Berrien County Donations Wanted for Moms Who Need Diapers

The Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition of Berrien County is currently hosting a countywide diaper drive through Nov. 30 in order to collect 15,000 diapers for infants and toddlers in Berrien County.

Many families in Berrien County continue to struggle in this economy and those struggles are having an impact on our youngest citizens.

The Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition of Berrien County are in need of help to make sure infants and toddlers in this county are not going without one of their most basic necessities.

www.nilesstar.com/2011/11/04/help-out-families-with-diaper-donation/

A picture of food stamp usage

Given what we know about the poverty rate and the current state of the economy, it should come as no surprise that more people are relying on food stamps these days.

But you may be surprised to find who receives food stamps, and where they live.

A new report from the Carsey Institute, which researches vulnerable children, youth and families, finds that 14.6 percent of rural households were relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in 2010.

That’s nearly the same as the percentage of households in inner urban areas who use the food and nutrition program for low-income households, also known as SNAP.

Both urban and rural households have seen SNAP use increase sharply between 2007, when the recession began, and 2010, as the nation struggled with a weak economic recovery.

lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/03/8601953-a-picture-of-food-stamp-usage