TresSugar

How to Help Meal Delivery Programs Hit by Food, Fuel Costs

CitizenSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:30:23 -0700

It's easy to see the economic toll on food and fuel in our own everyday lives - but the effect is trickling down past commuters and bargain shoppers to silver citizens who rely on meal delivery programs to survive. Advocates for the elderly nationwide are concerned that many seniors are going or will go hungry soon - and blame the 20 percent increase in fuel and food prices over the past year, as well as leveling or reduced government subsidies and a failing economy.

According to the Meals on Wheels Association of America, nearly 60 percent of the 5,000 programs have lost volunteers, most of whom say they can no longer afford gas. This has resulted in the elimination or consolidation of entire routes and nearly 38 percent are now serving frozen instead of hot meals. Another 30 percent are reducing personal visits from five to one day per week. To see how some states are fighting back, and what you can do to help, read more.

In West Virginia, where nearly 15 percent of the population is above 60 years of age and more than two-thirds live in rural communities, lawmakers have furnished an extra $1 million to aid agencies with food and gas. Without this assistance, the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services would be forced to eliminate nearly 113,000 meals and allow 100,000 fewer trips for doctors appointments.

Many states are facing similar hardships for the poor and elderly and in some cases like New York, they won’t be able to provide extra funding - forcing the city to cut back on services. Meetings are currently underway there to decide who will no longer receive meals and visits. In California, senior programs are facing a 10 percent cut in funding.

In the meantime, you can help a senior citizen continue to receive the food aid they need. Check out Meals on Wheels to find out how to how to donate your time, money, or start a new program of your own!

Source

Kids Go Hungry Over Weekend, Backpack Program Helps

CitizenSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:00:14 -0700

This story caught my eye this morning because I thought it was the other Hillary - but getting my Clinton confused with my Duff led me to this great charity: Blessings in a Backpack.

It makes so much sense - there are 16.3 million kids getting free or reduced price lunches through the National School Lunch Program - so who feeds those kids on the weekend? The Blessings program packs backpacks with nonperishable food and passes them out at the end of the week to keep kids going until school rolls around on Monday. Food charity programs like this and Meals on Wheels fulfill a need especially poignant when economic times get tough.

Hilary Duff was in Fort Wayne, IN, to publicize the program. She said:

I feel lucky enough to have a voice or a name that people might pay attention to. I think that people might not be aware that a couple neighborhoods away, kids aren't having food on the weekends, and we just want people to be informed and to know what's going on in their communities and to help if they can.

To see why the need is so great, and how you can help, read more.

Here are some surprising stats on food stamp benefits that signal a need for more help:

A household is ineligible for the Food Stamp Program if it has more than $2,000 in savings or other assets.
The USDA calculated that there were 12.4 million children that were at hungry or at risk in 2005, the year the program started.
The average per-person food stamp benefit is .93 a meal.

If you want to help the Blessings in a Backpack program, there are lots of ways to donate time, money, and resources.

Source

Rule #3 For Jump-Starting Your Summer Fun

DearSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:00:00 -0700

Rule Number 3

Take advantage of all this season has to offer and spice up your dating routine. While Winter might be about holing yourself up inside with bundles of blankets and a hearty meal, Summer is all about adventure and pleasure. I’ve got a few ideas just perfect for some Summer romance. To see them, and weigh in with your own, read more.

It’s concert season! I’m sure at least one band or singer you’ve been dying to see is making their way to a venue near you right now. Interest in music is a great way to bond and a fantastic show will always make for a memorable date.
Grabbing dinner and catching the newest blockbuster is a safe date, but why not kick it up a notch in true Summer style and make it a picnic? Many counties countrywide offer movie nights in the park. There’s nothing more romantic, and all it requires is a blanket and some homemade sandwiches!
Warm weather means festivals and fairs. Keep your date casual, but totally classic with a trip to your county or state fair. Ride the Ferris wheel, check out the livestock, enjoy food on a stick, and let him prove his affection by winning you a giant, stuffed cartoon character.
Do the obvious and host a potluck BBQ. Getting a group together to enjoy Summer’s bounty of refreshing chow is a great way to get to know someone in a different setting, while staying in the comfort of your own home.

Whatever you do, don’t be afraid to do something different. Your date will appreciate you for thinking outside of the box.

Source

Drunk Chick From 40 Year Old Virgin

GiggleSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:32:48 -0700

Hot drunk chicks are so fun--but not if they're behind the wheel. In this clip from Forty Year Old Virgin, Steve Carell's character meets a woman at a club who is a few fries short of a Happy Meal. It just gets funnier and funnier...