Departments



Articles

Editorial: Anti-Environmental Bill: Save Florida From Harm
May 16th, 2013

Editorial: Problem Ordinances
May 8th, 2012

Editorial: Cedar Key Arts Show
April 28th, 2012

Editorial: Cedar Key Arts Show
April 20th, 2012

Editorial: Status of Nuclear Power as Savior
March 15th, 2012

Editorial: Advice to Letter Writers
February 13th, 2012

Editorial: 2011 is History
January 7th, 2012

Editorial: The History of Island Nations
December 24th, 2011

Editorial: Why You DON’T Pay for the Cedar Key News Online
November 11th, 2011

Editorial: Hoppin’ John ***
November 3rd, 2011

Editorial: What Decline?
October 10th, 2011

Editorial: Notes from a Slightly Bigger Island
October 8th, 2011

Editorial: Barking Mad
October 5th, 2011

Editorial: Fix the Bridges!
September 11th, 2011

Editorial: Catching the Right Wave
July 27th, 2011

More

Editorial: Remember the Needy in Our Community

Editorial: Remember the Needy in Our Community

Editorial

The glaring headlines in last Sunday`s Gainesville Sun told the truth of the negative economic times gripping our state: "Florida tourism industry reeling from dismal year," and "City`s median income down 20% since 2000."

The unemployment rate in Florida hovers around twelve percent, more than two percent higher than the overall nationwide rate. It`s not hard to see the effects locally, either, with closures of businesses driving some of our neighbors to unemployment lines.

Levy County fares even worse than the state as a whole. In our county, the unemployment rate for the past month has been 12.5% or higher. One in five of our county`s residents is living below the poverty level and are eligible for food assistance. Food pantries in our community, as well as other communities in our county, are busier than ever, serving an increasing number of families on a weekly basis; families who do not have enough food to eat nor money to purchase that food.

During this season of holiday celebrations, religious meaning, music and merry-making, many of our neighbors are unable to participate. They are just trying to survive, get the kids fed and sufficiently dressed for the cold weather and trying to figure out how to keep their homes warm and pay the bill to do so.

As you bustle around, taking cookies to friends and attending special church and community functions, stop for a minute and remember those right here in our community who cannot buy gifts for their children or put sufficient food on their tables. There are many ways you can help:

When you shop for groceries, pick up an extra can or two of non-perishable food and drop it off at the Cedar Key Food Pantry or at the library for the Levy County Food Bank; drop some money into one of the cans for the Toys for Tots to help that organization defray the cost of purchasing toys; contact one of the local clubs (Cedar Key Woman`s Club, Eagles, Church groups) to find out what they are doing to help the needy in Cedar Key; donate money to the Clothe-a-Child program; donate usable items to Deja Vu and ask that those items be credited to one of the charitable groups which have accounts there; give outerwear, blankets, hats, gloves, socks to the North Florida Homeless Coalition (a collection point is at the library).

Click for printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

 

 

© 2013
Cedar Key News

cedarkeynews@gmail.com