Many of the people who work at food banks are elderly. They used to like the government. Now they are frustrated and feel the government is no longer doing its part. Another problem facing the food pantries is that for the most part they are run by elderly volunteers. When they retire they are not being replaced.
Age figures into other thinking about poverty and the future.
I think in the future we will see more and more recognition of public policies that address this balance of responsibility. Pratt predicts poverty will continue to affect large numbers of young families unless education and job development efforts are concentrated on preparing young workers for living wage employment. One strategy to reduce this is to increase the incomes of families at the lower end of the scale, thus increasing the middle class. Another strategy is expansion of concern for whole communities, not only for our individual well being. Both strategies will be needed to reduce the further growth of poverty and income inequality and the negative consequences of poverty.