Many mountain residents know poverty, and many neighbors care deeply

By Marcy Axness, TME

The covid-19 pandemic has had cruel impacts on the ability of those who have lost their jobs overnight to afford food and rent. Anxiety has struck hardest at those who are already struggling with poor health, advanced age, low wages and the needs that often accompany these circumstances.

“They don’t have things hoarded away in their cupboards and pantries,” explains Lebec resident Terre Ashmore.
Local food distribution programs such as the Salvation Army’s Commodities Food Bank, Senior Sack and the food pantry run by the Mountain Communities Family Resource Center make it possible for many to survive with so little monthly income.

“We don’t have enough money to go buy big quantities,” Ashmore said, “or the room to store it in, anyway.”

Commodities

“Commodities” is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program, designed to…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Above: Twenty crates of food were delivered to the Mountain Communities Family Resource Center (FRC) on Monday, April 8, by (right) food security and homelessness activist Shari Rightmer, from two nonprofits she guides, the Shar-On Corporation and Laborers of the Harvest, both based in Taft. FRC board member Mel Weinstein, of Pine Mountain Club, is recruiting donations of money and food. Call him at 310.829.6868 to help.

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This is part of the April 10, 2020 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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