Understanding Hunger Issue is Key
Dear Editor,
Living in the affluent Bay Area it is easy to forget that many residents of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties do not have enough to eat. In fact, over 158,000 individuals experience ongoing food insecurity, meaning they do not have the resources to acquire enough food to fulfill their basic need of three nutritious, well balanced meals each day. Almost a third of these individuals are children.
The reasons for this are numerous and varied. Low wages for those who are working, coupled with a lack of affordable housing, and soaring health care, energy and fuels costs are hindering families’ ability to put food on the table.
The fact that so many go hungry is cause for both alarm and action.
As CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, I am proud to say that last year we distributed more than 30 million pounds of food to 290 community-based, non-profit organizations operating programs at 800 distribution sites. In Morgan Hill, we provide food to programs operating out of Morgan Hill YMCA, St. Catherine’s Reachout, and various Community Solutions locations, to name a few.
Although we make a huge impact on the lives of people in our community, we cannot do it alone. We need public policy that repositions the American people as its priority.
I ask everyone to help with accomplishing this task. The first step is understanding what a huge issue hunger is in our community. Next, we must continue to support organizations, programs and initiatives that are working to combat it.
For more information on the issue of hunger in our local community and to learn how to get involved, visit our Web site at www.2ndharvest.net. Click on the About Us tab to be directed towards References and Links.
Chip Huggins, CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank
Give Your Pets a Happy Life
Dear Editor,
Now that spring is approaching and the days are becoming longer and warmer, we should reassess our relationships with our pets. Are they cared for properly? Are we paying attention to them and making sure that they not only have the basics of food, water and shelter, but are they exercised regularly, groomed, taken to the vet when necessary and not allowed to breed uncontrollably? Do they have a safe area to play and run free without being tied up? Do they have identification on them in case they wander and are they being socialized with other people and like animals? I realize that in our busy lives it’s easy to put our pets on the bottom of the priority list because they tend to suffer in silence but it would be good for all concerned if we set aside the time, especially where dogs are concerned, to take them for a nice walk or to our new dog park for a romp. Get the kids involved. Walking is not only good for our own health but for our pets as well. And spring is also the time when animals not neutered or spayed, cats especially proliferate and leave shelters bursting with unwanted kittens. There really is no excuse for shortchanging our pets especially when there are places that can help with their care, i.e.. local animal clinics that have lower prices for spaying and neutering ($20 for domestic cats and $50 for dogs), and active rescue groups fro surrendered animals. So take a good look at your pets and ask yourself if you would be happy in their place. And if not, take the necessary steps to right the situation. Their well-being is your responsibility.
The following numbers might help to give your animal a happier life.
Akal animal clinic, (408) 453-2524 (more listed at sccgov.org/agencies and dept/animalcontrol)
Morgan Hill Animal Control, (408) 465-2920
Town cats (no-kill shelter) 779-5761
J. Bowman, Morgan Hill
