Hunger in Roanoke
Did you know that 39% of children living in the city of Roanoke receive food stamps? Neither did I.
On Sunday I was idly thumbing through my iPhone when I came across an article titled “Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades”. Many of the folks connected to the mission centers, if not all, receive food stamps. Most data I’ve seen comes from 2007, before the recession really took root. I’ve been hungry for new data to reflect the realty I see everyday at the mission centers.
The numbers are not pretty.
Nationally, one in four children are on food stamps. 20,000 people enroll everyday.
Read that again.
For the city of Roanoke, one in five people receive food stamps. Even more astonishing, 39% of children are on food stamps. Two out of every five children receive food stamps.
Personally, I knew it was bad, but my guess would have been about 25%, not 39%.
Food stamp applications are up 30% since 2007. Compared to surrounding localities, the number of people receiving food stamps are much higher. However, the percentage change from 2007 is high in all areas.
The need is great. The mission centers are located in some of the hardest hit areas in Roanoke. We’re doing what we can, but we cannot serve these folks in Jesus’ name without the support of our churches.
Thank you to all who have helped, and continue to help. This is a problem that won’t go away anytime soon.
(View the interactive graphic)
