just [that we need] more food, but more of the right food. Especially for agencies [serving vulnerable populations], the quality of the calories is very important."

Texas' Trouble with Timeliness

For those following the slow-motion implementation of TIERS, Texas' new social services enrollment system, yesterday was another step forward - although not a wholly positive one, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Since its introduction, 217,000 hungry Texans in need of food stamps have been transferred to TIERS, whose privatized, high technology was supposed to make life easier for everyone.

Last winter, however, half of new food stamps cases in the system were not resolved in the federally mandated 30 days, stranding hundreds of hungry families without food around the holidays and putting HHSC on the wrong side of the law.

Yesterday, after state lawmakers demanded accountability from the system before approving an expansion, HHSC released a set of nine measures designed to improve TIERS' performance. Not on the list? Timeliness.

"The test is whether you're processing cases in a timely way, and that's not in here," said food policy expert Celia Hagert of the Center for Public Policy Priorities.

Timeliness is a key aspect to fighting hunger. What would you do if your local firemen only showed up in time to fight half the fires?

Shout-out from Hill Country

Many thanks to Andrea Ball, columnist for the Austin American-Statesman, for highlighting us on her peerless blog, Charity Chat!

(Update: We're also blogrolling with the best of them - thanks Texas Cloverleaf, Lone Star Democracy Directory and HHSC Employee!)

Working and Hungry

South Texas, like much of the state, has an enviable unemployment rate of just around 5%. Yet agencies like the South Texas Food Bank are seeing more and more families at their door in recent months.

The reason, says Salo Otero, Development Director at the food bank, is underemployment. According to KGNS Pro 8 News, while only 5% of population served by the food bank is unemployed, 30% live below the poverty line and have difficulty meeting their basic needs.

Why are they coming to the food bank? In short, wages are not keeping up with the cost of living.

Growing Hunger Prompts Charitable Expansion

Rising hunger among Dallas residents, especially the working poor and recent victims of the stagnating economy, has prompted a rethink of strategy at the North Texas Food Bank.

"Our board has challenged us to not look at what can we succeed at doing, but what do we need to do," Jan Pruitt, Executive Director of the food bank, told KERA-TV. "If we don't do it, we know there are hungry people."

To meet the need, the food bank plans to double its output in the next three years, to 50 million meals annually.

Trying to Survive "a Challenge Unparalled"

Philanthropists from the United Way and other South Texas organizations are calling the dual crises of the recession and rising food prices "the worst they've seen," according to the Brownsville Herald.

"These days, people are coming in because they have to make the choice between buying food and putting gas in their cars," said Carlos Gomez, Director of the Good Neighbor Settlement House.

Increasing demand and decreasing donations are forcing local agencies to come up with more recovered and unsaleable food, limiting their ability to provide nutritious offerings.

"Right now, the middle class is being beaten to death," said Traci Wickett, CEO of the United Way of Southern Cameron County. "What's scary to me is that at this point the problem is at so many levels. It's a paradox: at the time when we need the most help, support is the scarcest."

WIC Continues Move to EBT

Williamson County recently joined the ranks of Texas counties that have done away with old-fashioned paper WIC coupons in favor of electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Proponents believe the switch to a debit card-like system will result in an even lower rate of fraud, as well as reduce the stigma associated with using paper coupons. A similar switch in the Food Stamps Program (now SNAP) in recent years produced a dramatic effect in both areas.

Williamson County mother GinaMarie Ruiz (pictured) knows that the program assists many young mothers like her. "The way everything is these days with prices going through the roof, it helps a whole lot," she said.