Hunger Hits Record Highs: Tour Helps People In Need
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: August 9, 2011
PEORIA--Hunger in the River City has hit an all time high.
Now the Illinois Commission to End Hunger is taking action to help solve the problem.
Commission members met with the Peoria Area Food Bank to discuss the community's needs, and ways to get additional resources.
The food bank provided lunch to area kids--bringing attention to childhood hunger.
Organizers say the number of families in need is more than they can handle.
Now they're seeking the help of corporations, community organizations, and local farmers to help solve the problem.
"The pantries are indicating that they're numbers are up as far as the families that they're serving, so we just hope and pray that we have enough food," said Peoria Food Bank Director Barb Shareves.
Illinois Hunger Commissioner Tracy Smith agrees.
"They don't know if they're going to have enough money to buy nutritious meals, so with this pressure and with the contracting budgets at the federal and state level, it's really an important time for the community to come together and talk about how we're going to address hunger issues," said Smith.
The Illinois Commission to End Hunger is holding eight discussions across the state.
Their goal is to develop programs to reduce hunger in cities.
Now the Illinois Commission to End Hunger is taking action to help solve the problem.
Commission members met with the Peoria Area Food Bank to discuss the community's needs, and ways to get additional resources.
The food bank provided lunch to area kids--bringing attention to childhood hunger.
Organizers say the number of families in need is more than they can handle.
Now they're seeking the help of corporations, community organizations, and local farmers to help solve the problem.
"The pantries are indicating that they're numbers are up as far as the families that they're serving, so we just hope and pray that we have enough food," said Peoria Food Bank Director Barb Shareves.
Illinois Hunger Commissioner Tracy Smith agrees.
"They don't know if they're going to have enough money to buy nutritious meals, so with this pressure and with the contracting budgets at the federal and state level, it's really an important time for the community to come together and talk about how we're going to address hunger issues," said Smith.
The Illinois Commission to End Hunger is holding eight discussions across the state.
Their goal is to develop programs to reduce hunger in cities.
