I think we are examining two sides of the same issue - my diary (which as i write is also on the recommended list) examines the loss of hope for a better future for many, examines the increasing economic inequity in this country.

The numbers of those without medicalinsurance increases, as is true with those needing food assistance, or assistance to pay for heating fuel . . .

and the administration keeps cutting the threads of the social safety net

I hadn't seen that phrase used before, but had heard of this new Bushism.  If you go to the site and plug in your zip code, it will tell you the hunger stats for your county. SF's "food insecurity rate" is 11.5%.

And every year, our so-called leaders just ignore it and refuse to do anything about it, and the policies they set during the rest of the year often make it worse.

Shame on us indeed.

Our local food pantry does not accept clothing items, but, they have a voucher program in place with Goodwill. When items are dropped off, you just indicate the clothes are on behalf of the center and then they can refer people to get clothing at the Goodwill.

I just recently learned about this, and regret I didn't know about it sooner. You might inquire at your local pantry, shelter, etc. to see if they have a similar program set up. It costs you nothing and benefits someone else.

Everytime I read another petty arguement on this site.

I don't care if I'm accused of spamming or TR'd, if people don't understand what this means and react to it they don't get my respect.

...and a cruel hoax. Under Bush, in addition to the food banks being stretched past their limits, hundreds of thousands of poor full-time working families have lost their food stamp safety net, too.
This is just an example of these idiots' cold-hearted attitudes to our lower income famlies' plight:

Punishing Food Stamp Program Success: The Bush Administration's Farm Bill would reverse Oregon’s progress against hunger
by Michael Leachman and Janet Bauer
July 17, 2007
snipet

The Bush Administration has proposed eliminating $543 million in food stamp benefits for about 329,000 low-income Americans over the next five years. The Agriculture Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives may soon vote on this proposal as an amendment to the 2007 Farm Bill.

Oregonians would suffer a larger share of the reductions than most states. Under the Administration’s plan, a minimum of approximately 41,530 low-income Oregonians, including about 17,000 children, would lose food stamp benefits. While Oregonians comprise less than two percent of the national food stamp program caseload, Oregonians losing food stamp benefits would equal about 13 percent of the total number of people nationwide who would be cut (Figure 1 see PDF).

Oregonians losing food stamps under the Administration’s proposal would also lose automatic eligibility for a number of other programs, since eligibility for these other programs is linked to food stamp receipt. For instance, about 12,600 Oregon children would lose automatic eligibility for free school lunches and breakfasts under the Administration’s proposal.

http://www.ocpp.org/...

Hunger in America

I am a democrat because it's very much in the Christian tradition (not that one, the real one) to help others in need.

It breaks my heart. :(

Would it be a good Idea to update this diary with links to each campaign and a form letter or talking points to request the candidates to speak-out publicly to define thier positions and publicize the problem?

Or if they fail to, to fillow-up with a second Diary here to request people stop making campaign contributions and send the money to local foodbanks instead with copy to the campaign requesting support?

No work,no pay.

That's they way iot works for the rest of us.