Jeanne Liston is the executive director of The Hunger Coalition, based in Blaine County.
By JEANNE LISTON
This Thanksgiving, as you sit down to a sumptuous feast, I'd like you to take a few moments to think about Alex*. Alex is a 5-year-old boy whose dad lost his construction job two and a half months ago, along with 13 other co-workers. It's slack, after all, and jobs are scarce for everyone in this economy. His mom, Marie, works at a real estate office during the day, waits tables a few nights a week, and sells beauty products on the side to bring in some extra cash. They're doing their best to make ends meet, but real estate is pretty slow these days and the restaurant just isn't as busy as it used to be.
Alex's dad, Joe, managed to find occasional odd jobs and was excited about an upcoming remodeling project that needed his help. Unfortunately, everything changed the day Joe slipped off his roof and injured his back. He'd climbed up to repair some shingles and hit an ice patch. While they have insurance, it isn't covering nearly enough and the savings they had were practically wiped out when Joe was laid off.
Marie came to the local food bank, The Hunger Coalition, for the first time with head bowed.
"I never imagined I would be the one asking for help," she said. "I've always been one to help others."
She admitted that they were forced to choose between the daily necessities of life—such as paying rent, utilities and Joe's medical bills—and buying food. Sadly, food was one area where they could cut back.
"Often, I skip dinner to make sure Alex gets food, but I can tell he's still hungry."
She was relieved that he could get hot meals at school, but evenings and weekends were tough for them all.
Thanks to the generosity of this community, Alex and his parents are now able to enjoy dinners together. The Hunger Coalition provides them a weekly food box containing both staples and fresh food to help get them through the week. In addition, the coalition connected them to the other wonderful services available in this valley.
We are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers serving weekly hot meals in Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum. Thanks to the commitment of teachers and students at Silver Creek High School, Alex and many others will be able to know the joy of turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie this Thursday due to the Thanksgiving Baskets program. Best of all, Alex no longer has to worry about going hungry on the weekends. Each Friday, thanks to The Hunger Coalition's Backpack Club, he discreetly receives a backpack stuffed full of kid-friendly food to get him through the weekend.
As we hear statistics like the recent study that indicates some 17 million Americans live with food insecurity, it's important to note that this isn't just a national statistic with no relevance in the Wood River Valley. There are hungry people in our community. Many are parents like Joe and Marie who have never had to reach out for assistance before. They come to our minds at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but hunger is year-round.
Local soup kitchens report serving double and triple the numbers from a year ago. The Hunger Coalition has helped nearly 600 families seeking emergency food assistance this year, providing over 130,000 meals to date.
So as you give thanks this holiday season, remember Alex and know that The Hunger Coalition in partnership with our amazing community is working hard to stamp out the hunger that exists right here at home and to provide food, and hope, to all.
*Alex's story is purely representational and describes challenges faced by many families in our community.
