RI economy prompts need for increased resources

12/04/08 - With state unemployment climbing to 9.3 percent, many Rhode Islanders are having trouble making ends meet. This, coupled with the approaching holiday season, is putting new stress on families and community resources trying to help them. "As the economy continues to struggle, there are Rhode Islanders losing their jobs," Michael Cerio, communication manager at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, said. "People have less resources to make ends meet."

As a result, many people have to make the crucial decision of what is most important and are forced to choose between paying for heating bills and purchasing groceries.

"The working class people are finding their way to the food banks," Cerio said. "The lines at the food bank are longer" than years past, he said.

The problem has become far-reaching. According to the Food Bank, 11 percent of Rhode Island households have problems affording food. This affects 115,000 people statewide, and 40,000 of those people are children.

The North Kingstown Food Pantry has also seen a distinct increase in people needing assistance getting food.

"It's roughly 35 percent to 40 percent higher than last year," Bonnie Smith, the director of the food pantry, said.

"When food stamps come out so early in December, that has to last until February," she said, and it is oftentimes impossible for families. "I see January and the rest of the winter as being pretty horrendous."

Generally, the holiday season does mark a distinct increase in food donations.

"That's when people's hearts are open," Smith said.

However, even with increased donations, the food shelters are still struggling to provide for their clients. "Food is leaving just as fast as it comes in," Cerio said.

"Giving will drop down tremendously in January," Smith said. "Mid-January and February is when you really find that it's getting hard."

Along with increased food shortages comes a distinct rise in homelessness.

"We have been seeing a record number of homeless families," said Cicely Dove, director of family housing at the Crossroads shelter in Providence. "Everyone's feeling this, whether you're at the top of the tier or the bottom."

With the foreclosure and unemployment crises sweeping the nation, the shelter has also had to take in many clients from out of state who were unsuccessful in finding jobs in Rhode Island.

One single father, originally from Massachusetts, had owned his own business and home just a year ago. Now he is living at Crossroads with his son.

"It's pretty tragic," Dove said.

With the holiday season upon us, being in a shelter has become much more difficult for many people.

"One of the greatest struggles is being in a shelter at this time of year," Dove said.

In particular, children often have a difficult time spending the holiday in shared quarters among strangers. Their children's anxiety, in turn, puts added stress on parents.

"[The holidays] are a reminder of things lost," Dove said.

Like the food banks, the shelters, too, are struggling.

As the state's leading organization, Crossroads is the "end all and be all" of resources for the homeless, she said. While currently overcapacity, the organization is working to make ends meet.

However, large-scale donations have been made to help alleviate the stress on shelters and food banks. Yesterday, the Rhode Island Foundation granted $500,000 in emergency relief money to be evenly split among Crossroads, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and the Salvation Army Good Neighbor Energy Fund.

"That gift will go a long way this holiday," Cerio said. "While that won't solve everything, it will give us the opportunity to reach out to more families."

While this donation certainly helps renew these resources, much is still needed to ensure that all of Rhode Island's struggling families are assisted.

Though monetary donations are always welcome, the shelters and food banks are open for help in many other capacities.

Through rifoodbank.org, concerned citizens can send "Advocacy" letters to their senators or representatives, promoting increased federal funding for the R.I. Food Bank.

The Crossroads shelter is also looking for volunteers to help do fun activities with the kids, from reading them books to helping them bake cookies.

In general, the services urge people to consider the breadth and scope of the homelessness and food shortages.

"These are our neighbors, our friends, our children-people we see everyday that are affected," Cerio said.