Economy: Slump driving families to seek summer assistance

[flashl]

NASHVILLE - Poverty experts say more families are turning to free summer camps, food banks and emergency food aid to deal with the slumping economy.

With a month left in its fiscal year, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has served 18 percent more people with emergency food than in 2006-07. The number of Tennesseans receiving food stamps has risen about 7 percent this year, and their benefits haven't kept pace with food prices.

Crystal FitzSimons with the Food Research and Action Center in Washington, D.C. says the demand for emergency food increases even more in summer months because students are no longer receiving breakfast and lunch at school.

She says that can be tough on lower-income families because they don't have additional resources to feed the children.

Knox News

[bobbolink]

1. The "benefits won't keep pace" because benefits, such as they are, are only figured once a year.

We're screwed for this year.

Hopefully, grocery prices will go sky high. THEN there will actually be a more true cost-of-living increase.

Because, as I understand it, the COLA is pegged by grocery prices.

They don't usually rise nearly as much as rent, etc.

It's all very fucked.