Last year, UCLA's Center for Health Policy Research estimated there were 957,000 adults in Los Angeles County who experienced "food insecurity" annually, including 287,000 who go hungry.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as the "limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways."
It describes hunger as the "uneasy or painful sensation caused by the lack of food. [Or] the recurrent and involuntary lack of access to food."
In June, a new study by the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank found that 657,000 local residents go to food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters every year because they don't get enough to eat.
Released on National Hunger Awareness Day, "Hunger in Los Angeles County 2006" documents the growing tragedy of domestic hunger in the nation's so-called "golden" state.
"Even though food pantries and soup kitchens are serving more people than ever, these agencies are also reporting the need for more food to meet the growing demand for food assistance," declared Foodbank President Michael Flood. "With 31 percent of food pantries turning away clients with 'lack of food resources' being one of the primary reasons, we are recommending that new and increased commitments be made to meet this growing demand."
The study points out that during the past four years, 62 percent of food pantries and 69 percent of soup kitchens saw their number of clients climb. Adults, 18 to 64, were by far the main group looking for emergency food assistance (57 percent). But 28 percent were children and 15 percent senior citizens.
Arguably the most startling statistic, however, concerned the employment status of those who sought assistance. Almost a third (31 percent) of the working-age adults were employed, with most working full time.
"Hunger continues to be a significant issue that impacts many residents of Los Angeles County," the report stated. "Today, hunger not only affects the 'visible needy,' such as the growing homeless population, but people whose struggle is often hidden from society - working families, senior citizens, children, single-parent families, disabled individuals and the unemployed."
How can that be? How can a family go hungry with at least one adult member working?
To find out, The Tidings didn't have to look far. The Rodriguez family of Compton, parishioners of St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church in Watts, are what sociologists call a "case study" - in this case, an example of hard-working people who struggle daily to make ends meets and put food on their table, yet sometimes fail.
Running out of food
Two weeks ago, the family of six, including four children, ages six to 12, simply ran out of food. What saved them was a Ralph's gift certificate for $100 and a couple bags of groceries from the food pantry at St. Lawrence.
This summer has been particularly tough. Mother Maria is out of work as a teacher's aide, but still in the process of getting unemployment benefits. And since the kids aren't going to school, they're not receiving reduced-priced lunches.
Father Jose, a 35-year-old picture-framer, has only gotten one raise in five years, bringing his hourly wage up to $8 an hour. With overtime, his take-home pay ranges from $280 to $400 a week. That only leaves the family with $600 every month after paying $1,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.
"This summer definitely has been hard," Maria reports. "I'm not sure, but I would say we've run out of food a couple of days and have been low on food a lot. There have been days, several days, where we did not have anything to eat. And then other days, it's like we are very limited.
"It's difficult, especially when you have small kids," she says. "I tell them, 'Just think about it this way: You have to leave some for your brothers and sisters. You have to think about them.' And they do pull back. But they're still hungry - the four of them. So at times my husband and I will say it's OK if we don't eat for today. Or we just eat like once that day."
Twice a week, Maria often comes to St. Lawrence's food pantry. She takes home a few loaves of bread along with two or three bags of mostly canned goods, including vegetables, tomato and spaghetti sauce, tuna, Hamburger Helper and pasta. Carefully watching the family's tight budget, she buys milk, meat, some fresh vegetables and fruits, plus soap, detergents and other necessary home items.
Meals are routine. Cereal, mostly corn flakes, for breakfast; baloney sandwiches for lunch; and either cooked rice with chicken or spaghetti with a salad for dinner.
"Food is our priority," says the 39-year-old woman. "So I try to stretch it out as much as I can. But I must admit that there have been times where we have gone throughout the day without a meal. Because even though I try to stretch it, it runs out. Sometimes, the kids like to eat seconds, and it's like: 'No, you can't do that. Once is enough.'
"And when I completely run out, I come to the parish," she reports, almost whispering now and wiping her eyes. "I must be honest. Sometimes I am very embarrassed to come."
Life trade-offs
There are trade-offs, of course. Some big, some seemingly small.
Jose, Sr., has only three pair of pants, all are threadbare. Whenever Maria says he should buy a new pair, he's got a ready reply: "No, I'm going to fix them."
Maria, herself, has skipped going to the doctor - even to the emergency room - because she couldn't afford the co-pay before she was able to enroll in Medi-Cal. "When you don't have money, and you don't have food in the house, you'd rather go buy the food than go to the doctor," she explains.
The mother worries more about sons Luis, Miguel and Jose and daughter Gabriela, who don't go to movies or other places that cost money.
"When they say, 'How come I don't get to go out with my friends or have a CD player?' I tell them, 'You just have to live a simple life as much as you can, because we are not going to be able to afford it. So just try to make the best out of it and enjoy right now that you're young,'" she says.
"But it's very stressful for them. Even for me it's stressful, so I imagine for them it's even worse. Because you're trying to have a young child grow up at such an early age. They don't need to deal with that. But it's a reality; you need to let them know.
"I let them know," she adds. "We don't have money. We don't have food. As a parent, it's my responsibility so they can be able to understand it."
The big thing is just to keep everyone's spirits up and to stay strong, she says.
The Rodriguez family prays at meals. They go to Mass on Sundays. Faith is the bedrock of strength for both Maria and Jose. It's why they send their children to Catholic school, where they receive tuition scholarships from the parish and American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach.
The parents try to pay back by volunteering their time and talents at St. Lawrence.
Maria says, "We never dreamed that our children would be able to get a private Catholic education," smiling now and shaking her head. "I tell them that people are helping us in school and at church. People are doing good things for us, so we need to be grateful. And you need to do the best at school so you can go to college and be a professional and do good things for other people, too." |