Food Relief drive needs your help

JournalNews starts food relief campaign

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12:51 PM Friday, November 13, 2009

We don’t have to tell you how many families and individuals are suffering because of poverty and the devastating economic recession that has driven up unemployment and home foreclosure rates here and across the nation. We don’t have to tell you because you likely see the effects every day. Or perhaps you are living it.

While some of us are fortunate enough to be thinking about the menu for Thanksgiving dinner or what to buy for a loved one at Christmas, many more are preoccupied with whether they will have any food to eat today at all. Or whether their children will go to bed hungry again tonight.

Today, we kick off the Hamilton JournalNews’ annual Food Relief campaign, which will continue through Jan. 3. In a front-page letter today, Publisher Edwina Blackwell Clark makes a plea to our readers to contribute again to this effort, which supports the Shared Harvest Foodbank.

Despite the rugged economy, you supported us beyond our dreams last year. Your contributions amounted to $22,166 in 2008, more than $5,000 over the amount raised in 2007 when, frankly, the need was not as acute. And it was the highest amount our Food Relief campaign has ever raised.

The $22,166 raised last year was so impressive because of your generosity during such uncertain times. You didn’t hesitate to write a check or contribute through our Web site, even though your own job status might have been less than certain.

And, as in 2008, we fear that many previous donors may be the families in need during this holiday season. Many may be seeking assistance for the first time. Your help is needed more than ever. The need is growing.

Our communities are still feeling the impact of the severe recession and — although there are signs that the national economy may be recovering — that abstract optimism from Washington will not help feed the projected 129,000 families in need this year in the counties that Shared Harvest serves — Butler, Warren, Preble, Darke and Miami. Last year, 110,030 were served by the network of agencies that Shared Harvest supplies.

In today’s JournalNews, you will find an envelope with which you can send in your contribution. Envelopes also will be inserted in the JournalNews on Dec. 6, Dec. 20 and Jan. 3. Or you can send a donation to Hamilton JournalNews Food Relief, P.O. Box, 421545, Middletown, OH 45042-1545, or contribute online at www.journal-news.com/foodrelief.

Our goal this year is $22,000. Any amount you are able to spare makes a big difference. Every dollar donated to the Food Relief campaign provides eight meals for a person in need, says Tina Osso, director of Shared Harvest.

We at the JournalNews are very proud to be able to sponsor this campaign and are gratified that — thanks to your generosity and compassion — the total raised each year has been higher than the previous year.

Please consider making a donation again this year so that our neighbors and friends do not go hungry during this holiday season. As always, we are grateful to those who have donated in the past and those who will send what they can afford this year.

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