There are those who for one reason or another are unfortunately facing foreclosure. Because of an ongoing financial emergency or severe medical problem, these hardships are causing families to go without food to keep a roof over their heads. So often, as families try to save their home, the food quantity and quality takes a back seat. This causes great distress on families whose life changes are now affecting their food provisions. These shortages can last families months to even years as they struggle to get back to a new normal, especially if they are health challenged.

Our organization, in conjunction with others, may be able to help your family on a limited, or case-by-case basis if you are in need of food. This service has been provided for many years, but of course, is subject to funding.

If you or someone in your family is struggling to put food on the table, also please remember that local food pantries and churches can help you in your time of need, if they have spare food. Your local newspaper will often list some of these pantries. Call ahead to see what their requirements are for obtaining the free food, and what day of the week it is available.

Following are some ideas that you may find helpful for you or someone you know who is hurting from food insufficiency.

Eventually, once you get back on your feet and are lucky enough to get some type of job, try to become as self sufficient as possible. Once you are settled into a different location, grow your own garden. With the economy the way it is or in case you lose your job, this would be helpful. Grow plants in containers (containment gardening) if you are an apartment dweller or ask around for your nearest community garden. You could even offer to weed someone's garden in exchange for some of the food or work out a deal with the owners to use some of their ground. You would really be surprised at how much food a small garden can grow. There are also mini greenhouses available from local hypermarkets or hardware stores for less than $100. For indoor wintertime use, grow lights are available. In the meantime, talk with people you know about gardening. Learn all you can about it, ask others if they have any old gardening supplies they can spare.

Once you find a way to get your garden growing, go purchase a home canning and freezing guide blue book in the larger grocery stores, sold near the canning jar supplies. This $3 book will probably be in your local library too. If you still need help on freezing or canning, ask people you know if they can or freeze. A lot of people out there garden and gardening is on the rise. You can also call your local cooperative extension Home Economic Agent reachable at your county's Ag Agent and 4-H Agent's office. Your County Clerk's office should have their telephone number. These people are there to help you. Finally, if you don't have a a location to freeze or can in, call your county's Home Extension Agent for ideas, or call a local church to see if there are any church ladies who could show you (along with their church teens) how to freeze or can until you have a different home.

If you live in the country (or have the right city zoning) you can also purchase some pullets (baby chickens) for less than $1 each from your local farm store when they get them in stock in spring. The farm store also sells baby turkeys. Call ahead so you can plan and build housing for the chicks. It does NOT have to be anything large or fancy. Some chickens are bred to make real good meat and others lay 1-3 eggs a day! And a rooster is NOT required to have a hen lay eggs. A bag of chicken feed is cheap. If you raise less than 10 chickens, you will be giving away plenty of eggs eventually and you will be able to get your protein every day. We know people that grow chickens and every once in awhile they will butcher one for the meat. If you check around, often a handy neighbor will butcher, pluck, and clean one for $5 and all you have to do is go pick up the processed chicken.

We also know small farmers that raise baby lambs for meat, dairy goats for goat milk and soap, and of course, one can always move up to raising beef calves. Deer hunters hunt deer for deer meat and if you ask around you might even be given some free deer meat. Lastly, there is always ice fishing in winter and regular fishing the rest of the year. Ask around of the people you know and there is probably an experienced hunter or fisherman that could help you learn about these types of food, and perhaps even get you started how how to become food self sufficient.

Whatever you do, don't give up. Keep asking. Keep learning. And remember -- where there is a will, there is a way. Have faith that eventually there will be better days for you.