Talking about food, here is an extract from yesterday’s local paper. This is why the BS about the role of charities in fighting an economic crisis doesn’t work. A friend who volunteers at the United Way information center says it is true of our local efforts in general.

…snip..
For the fifth straight year, the (newspaper) and …snip.. Area United Way Food Bank teamed up this summer to raise money for the hungry.

Subscribe to a Solution, a program in which envelopes were inserted into issues of the (paper) for the purpose of soliciting donations to the food bank, raised $7,260 this year. Unfortunately, that number is far lower than in previous years. The fundraiser reached its peak in its second year with $20,000, and last year’s total was $9,000.

“Our donations have slacked off in what I believe to be a direct relationship with the state of the economy,” said Julie Gonzalez, special projects coordinator for the food bank. “This year has been the toughest year we have experienced in fundraising during my five years with the food bank.”

The money is used to supply food to the food bank’s member agencies, which include churches and soup kitchens, among others.

According to Gonzalez, each dollar the food bank receives provides six meals to feed the needy.

“We hope Subscribe to a Solution will gain momentum again as the economy improves, but for now we are very grateful for the funds we have received,” she said.