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Beyond Thanksgiving Dinner If you are the lucky family member who is tasked with Thanksgiving dinner grocery shopping, you may have noticed a slightly higher grocery bill this week than years before. And while you may have growing teenagers who are consuming more and more food, an ever-expanding list of “must-have” dishes, or the addition of the in-laws this year, the reality of the price increase is probably related to something even further out of your control. During the last year, U.S. grocery prices have increased 5.1 percent overall:
- Milk increased 17 percent Grocery prices are not just having an impact on the total price of Thanksgiving dinner. They’re also having a daily impact on millions of Americans. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), half a million households in America are “food insecure,” which means that they the lack basic food intake to provide them with enough energy and nutrients for a productive life. And in the face of a recession, food insecurity in the U.S. is higher than any time since the government began tracking it 14 years ago. In an era of big government, there is one school of thought that says the federal government should be primarily responsible for addressing the dichotomy of hunger in a wealthy nation. But often times the people who are making the biggest difference in addressing hunger in America are not bureaucrats overseeing programs in Washington but individuals right in our own communities – the young mom who organizes a community food drive, the church leaders that open a food pantry, or the couple that volunteers weekends at the local food bank after working 40 hours during the week. Community food banks have become a primary and reliable source of nourishment for many American families. Food banks are also seeing a new demographic of visitors – families from different neighborhoods and demographic backgrounds are relying on food banks to provide them with their basic grocery needs, proving that hunger is not confined to urban or extreme rural areas; the need for food banks spans across many areas of American life. While food banks may not be a solution to hunger, they help provide necessary fuel to get many Americans through the day. We certainly have room to improve at the federal level, like addressing regulations to make it easier for schools to donate unused food to local banks, and educating small businesses on the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act, which protects donors who donate in good faith from liability. We also have an opportunity to help at an individual level. The holiday season comes with a natural sense of gratitude. We love to shower our families with gifts, make special desserts for loved ones, and throw some extra change in the tin bucket held by a bell-ringing Santa on our way into Macy’s or Dillard’s. This year we also have an opportunity to encourage families by sharing with our local food banks. Food banks are in great need of food that will help families maintain a healthy diet and provide sustenance, especially heading into the winter months. If your family is considering helping a food bank this year, visit these online resources: Find Central Virginia Food Drop Locations What Should I Donate? Host Your Own Food and Fund Drive In addition, many churches operate food banks, providing meals not only to some members of their own congregation, but to the surrounding communities as well. Check places of worship in your own community for details on various food bank programs. When we remember our neighbors, move beyond the inconvenience of disrupting our busy schedules and into a character of giving voluntarily, the impact reaches far beyond a meal – it helps bring hope and encouragement to individuals and communities that will last for years to come. This week, the U.S.-China Commission released their 2009 report on the People’s Republic of China. As founder and chairman of the Congressional China Caucus, I look at these annual reports closely. This year’s report highlights the fact that China remains the most aggressive country conducting espionage against the United States. They lack regard for transparency, product safety, and intellectual property rights, and their currency manipulation has greatly contributed to global trading imbalances. I’ve long argued that China’s actions warrant concern. I continue to argue so, but I believe equally that the actions of the U.S. warrant great concern. Our national leaders must not wait in developing a cohesive strategy to ensure that China works towards becoming a responsible and cooperative global participant. But they also must not wait to make clear and concerted efforts to address the runaway spending, ballooning debt, and weakened national defense posture that have marked a recent path toward deteriorating economic, fiscal and strategic security on the global stage. |
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