Our View: Hunger, or the fear of it, is inexcusable in rich ol' USA

Our hearts say we need to feed the hungry no matter who or where they are, and, really, no matter how hungry they are.

Our heads say we can't remember being hungry and aren't aware of any neighbors who are hungry. Besides, there's this obesity problem in the U.S., at a high rate among the poor. So, how can the food problem be as big as we are told?

But cheap food is fattening food, full of carbs and corn syrup sweeteners and not particularly nutritious.

Food banks - largely run by volunteers who have no incentive to exaggerate - report the numbers of people and family using their services continue to increase, even as unemployment dips to all-time lows.

We commend Moscow Mayor Bill Lambert, who held a community meeting on hunger Feb. 1 and plans another March 1. As a retired supermarket manager, he has seen how much food goes to waste that could go to hungry people.

The Rev. Elizabeth Stevens, pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse in Moscow, is also leading. She cited recent statistics for "food insecurity" in Latah County, totaling 6,820 people, including 1,240 children.

They aren't starving, but their households find consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year.

University students at the end of the semester come to mind. Or families paid monthly in the days before the next check comes in. School kids in the summer when both parents - or the only one - are at work.

Communities have provided food banks in Moscow, Genesee, Potlatch, Troy, Deary and Kendrick/Juliaetta. But, the Daily News reported they are all run by volunteers - the Trinity Baptist Church food bank closed a year ago when volunteers couldn't handle the behind-the-scenes demands - and have limited hours. In Moscow, St. Mary's Church's pantry is open just 2-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.

Meanwhile, unsold food that could be gleaned from stores, restaurants, college dorm kitchens and even gardens goes largely uncollected.

Well-meaning volunteers can't solve this problem alone, especially managing it.

If we don't want government doing that, it can still help find foundations to provide consistent grants to pay organizers.