NEWBURYPORT — Pennies for Poverty: Two Cents for Change will hold its spring food drive from March 19 to 21 at Shaw's in Port Plaza, just weeks after releasing its new 2010 report on the level of poverty in the city.
The most recent document, which includes older figures and statistics, again reminds the community of a startling figure, first reported by Pennies for Poverty last year: 44 percent of the Newburyport population is poor or at serious risk of being poor, said Pennies for Poverty founder Catherine Gould.
Pennies for Poverty: 2 Cents 4 Change Inc. was created two years ago as a volunteer group whose purpose is fundraising, promoting volunteerism and donations to food pantries and soup kitchens, and raising awareness about poverty in the city.
In a community like Newburyport, which is considered to be affluent, the need to raise awareness about poverty is great, Gould said.
"We need to take poverty and being poor out of the closet," she said yesterday. "It's hidden. It's a lot harder to be poor in an affluent community. People don't talk about it. People think of Newburyport as being one of the affluent cities — changing that perception is important."
Gould said the organization strives to educate the public on the factors of poverty and agencies that are available with assistance and aid. "There's nothing to be ashamed of," she said. "Most poverty is not caused by a human failing."
Poverty often stems from factors beyond one's control, Gould said, including the economy, the impact of government policies, medical problems, an unexpected life crisis or a lack of funding from programs like Social Security.
There are 711 households in Newburyport in "severe poverty" or having income less than $15,000, according to the report. There are 1,424 households in moderate poverty or living on less than $35,000. There are 1,345 households with annual incomes under $50,000 that are at risk of poverty.
According to Pennies for Poverty, for a person to have the adequate resources not to be poor in Newburyport, a single person needs to make $25,000; two adults, $35,000; and a family with two children needs to make $50,000. They defined severe poverty as earning less than $15,000, moderate poverty as less than $35,000 and a serious risk of poverty as earning less than $50,000, depending on family size.
Gould has submitted copies of the Pennies for Poverty annual report to local and state officials, as well as U.S. Sens. Scott Brown and John Kerry.
Gould noted that the report is based on older numbers, including some from 2006, before the economic downturn hit. "It's striking," she said. "The more we're able to talk about poverty and being poor, the more support they'll get."
The spring food drive will benefit five area food pantries: Community Action, Community Service, Our Neighbors' Table, Pettengill House and the Salvation Army.
The group is also seeking donations for the 2 Cent Grant Fund and Local Needs Fund. The Local Needs money collected at the Spring Food Drive will be donated to Community Service for non-food necessary items, such as personal care items.
For more information on the Pennies for Poverty campaign or to download the group's new report, visit http://www.2cents4change.com or call Catherine Gould at 978-463-0507. The organization's Board of Directors is currently looking for new volunteers.
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