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Julian, who is 56 years old, relies on a fixed income of approximately $900 per month. He lives in an urban section of Los Angeles and pays $700 rent on a small studio apartment. That leaves just $200 each month for everything else, including his utilities.
Anna is 34 with three young children. She and her husband, who gets by on part-time work, share their apartment with Anna's brother and his wife and their young child. Both families struggle to get their basic needs met.
Francisca is in her 70s with medical issues. She lives alone on a meager fixed income.
Francisca and Julian, Anna and her sister and their families, often don't have enough money for food. They are not alone. In Los Angeles, home of some of the country's most elite and wealthiest, 25 to 30 percent of the metropolitan population is what's known as "food insecure." They are the easily forgotten have-nots in the land of haves -- our neighbors who don't know whether or when they'll be able to afford their next meal.
Religious cooperative helping the hungry
Hope-Net, an interfaith nonprofit charity fueled by a network of dedicated volunteers, was formed in 1988 to help L.A.'s hungry and homeless. We at Hope-Net have since fed more than 2 million people in need. Working with local churches, temples and synagogues, we supply a network of 14 food pantries with once- or twice-a-week donations. In 1996, we opened the Hope West Apartments to provide housing for 17 low-income families.
It comes as no surprise that the need for services provided by agencies such as Hope-Net has risen dramatically in recent years. The economic downturn and the attendant escalation of joblessness have exponentially increased the number of people unable to afford even basic necessities -- like food. It may seem hard to fathom that people within a mile or two of our homes cannot adequately feed themselves. But it is true.
Emphasis on healthy foods
In 2008, Hope-Net served 140,000 Angelenos in need. In 2011, that number grew to more than 350,000. Working with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, among others, we have provided more than 2.5 million pounds -- $2 million worth -- of nutritious food. We supply our pantries with non-perishables and as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible to facilitate healthy eating.
Even for those with few financial concerns, the holidays can be clouded by the stress of fulfilling expectations. Imagine how that feeling is amplified for families who, through no fault of their own, can barely make ends meet. Like the rest of us, they want to give gifts to their children and loved ones. Like the rest of us, they want to put a good dinner on their table. Without your help, they can't.
Please consider helping charities like Hope-Net to help others in your community, especially at this time of year. The food will ameliorate the desperation of those profoundly in need, but the reward will be yours.
This week's Zester Soapbox contributor, Douglas G. Ferraro, has been the executive director of Hope-Net since 2004.
Photo: Douglas G. Ferraro. Credit: Allison Ferraro
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