Philadelphia's food banks are a reason to give thanks all year 'round

Have you ever missed lunch?

Remember that gnawing feeling in the pit of your stomach that wouldn't go away?

It was hard to get your work done, hard to concentrate. If you were at school, it was a struggle to listen to the teacher and remember the lesson. All you could think about was getting something to eat.

For thousands of children and families across our region, hunger is more than missing lunch. According to a study just released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 17 million families across the nation struggled to get enough food in the last year.

And the hunger curve rises as income falls.

From Philadelphia, our poorest county, to Chester County, one of the top 25 most-affluent counties in the nation, we are seeing the number of people living in poverty rise in the double digits. Here in Philadelphia, one in four people live below the poverty line - and a third of them are children.

As the recession lingers, unemployment continues to climb.

In September, about 70,000 Philadelphians were looking for work. Only three years earlier, that figure was 39,500.

Adding to the problem is the likelihood that as many as 2 million Americans may lose their unemployment extension benefits if Congress doesn't act soon.

Philabundance is the region's largest hunger-relief organization, providing emergency food and services to approximately 900,000 people at risk of hunger and malnutrition throughout the Delaware Valley - and beyond.

We have seen need increase 22 percent in the past year, and 66 percent over the last two years.

And Philabundance is working to combat the issue by feeding more than 65,000 hungry people a week for less than 30 cents a meal.

How do we pull it off? It's not easy.

A problem of this magnitude demands a multifaceted response.

We work with more than 500 agencies to get our food out there.

We started the Emergency Relief Initiative to directly respond, with the help of the our Food Helpline, 1-800-319-Food (3663), and emergency food boxes to tide families over through a rough patch.

With the help of our partners, we also opened the Community Food Center, where clients can "shop" for food in a grocerylike setting. And our Fresh for All produce program provides free fruits and vegetables in our own spin on a farmer's market.

But just as the problem continues to grow, the solutions must also keep coming. That is why we are asking for your help. Philabundance invites you to join us in our battle against hunger. Check out our website, www.philabundance.org, to learn more about making a donation, holding a food drive and volunteering.

So this Thanksgiving, as you join your family and loved ones around the table for a day of rest, and to reflect on all that you are grateful for, I will be doing the same.

However, it remains my priority to continue fighting hunger in our region - and it is my fervent hope that you will join me in that fight.

Bill Clark is president and executive director of Philabundance.