Brighter economy masks ongoing hunger in Valley

The ongoing barrage of headlines trumpeting the robust health of a rejuvenated American economy is almost deafening:

Unemployment levels in the United States have reached lows not seen in 50 years.

Consumer confidence has reached its highest peaks in 18 years.

Wage growth last month stretched generously across all public and private sectors of the American economy.

Amid such a tableau of prosperity, one would expect an erosion in many of the perverse side effects of an anemic economy, namely poverty and hunger.

In the Mahoning Valley, however, such suppositions would be misleading at best and downright false at worst. One vital gauge of the economic health of our community is measured daily by the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley. Over the past year, it has witnessed no dramatic reduction in need or requests for assistance.

Though unlike previous years when pleas for assistance grew by leaps and bounds, “requests for help from the general population have been flat over the past year,” Michael Iberis, the food bank’s executive director told The Vindicator on Thursday.

But that’s no cause for celebration. Even at levels on par with last year, the scope of poverty and hunger remain unacceptably high.

In addition, for some groups – most notably senior citizens and low-income families – the call for assistance continues to grow. The proof is in the ever- expanding number of food pantries in public schools, which now total 22, and the recent successful implementation of a partnership between the food bank and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office to deliver food for needy senior citizens throughout the region that has become a model for the state.

What’s more, the economic recovery in Greater Youngstown still lags far behind that of other parts of the state and nation. For example, Youngstown’s 6.9 percent jobless rate remains almost twice as high as the national average of 3.7 percent in October.

FEED OUR VALLEY

Therefore, the need for the food bank’s programs remains vital. And the need for public support of and contributions to one of its most successful food and fund drives of the year remains critical.

Feed Our Valley, the Emmy-Award winning community assistance program sponsored by 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, entered its 12th year of generous helping this week.

The campaign, formerly known as Project Feed Our Valley, ranks among the most productive drives of the year for the food bank.

Over its 12-year run, Feed Our Valley has provided more than 750,000 pounds of food and about $750,000 to make the Christmas season a bit merrier for the multitudes of those who remain down on their luck.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of ways to help make this year’s Feed Our Valley drive the best yet. Visit the agency’s website (mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org) for information on how best to take part.

Special food and fund campaigns under the auspices of Feed Our Valley continue over the next month. As of Thursday, at least 62 such FOV food- and fundraising drives are in full gear in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, Iberis said.

On Saturday and Sunday, those attending the opening of the annual “Memories of Christmas Past” exhibition at the Arms Family Museum of Mahoning Valley History on Wick Avenue in Youngstown will receive two admissions for the price of one to the popular holiday attraction with a donation of nonperishable food items.

We encourage individuals and community groups to support Feed Our Valley and the broader holiday campaigns of the region’s food bank. Their mission epitomizes the most noble spirit of the holiday season. And despite an improving economy, their mission remains one of the most critically needed humanitarian campaigns in our region.