OK, this is not the sort of news I can make too many jokes about. So I’ll refrain. Apparently, due to the crazy Eeekconomy, so many folks are requiring emergency meals from food banks that they are seeing shortages in what they’re able to provide.

For instance, at the LA Food Bank, they have seen an increase of more than a third in food delivered to the many chartiable organizations that they service. And because of the terrible economic climate and rising unemployment, donations are not keeping up with the demand. The thought is that it might become so bad in some locations that some sort of national effort might be necessary.

It’s terrible all around, but it’s pretty hard to believe sometimes that there are so many people in this country that aren’t able to get enough to eat every day. As I’ve said previously, over the years, I’ve gotten quite a few emails from people who were seriously, seriously interested in ways to save money on food. One guy actually wanted to know how to calculate the number of calories per day that he would need to survive on, because he couldn’t afford to buy food.

So yeah, I feel a little guilty writing frivolous articles when it’s a matter of survival for some people. I got most of those letters back in 2004-2005 when the economy was much healthier. I can only imagine the increase in the number of folks today to who this applies.

Source: Lisa Baertlein for Reuters, Shop Talk