Friday, January 16, 2004

 

Food in the United States is affordable

In fact, in only about 40 days, 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 5, 2004 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.

To celebrate the 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 to assist the hungry in the county and provide food and assistance for the Ronald McDonald House of West Georgia.

“Not only is America’s food supply the world’s safest, but it’s also the most affordable,” said Wayne Stradling, president of South Fulton County Farm Bureau. “It speaks well of our nation’s increasing standard of living, which would certainly be reduced without the safe, abundant and affordable domestic food supply produced by America’s farmers and ranchers. 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 Farm County 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 the hungry 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 West Georgia, “said Peggie 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 the affordable food on a state level, the Committee has selected the Ronald McDonald House of West Georgia in Columbus.

“We are proud to be a part of the statewide commemoration as well as our activities here on the county level.” Said Peggie Earnest, Women’s Chair.