Child Watch Issue 2

Children in Crisis

According to the 2010 U.S. Census the children of our nation are in crisis… at 22% the child poverty rate is the highest it has been since 1993. Of the top 50 cities with the most children living in poverty, eight are in California, more than any other state in the U.S. And closer to home, nearly 33% of Oakland’s children are living in households that fall below the poverty level set by the government.

While the East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC) can’t change these depressing statistics, we can help make life a little easier during the holiday season when families struggling financially are under significant pressure to spend money they simply don’t have.

Operation Cranberry Sauce in November saw EBAC hand out 225 complete Thanksgiving meals and 200 turkeys to families who would otherwise have gone without. Thank you to Crosswinds Church in Dublin who donated the meals and The East Bay Nation of Men who donated the turkeys for event.

“The East Bay Nation of Men (EBNoM) is pleased to support EBAC families facing challenges during the holidays,” said Philip Garrison, EBNoM. “We sincerely hope that their holiday season will be brighter with a little help from us.”

Operation Cranberry Sauce was started in 1999 by former EBAC Hawthorne Family Resource Center student, Pam Fabri, when 23 turkeys were given to families in need.

The EBNoM were also quick to help during the Christmas holidays with a further donation of 200 turkeys. Their two donations valued at almost $6,000, have made a real difference to families who were facing a less than festive holiday.

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