Hunger is a real but often hidden problem in our community. More and more people are seeking help from food banks, shelters and emergency kitchens due to loss of employment, reduction in work hours, rising food costs and/or elimination of benefits. The USDA reports that in the United States more than 36.2 million people, including 12.4 million children live in “food insecure” households – meaning they don’t have dependable, consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious foods to maintain good health.  For the past several years, we have maintained a small emergency food pantry that operated out of the church. Listed below are suggestions for our food closet.