More college students turn to food banks

[AP]

It's sad to see what happens to this country:

More college students turn to food banks

SEATTLE (AP) — Just blocks from the University of Washington, a line of people shuffle toward a food pantry, awaiting handouts such as milk and bread.

For years, the small University District pantry has offered help to the working poor and single parents in this neighborhood of campus rentals. Now rising food prices are bringing another group: Struggling college students.

"Right now, with things the way they are, a lot of students just can't afford to eat," said Terry Capleton, who started a Facebook group called "I Ain't Afraid to be on Food Stamps" when he was a student at Benedict College in South Carolina.

Some of the students are working their way through college with grants, loans and part-time jobs. Others are just reluctant to ask parents for more money.

"More and more, it's just the typical traditional student, about 18 to 22, that's feeling this crunch," said Larry Brickner-Wood, director of the Cornucopia Food Pantry at the University of New Hampshire.

"There's definitely been an increase in usage and demand. We're seeing more and more students that have never used the pantry before."

In the past year, the price of groceries has jumped nearly 5%, the highest increase in nearly two decades. The cost of some staples has shot up by more than 30%.

At the University District pantry in Seattle, demand has risen roughly 25% this year. About 150 students visit each week during the school year.

Membership in Capleton's Facebook group has steadily climbed, too, and sparked other online groups with names such as "I'm in College and I got on Food Stamps."

"A lot of students can't call their mom every day to ask for that extra fifty dollars," said Capleton, 24. "They're on their own."
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http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-25-food_N.htm

[Guest]

A state senator held a conference on this issue recently. Food and energy prices are soaring and it's getting harder for a lot of families to afford both. See a story at:

http://app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080723/NEWS/80723034

[Guest]

This is really unfortunate...food banks and pantries are all saying demand is up and supplies and donations are down. Hate to think what will happen when winter is here and people face their heating bills.

[Guest]

Yet I see many college students with iPods, the latest cell phone, driving nice cars, wearing designer clothes, hanging out in restaurants and bars.

I see women in the grocery stores using food stamps (or more recently the food debit cards), yet with their money buying the most expensive bottled water and wearing tons of gold jewelry.

There are people living in affordable housing driving BMW's.

There are many middle class families that can afford to buy their own food, but have found the food banks willing to hand out free food to them, so they take advantage

While I admit the increases in food and gas prices are crunching people, maybe people's priorities are not in order. The really sad thing is that the people who actually do need the help may not get it.

[Guest]

No doubt about it, some people are experts at working the system - at our expense and the expense of those that have legitimate need.

[Guest]

When I was in college my fraternity brothers and I volunteered at the local foodbank. That was in the mid-90's and college students would show up there looking for food even then. However, while it makes a good story, these same students would openly say they did it so they didn't have to spend money at the grocery store. They weren't hurting for food or money, they just wanted to get a hand out. Now, these same students if asked by the paper would likely say the same things, it's cost, we don't have money, etc...

The truth is that college kids work the system better than people realize and quite often lack the ethics or morals to realize they are taking from people who are less fortunate and need the food.

I guarantee these same students do have the cell phones, Ipods, and can be seen at the local bars or eating out.