A Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Friends:

When was the last time you didn't have enough to eat? I don't mean that you looked in your refrigerator or pantry and realized you were out of a favorite food item. I mean, when was the last time you looked in your kitchen and not only didn't have enough food for a balanced meal for you and/or your family, but also, you lacked sufficient resources to go out and buy more food? When was the last time you had to make tough choices like - do I pay the utility bill, or buy food for my children? When was the last time you contacted an agency like Catholic Charities to find out how to get food through a local food pantry or access a hot meal at one of the free breakfast or lunch locations served in our community?

For most of us - the answer is - never. But for many, many of our brothers and sisters living at or near the poverty level, this is a regular experience. Food security-access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life-is one of several conditions necessary for a population to be healthy and well nourished.

How does Texas compare to other states?

A recent survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that in 2008, there were:

• 17 million U.S. households (14.6 percent of all households) that were food insecure at some time during the year.

That is, at some time during the year, they were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food for all household members because they had insufficient money and other resources for food.

This same report reveals that Texas exceeds the national average. In Texas, the survey reports that:

• almost 17% of Texas households experienced food insecurity.
• Texas is second in the nation in food insecurity - behind the state of Mississippi.

There is a direct link between low income and food insecurity. The survey reports that in 2008:

• food insecurity was more than four times as prevalent in households with annual incomes below 185 percent of the poverty line as it was in households with incomes above that range.

A few characteristics of those who reported food insecurity showed that:

• 98 percent reported having worried that their food would run out before they got money to buy more;
• 96 percent reported that the food they bought just did not last and they did not have money to get more; and
• 94 percent reported that they could not afford to eat balanced meals.

To access the full report, Household Food Security in the United States, 2008, visit the following website: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR83/ERR83.pdf

Catholic Charities Angels of Hope Food Pantry Works to Increase Food Security for Families, Children, Seniors & Disabled

At our Angels of Hope Food Pantry, we work to combat food insecurity every week. We rely heavily on donations to our food pantry and the dedicated volunteers who meet with clients, fill their food orders, stock our food pantry shelves, conduct food drives, plant and harvest our garden, and even the more mundane, but necessary tasks, like data entry to help us with reports to funders.

As people of faith, we are called to reach out to the poor and vulnerable and, as a result of our faith in and love for God, to feed the hungry. We join with the many Catholic parishes and faith communities that work hard to alleviate hunger in our Diocese every day.

Be an Angel of Hope. Give today. Give Generously.
Don't let families go hungry in your community.

For those of you who have full pantries, I ask you to consider making a food or financial donation to our Angels of Hope Food Pantry or to a local pantry in your community.

Consider donating a bag of groceries with meat, dairy, vegetables and other necessary items. This small care package goes a long way in strengthening and supporting families, many of which, have minor children.

Sincerely,

Cynthia N. Colbert
Executive Director
Catholic Charities of Central Texas