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LA COUNTY:
The hunger capital of America
Community Media Project is the founding umbrella of Share With the Other LA. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing hunger and poverty in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles has the largest population in the country of poor and working poor. State budget cuts in California have impacted everything from health care access to food programs in schools, and as the cost of living increases, more and more families are unable to meet basic needs. Food insecurity, housing and access to basic medical care are the most pressing crises in our community.
SHARE WITH THE OTHER LA creates outreach campaigns engaging schools, community groups, businesses, and the public to be aware, to advocate for and to take action on behalf of those whose basic needs are not being met. In alignment with our mission, we have undertaken a widespread public education campaign mobilizing citizen action, partnering with organizations engaged in poverty relief, advocacy, and empowerment of low-income families. The County Health Dept. report has revealed a grim reality. According to the LA Regional Food-bank analysis of the report, an estimated 1.4 million county residents face some level of food insecurity, from outright hunger (600,000) to poor nutrition. The LA County hunger rate is double the national average, making the County the "Hunger Capital of America." The numbers have been climbing steadily in the last few years as the cost of living in LA County has risen dramatically. In fact, the largest group of people experiencing food insecurity is working families, not on public assistance.
An estimated 2 million county residents live below the official poverty line but a study by the non-profit L.A. Alliance for a New Economy found that the true cost of living in the county, which is considerably higher than the national level, would mean that 38% of the public lives below or at the "true poverty" line, or 4.1 million people, including nearly 2 million children. The L.A. Regional Food Bank, the county's largest charitable food agency, now provides food for 350,000 people a week through a network of 1,000 local charities, many run by poverty relief or religious organizations. Most of the food is donated by the food industry. An additional 200-300 pantries operate part- time in the county and obtain their food from local merchants and residents.
Last year the LA Regional Foodbank provided 32 million pounds of food, or 26 million meals. This year, with demand soaring, it is running at a rate that it will provide 38 million pounds of food – a 19% increase in one year. In addition, 650,000 persons in the county receive federal food stamps, coupons to provide groceries to low-income households. This represents only about 45% of eligible persons in the county, however. "We have a system here that on every level - county, state and federal - creates barriers for qualified people to receive the food assistance they need," said Matthew Sharp, Regional Advocate with California Food Policy Advocates, one of the organizations participating in the Food Emergency Declaration. "Unless the public gets active and demands changes, we simply cannot meet the food needs of county residents. The problem is nationwide but the biggest impact is right here in L.A County."
Red tape and arbitrary restrictions, Sharp added, are costing county residents about $38 million a month in food stamps that would both feed the hungry and provide important economic stimulus for the local economy.
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THE NEED
Share with the Other LA fills a void.
Thousands of small non-profit organizations and churches working to alleviate one or more of the painful aspects of poverty face a tremendous problem: Lack of public awareness and consequent indifference have led to large cutbacks in government- sponsored assistance and social services for the poor, and there has not been a commensurate step-up in volunteer public support. Our educational outreach programs combined with our media campaigns seek to alert Angelinos of the dire extent of this problem. Once informed, people get involved. We anticipate a big rise in direct food and clothing donations, in shelter resources, in counseling, youth tutoring and mentoring, and in job availability. We also expect a large increase in public advocacy participation at the government levels.
You are urgently needed to be part of the solution.
"Most organizations dealing with poverty face the problem of not nearly enough help from individual citizens. None have the resources to do on their own what the Share Campaign is undertaking on our behalf." - Bob Erlenbusch, Exec. Director Hunger and Homeless Coalition. "Most people who live in the L.A. region have no idea what's going on and so they can't be expected to help and that's why the Share Campaign is so important." - Sam Mistrano, Human Services Alliance.
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Program and curriculum development of "Community Service Builds Strong Neighborhoods," promoting peer-activism with children and hunger in schools and communities.
- Creation of three TV commercials on poverty awareness, scheduled for public access.
- Service Opportunity Faire and Teach-In, a county-wide event where non-profit leaders, teachers, business professionals, activists and community members met for a one-day seminar on poverty, which generated support and volunteer -matching.
- Radio-thon on radio station KPFK consisting of a full-12 hour awareness programming on poverty and hunger issues in Los Angeles County.
- Development of a new website with resource avenues for volunteers to contribute time, funds, and expertise to hunger and poverty projects.
- Creation of The L.A. Hunger-Free Zone, a group of non-profits and community based agencies focused on hunger and poverty issues. A consortium of local poverty relief organizations, public officials, clergy, business professionals and media specialists supports Share With The Other LA. Among us are County Sheriff Lee Baca, Regional Food Bank chief Michael Flood, L.A. Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness executive director Bob Erlenbusch, Matt Sharp, Director of Los Angeles Office California Food Policy Advocates, and other poverty-relief and community leaders.
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