Today, Prime Minister Paul Martin is releasing the "Throne Speech"
outlining governmental priorities in the upcoming legislative session.
Meanwhile in Waterloo, Ontario...

THE GOODS- 2003 SECOND BUSIEST YEAR EVER FOR FOOD HAMPER PROGRAM
By Nathaniel Stark

The House of Friendship's Emergency Food Hamper Program released its year
end statistics last week, reporting that 2003 was the second busiest year
in the  program's 45 year history. 26,981 hampers were distributed last
year, an increase of 1056 from 2002. The Food Hamper Program provided
assistance to approximately 18,000 different people, about one third of
whom are children 12 years of age and under.

Program Coordinator Michael Parkinson says that a number of factors
contributed to the increased demand for assistance this year. These include
an increase in the depth of poverty in the region, cuts to the social
safety net that leave families with nowhere to turn for non-food assistance
and other services provided by House of Friendship being at or over
capacity....

more... from http://www.echoweekly.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1264

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dr

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