NEWSFLASH               

California Outreach Organization helps with food:
Soaring Poverty causes malnutrition and hunger
Almost 50 Million Americans are officially in poverty – Real numbers are estimated to be much higher

(OC, Feb. 2012) As California Outreach Organization, a non-profit Organization with the mission to feed the needy reports, the numbers of Americans in need are soaring.  Another 2.6 Million Americans slipped below the poverty line last year, according to the US census bureau.  This brings the official number of Americans who live below poverty level up to 46.2 million. This is the highest number in the 52 years the bureau has published figures.

The report said that 15.1 percent of Americans were living below the poverty line last year. This year is likely not any better with more Americans at the middle and lower parts of the income ladder have lost their jobs.  In addition, the disappointing economic recovery has done nothing for the country’s poorest citizens.  Joblessness is the main culprit more and more Americans are pushed into poverty.

Last year, about 48 million Americans of the ages 18-64 did not work even one week out of the year. And this number has even grown higher this year. Once you have been out of work for a long time, it is  very difficult to get back.

This economic picture also translates seamlessly to nutrition and food. The magnitude of the nutrition and health challenge that was a side effect of the economic downturn has raised great concern in many circles of society. California Outreach has their mission cut out: Reducing hunger and malnutrition for families with children and older Americans who have been hit the hardest by the growing crisis.

“Real Meals” with California Outreach Organization

(OC, Okt. 2011) California Outreach has been appointed as an agency for distribution of the Real Meals Program which is a project of OC Food Access, Second Harvest Food Bank, Community Senior Serv, and Whole Foods Market. Real Meals is a new food assistance program in Orange County. Meals are prepared using fresh and nutritious ingredients and do not rely on salt, sugar and fats for flavor.

Starting in October 2011 we here at California Outreach are part of a twelve month test program and deliver weekly different meals to the seniors and families that we assist. Every four month they will receive 4 - 5 different meals from us that they can heat up in a microwave oven.  We anticipate that California Outreach will receive approximately 50 meals each week for distribution.

California Outreach will be in charge of the client group logistic and distribution. Each recipient will also be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire. The University in Fullerton will evaluate the completed forms to better understand food choices and challenges in the struggle to obtain good and nutritious food.