Churches help North Las Vegas residents stay on their feet
Yvette and Yvonne Morgan have had a lifetime of sharing everything.
The twin sisters have always been close. Many of the nine children between them were born close in age, too.
But lately, their closeness is thanks to the tough economic times.
For two years, the women and their kids have shared a North Las Vegas apartment and Yvonne's paycheck. Yvette has been out of work since 2009 and unable to draw employment benefits. She joins the ranks of 13.4 percent of Nevadans out of work.
Although showing improvement, the state's standings exceed the national average of 8.6 percent, from November U.S. Department of Labor findings.
"I've got a lot of experience, but it seems like I have to know someone to get in the door for a job," Yvette said.
Her resume ranges from retail to mortgage lending to medical technician. Lately, side jobs braiding hair have gotten her family by, she said.
She also receives bags of food from a local church twice a week.
"I try to stay focused and think about my kids," she said of her five children. "I know I'm not the only one (experiencing tough times)."
About 20.5 million Americans, or 6.7 percent, fall in the bottom half of the official poverty level, according to Associated Press findings. Nevada had the biggest jump of residents below the poverty level from 4.6 percent to 7 percent since 2007.
Thomas Carroll, professor of economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said America's Ozzie and Harriet days "are a distant memory."
He warned that today's situation could result in long-term effects for those who have lost their jobs because when the economy recovers and companies hire again, employers will look at applications and find months, perhaps years, of inactivity in the work force.
"They'll see a period of unemployment for a couple years and go, 'I don't know if this guy was lazy or what, and I'm not going to bother to find out,' " he said.
"It's a big, gaping hole that could follow them (applicants) for a long time ... this could be a lost generation."
Meanwhile, many are living hand to mouth.
Three Square food bank feeds about 100,000 people a year via about 600 program partners. One in six Southern Nevadans struggles with hunger, the food bank estimates.
Vegas View Church of God In Christ Food Bank, 1906 Glider St., receives assistance from Three Square in feeding the growing number of families each week. The food bank started 40 years ago to feed the needs of the North Las Vegas community around the budding church.
"It originally started as a small one-on-one operation," said food bank coordinator Mary Jordan. "The pastor at the time would go store to store and get excess food or donations and distribute them to the lower economic areas. We grew from that."
The operation still accepts donations from area grocery stores and businesses and hosts a weekly giveaway Saturday mornings at its distribution center.
Between 75 and 100 families attend the giveaway, Jordan said.
The amount is about double what it was two years ago, Jordan said.
"We get everyone from chronically unemployed to just having a bad payday week," she said. "The dynamics of the families has changed greatly."
Jordan said she sees herself 20 years ago in some of the young mothers she registers each Saturday.
"I had four children. I was unemployed, unable to work," she said. "My income was wiped out, and all of a sudden, none of the bills changed, but all the income changed."
Jordan said helping families like hers is a service she enjoys.
"As a Christian, it's a command from God I was given to fulfill," she said. "There is a great demand for help in this community."
Vegas View Church of God In Christ pastor Jerald Mason said he notices a trend among some of the unemployed food bank users.
"I see a need for training for occupations," he said. "They don't know what to do for the open occupations."
Most who receive support from Vegas View Church of God In Christ Food Bank are not members of the congregation, Mason said.
The church also donates household items once a month to needy residents.
"We are doing what Jesus told us to do," Mason said.
The church accepts donations of any kind, he added.
"We are dong everything we can to help others," Jordan said. "It is our mission to help those that can't help themselves."
To donate or for more information about Vegas View Church of God In Christ Food Bank, call 642-6211.
Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.
Hunger by the numbers
214,500 -- The estimated number of different people Three Square food bank serves annually.
30,500 -- The estimated number of people who receive help any given week.
40 -- The percentage of people served who are under 18.
11 -- The percentage of people served who are under 5.
15.2 -- The percentage of people served who are 50 or older.
33 -- The percentage of households with at least one working adult.
77 -- The percentage of households with income below the federal poverty level during the previous month.
25 -- The percentage of clients who are homeless.
49 -- The percentage of clients who say they have to choose between paying for food or utilities.
56 -- The percentage of clients who say they have to choose between paying for food or rent or mortgage.
40 -- The percentage of clients who say they have to choose between paying for food or medicine or medical care.
52 -- The percentage of clients who say they have to choose between paying for food or transportation.
21 -- The percentage of clients who report that at least one household member is in poor health.
More seek help
Eighty-eight percent of pantries, 69 percent of kitchens and 82 percent of shelters that existed in 2006 reported an increase in clients seeking help.
Who is helping
Eighty percent of pantries, 81 percent of kitchens and 49 percent of shelters are run by faith-based organizations.
As many as 92 percent of pantries, 94 percent of kitchens and 93 percent of shelters use volunteers.
Seventy-one percent of pantry programs and 49 percent of kitchens have no paid staff.
Source: "Hunger in America 2010" local report prepared for Three Square food bank in January 2010. To access the full 300-plus-page report, visit threesquare.org.
