Friday, January 17, 2003

Farm Bureau sets Food Check-Out Day

Food in the United States is affordable. In fact, between January 1 and February 6, 2003, the average American will have earned enough income to pay for his or her family's food supply for an entire year, according to the South Fulton County Farm Bureau.

As a result, February 6 has been set as Farm Bureau's Food Check-Out Day. According to the latest statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service, American families and individuals currently spend, on average, just 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food.

Applying the current 10 percent statistic to the calendar year, it means the average household will have earned enough disposable income - that portion of income available for spending or saving - to pay for its annual food supply in just 37 days.

To celebrate our safe and abundant food supply, South Fulton County Farm Bureau is participating in a statewide Food Check-Out Day event.

During January and early February they will be taking donations which will go to a charity and also provide food and assistance for the Ronald McDonald House of Central Georgia.

"Many of us take for granted that we have the most safe and affordable food in the world," said J. Wayne Stradling, South Fulton Farm Bureau President.

"We want to share that abundance with those less fortunate in our community and be a part of the statewide effort to provide food for one of the Ronald McDonald Houses in Georgia."

For every donation made at the South Fulton Farm Bureau Office, the donor's name will be written on a special card and displayed during the donation period.

"Of the money collected during this time, half will stay here for us to assist a charity in South Fulton County. The other half will go to the Georgia Farm Bureau Women's Committee, the sponsor of the statewide effort, to help provide food for the visiting families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Central Georgia,"said Peggi Earnest, South Fulton County Farm Bureau Women's Committee Chair.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a "home-away-from-home" for the families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment in the area.

Food is a primary need at each of these houses. Each year, the Georgia Farm Bureau Women's Committee will rotate the state focus to a different Ronald McDonald House. For this first year of celebrating our affordable food on a state level, the Committee has selected the new Ronald McDonald House of Central Georgia.

"We are proud to be a part of the statewide commemoration as well as our activities here on the county level," said Peggi Earnest, Women's Chair.