Many of our readers reside here in Yavapai County
Between 25% and 30% of families living in Yavapai Country
find themselves to be uncertain about the availability of nutritionally
adequate and safe foods. At the very least, 1 in 5 Arizonans are forced to make
a choice between paying for rent, medicine or food on a regular basis. Often
the reason for this is financially based. You may be in this number. We pray
you are not. Here are some figures that drive home the seriousness of this
situation.
According to the US Census Bureau and their 2014 census
estimate, there are 218,844 people
living in Yavapai county. I’m sure that as we approach the end of 2015, the
figure is larger. Simple math tells us that between 54,721 and 65,653
individuals are having difficulty putting food on their tables. To look at it
another way, since the average family size is (according to the US Census
Bureau) is 2.6 people, that means between 21,047 and 25,251 families are in
trouble.
The US Census Bureau estimates that out of the 218,844
people living in Yavapai county, 17.4% (38,079) are under the age of 18. If
just 25% of those are not getting proper and adequate food, that means that at
least 9500 of these children are going hungry to one degree or another.
No matter how one looks at it, there is a problem that needs
to be addressed. Yes there are larger food banks and smaller food pantries like
ours around the county and they are doing what they can. The real fact however
is that we really never have what any of us would consider a “really safe
supply” of food. Often we find ourselves in the position of not being able to
supply families with what we really know they should have for proper nutrition.
We can only give out what we either have donated to us. Some times we receive financial donations but
we all know how expensive food is and those dollars we do receive often don’t
go very far.
If you are able to help any of our local food banks and
pantries, please do so. This time of year always brings in many more requests
for assistance.
