Real People Need Help Now...Not Months From Now

It is stories like this that make the petty obstructionism of the Republicans in Congress on issues of health care, education, job training, and unemployment relief so Mickey Mouse and, dare I say, immoral... It also makes you appreciate all of the great work so many selfless individuals are doing to help others. If you can afford to, drop a local food pantry a donation.

From WEAU TV 13:

"I'm just thankful that it's here,” says Amanda Tew, standing in an aisle of the St. Francis Food Bank in Eau Claire.

Tew doesn't just work at there—She shops there, too.

"I have been looking for work since December and even with my work history and with one class shy of an associate's degree I can't find work," says Tew.

Since February, she's seen the need increase.

"Some days the line is out the door for quite awhile. Last week we had a line out the door for two hours at the beginning of the day. It's helping a lot of people right now,” says Tew. “They don't qualify for food stamps but still qualify here."

Tew says anyone making less than 1500 dollars a month, regardless of employment or family status, can get help at St. Francis Food Bank.

Chippewa County Economic Support Manager Mark Nelson says the number of people applying for state-run Food Share programs has skyrocketed 15 percent in the past two months.

"For all the factory closings that you see, we can almost predict how many people we'll see by how many get laid off,” says Nelson.

Nelson says 11, 333 people currently are enrolled in Badger Care or some other state assisted health program; the amount of people applying increased 20 percent over the past year. That’s around 20 percent of the population of Chippewa County. Not all the people on Badger Care are unemployed or lower income. Many people are middle income but do not have adequate health insurance through their own employer.

Eau Claire County has seen also seen a 12 percent increase in the past 6 months in people applying for Food Share, and many of them are first timers.

"You'd be surprised. It can happen to any one of us,” says Linda Struck at Eau Claire County Human Services.

Eau Claire County has seen a 23 percent increase in people applying for Badger Care in the past six months. Struck says the applicants come from all walks of life.

Those helping people in need say the economic downturn has done one good thing—It’s broken down some of the stigma of seeking public help.

"There's no reason to be embarrassed,” says Tew.

"You can apply online, or over the phone,” says Nelson. “That way they're not seen at the welfare office, so to speak.