Philadelphia Area Ranked Among Food-Neediest In U.S.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - For the second year in a row, Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District has one of the highest rates of hunger in the nation.
The 1st Congressional District includes South Philadelphia, parts of North and Central Philadelphia, Chester and other parts of Delaware County. And this year, it ranks fourth highest in the nation for food hardship, according to the latest "Food Hardship in America" report.
Carey Morgan, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, says this should be a red flag for policymakers.
"Unless people start coming out and telling legislators that this problem is unacceptable, nothing is going to be done at the higher policy level that's going to have an impact," she told KYW Newsradio today.
The report doesn't surprise Pamela Jones, the food coordinator for True Vine Baptist Church at 5th and Lehigh in North Philadelphia. Sometimes, she says, she has to turn away some of the people who come looking for food.
"We do the best that we can. But if we had more help financially, that would help to make ends meet," she says.
Reported by Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio 1060.
