Salem-News.com Hunger articles Page 22

Inaugural Balls Will Help Fight Hunger

‏Celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States, Tuesday, January 20th, while helping to fight hunger.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - To emphasize Obama's call to community service, a number of local inaugural events ask attendees to bring food or fund donations to benefit Oregon Food Bank.

"These tough economic times affect us all, but our low-income neighbors are hardest-hit," says Rachel Bristol, OFB's executive director and CEO.

"We need the support of the entire community to respond to this dramatic increase in need, especially after the holidays when donations usually drop off."

UN Agency Launches `Operation Lifeline Gaza` to Feed Thousands of Hungry

As of yesterday, the violence had already killed an estimated 792 people and wounded over 3,200 in the occupied Palestinian territory, according to reports cited as credible by UN officials.

(GAZA) - The United Nations food agency today announced an initiative to help ramp up food distribution to the growing number of hungry people in the Gaza Strip, where a military offensive Israel says it launched in response to Hamas rocket attacks is in its 15th day.

Operation Lifeline Gaza is a World Food Programme (WFP) scheme aiming to provide ready-to-eat, culturally acceptable food to hundreds of thousands of people caught in the conflict.

“We are proposing an immediate, innovative solution to hunger in an unusually challenging situation, where many people are suffering from a complete breakdown in access to food and clean water,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.

Oregon Food Bank Releases 2008 Voices Report

Oregonians share their stories as hunger continues year-round.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - "It's either buy food or take your medicine. It's a real hard choice."

"There are times when you have to choose between milk and diapers."

Those are just two comments from Oregon Food Bank's 2008 Voices report, released today. The annual report summarizes focus-group feedback from emergency food recipients around Oregon.

"With the high cost of food, utilities and rising unemployment, more of our neighbors are struggling with hunger," said Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski.

Columbia County Operations Resume After Record-Breaking Winter Storm

Update on Weight Restrictions Imposed as a result of the Freeze/Thaw Cycle‏.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Officials say most of Columbia County is back to normal activities this week after two weeks of snow and ice hampered the holiday activities of many residents.

The storm brought a record 18.9 inches of snow to the region and was the snowiest month since 1969 according to the National Weather Service and a record snowfall for lower elevations.

The weather event affected the roads and on Tuesday, the 23rd of December the County Commissioners approved a Board Order imposing weight restrictions on posted county roads to reduce road damage as a result of the heavy freeze/thaw cycle.

New WFP Country Director Pledges Continued Support for People of Afghanistan

The people of this beleaguered nation will see more help from the world community.

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - The new representative for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan, Stefano Porretti, has pledged to continue WFP's support for the poorest and most vulnerable members of Afghan society – especially women and children.

"I want to build on the achievements of former WFP Country Directors in continuing WFP strong commitment to assist the Government and people of Afghanistan to address their hunger and nutrition challenges even in the face of major security risks by providing food assistance to the millions of Afghan people who need help," Porretti said, adding that he would be looking to the international community to provide the support WFP needs to assist up to 9 million Afghans.

Mr. Stefano Porretti an Italian national, he holds University (Laurea) degree in Geology. He has been working for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) since 1987. He has been assigned the WFP Country Director and Representative in Afghanistan since October 2008.

WFP Welcomes Indian Biscuit Donation for Afghan Children

Afghanistan is one of WFP's largest operations and requires an additional US$17 million over the next six months to provide 24,000 metric tons of food.

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a US$12 million contribution from the Government of India that will be used to provide fortified biscuits made from Indian wheat to schoolchildren in Afghanistan.

The biscuits - produced in factories around New Delhi and Amritsar - will be shipped to Afghanistan through Pakistan, marking a major transportation breakthrough that opens a new route for humanitarian assistance from India.

"Thanks to the generosity of the Government of India, more than one and a half million schoolchildren in Afghanistan will receive a nutritious snack in school," said Rikki Maliklali, WFP Deputy Country Director in Afghanistan, adding that hunger negatively affects the development of the brain and limits a child's chances of educational success.

Local Groups Lose Over 5,200 Pounds to Help Fight Hunger

The group was inspired to take action when they learned startling statistics; more than 1.6 BILLION adults worldwide are overweight; and 862 million people went underfed in 2007.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Weight Watchers groups from Salem and Keizer have teamed together to join the fight against two global epidemics – hunger and obesity – by participating in the Lose for Good Campaign.

According to Feeding America, 99% of food banks surveyed experienced an increase in the number of low-income American’s turning to soup kitchens and food pantries for assistance this year. Even the nation's most affluent areas have been affected; thirty-nine percent of the adults requesting emergency food assistance in the last year were gainfully employed.

As part of Lose for Good, the Weight Watchers groups coordinated food drives – donating food for each time members lost weight - to support the Marion Polk Food Share. The food share collects, sorts, stores and distributes over 4.8 million pounds of food each year to a network of 73 local service providers who distribute food to hungry people in their neighborhoods.

OCPP Says Thousands of Oregonians Still at Poverty Level With No Health Insurance

In 2007, one out of eight Oregonians was officially poor despite a slight income gain.

(SILVERTON, Ore.) - As the last economic expansion hit its peak, the typical Oregon household's income reportedly rose slightly in 2007 over the previous year.

Yet, Oregon was unable to reduce poverty or the percentage of Oregonians lacking health insurance, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau and analyzed by the Silverton-based Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP), a nonpartisan research institute.

"The typical Oregon household saw its income improve somewhat last year," said Michael Leachman, a policy analyst with the public policy research institute, "but the household was no better off than it was at the end of the last expansion in 2000."

Patrick Lamb and Linda Hornbuckle Headline Entertainment for Salem`s Summer in the City

The event has a sizable lineup of entertainers and it happens this Saturday.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Portland-based musicians Patrick Lamb and Linda Hornbuckle will perform on the main stage of Salem's First Annual Summer in the City Music & Wine Festival on Saturday, August 9th. They are joined over the two-day event by twenty-four area acts including Lloyd Jones, Terry Robb and local favorites Flextones and Triple Creek.

The music lineup is backed up by an outstanding wine tasting event. Willamette Valley Vineyards, Redhawk Winery, Abiqua Wind Vineyard, and Silver Falls Vineyards are among the sixteen wineries to showcase their best wines on the streets of downtown Salem.

Closed to traffic, eight blocks of Salem's Historic Downtown District will provide a unique sipping and shopping experience. While enjoying music and wine, event goers can explore local restaurants, unique shops, boutiques and galleries without worrying about cars and crosswalks.

Coalition Releases Report Detailing Counter Recession Measures to Address Rising Needs

Congressman McGovern and Human Needs Groups Representing Millions Call on Congress to Boost State Economies, Help American Families Now.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA) joined human needs advocates representing millions of Americans to urge Congress to aid families and states hit hard by the recession. As Co-Chair of the House Hunger Caucus, Rep. McGovern emphasized the urgency of Congressional action.

"It's clear that we need additional economic stimulus that is targeted at those Americans who need the most help," said Congressman McGovern.