Opinion

Our View: Poverty problem finds local solutions


Published: June 26, 2008

As we struggle to deal with inflation, economic sluggishness, and soaring gas and food costs, poverty is being spread to a new demographic.

Food pantries throughout Greater Newburyport are reporting a surge in requests for food, as well as steady growth in attendance at meals. Pantries are noting a trend — many working families who tread just above the line are now finding they can no longer afford to pay for some of the basic needs.

It's good to see people are understanding the problem and taking action. We have two examples here in Newburyport to point out:

Laurie Ingersoll and Catherine Yesair-Gould have established "Pennies for Poverty: Two Cents for Change." They hope that if every Newburyporter donates 2 cents a day, they can put a tremendous dent in local poverty. Such an effort would raise $125,000.

The group estimates that in Newburyport there are about 2,417 people living below the poverty level.

"People say, it doesn't apply to me," Ingersoll told The Daily News. "We want people to realize that poverty is in their backyard."

They will be holding an organizational meeting on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Belleville Congregational Church.

Kim Keene, the parent of a Newburyport High School teen, organized a summerlong food drive with the help of the high school's Interact club. The teens are going door to door in their neighborhoods, collecting food for Pettengill House. The first one was held earlier this month; subsequent food drives will be held on Saturday, July 12, and Saturday, Aug. 9.

"Places like Pettengill don't get a lot of food donations this time of year," Keene said. "People need food 12 months a year."

We're lucky to have a wealth of well-run local aid agencies — such as Pettengill House, Our Neighbors' Table, Community Action and the Salvation Army to name a few. They are in constant need of community support, and it takes volunteers and coordinated efforts to make that happen.

We applaud these two efforts, and hope that they will spur us all to help address the poverty problem.