Verona V!BE Awareness Night

V!BE AWARENESS SERIES PRESENTS:“HUNGER AT HOME”

One in Five Families in Verona and Cedar Grove is Hungry. How Can You Help?

In an effort to raise awareness V!BE is presenting the shortdocumentary, THE RED WAGON, followed by a representative fromUnited Way who will give a short presentation on the ALICE. (“AssetLimited, Income Constrained, Employed,”) report. After a discussion, we willconclude with the many ways that residents can take an active part inaddressing hunger in their community and helping our neighbors.According to an article in the Verona Patch during September, one infive families in Verona is hungry, based on the United Way ALICE report.According to this report (based on a five year study prepared by UnitedWay), in Essex County, 116,692 households (43%) are struggling, with 46,386households (17%) living below the U.S. poverty line and 70,306 (26%) fallinginto the ALICE. ALICE households earn more than the official U.S. povertylevel but less than the basic cost of living. Based on the Household SurvivalBudget, it takes $55,036 for a family of two adults, an infant and a toddlerto afford the basics- more than double the U.S. poverty rate of $22,113.V!BE is a new enterprise launched by the Verona RecreationDepartment and offers many recreation programs to Verona Adults; social,entertainment and educational opportunities. Although, under the support ofthe Verona Recreation Department, V!BE programming is driven by membersof the community. For information on V!BE and to register for this program please go to Community Pass on Veronanj.org. Bring the family, it will be informative and of interest to caring kids as well. Refreshments will be served.