Putting food on the table

First, some good consumer news about food as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday week: The cost of a typical turkey dinner with trimmings is virtually unchanged from two years ago. And in Eastern Iowa, it'll cost you about $7 less to feed a gathering of 10, compared to the national average grocery bill.

The bad news is that more Americans and Iowans are struggling to put enough food on the table, much less able to afford the luxury of a big Thanksgiving meal that many of us take for granted.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its biannual “food security” report this week. The survey found that one of every seven households - 14.6 percent, representing 49 million people - lacked the resources for adequate food in 2008. That's a big jump from 11.1 percent two years ago.

State figures are averaged over a three-year period. In Iowa, the rate combined from 10.9 percent of households for 2003-05 to 11.6 percent for 2006-08.

Certainly, the numbers are probably higher now. Nationwide, the jobless rate in October reached 10.2 percent - the worst since 1983 - as the recession's fallout continued to hit Americans hard.

This is all troubling in a nation known as a land of plenty. The long-term fix is to get business back in higher gear and spur job creation.

But that won't happen overnight.

In the meantime, all of us who are able should assist our neighbors in need. One of the best ways to do that is supporting local food banks and pantries with donations of cash or food items. Most agencies are reporting heavy demand on their stocks.

During this holiday season, one appropriate way to give thanks is to ensure our neighbors don't go hungry. Adjacent is a list of agencies you can contact to donate. Please do what you can to help.

Food assistance

Following are area food banks and agencies providing food assistance; contact them for more information on donating or getting food:

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1515 Hawkeye Drive

Hiawatha

(319) 393-7811

Community action program serves as food distributor to agencies in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties.

HACAP Food Reservoir

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310 Fifth St. SE

Cedar Rapids

(319) 364-3543

Linn Community Food Bank

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137 Fourth St. N

Central City

(319) 438-6691

Northeast Linn Food Pantry

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1121 Gilbert Court

Iowa City

(319) 351-0128

WHAT'S NEEDED

Cash is welcome at most agencies as well as donations of non-perishable food items; those most commonly needed include: peanut butter; baby formula; canned meat, fruit and vegetables; canned/box soups and stews; and pasta and rice.

Johnson County Crisis Center Food Bank