America’s Second Harvest (A2H) has released “Hunger in America 2006,” its survey of member food banks and pantries (www.harvesters.org). An estimated 25.35 million people receive emergency hunger relief services annually (roughly 9 percent of all Americans) through A2H. This represents an 8 percent increase since A2H’s earlier studies of its clientele in a 2001 report and an 18 percent increase since “Hunger 1997: The Faces and Facts.”

The survey points out that America is headed for disaster: people being forced to choose between feeding the family and paying the rent, between filling a prescription and eating dinner, between a warm home and buying groceries. Some 36 percent of all food bank client households have at least one adult working at least one job.

It’s easy for politicians to tout the gains in the economy and to traffic in that old saw that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” It ain’t true.

In spite of stock market gains, a housing boom and surging corporate profits, higher living expenses have wiped out wage gains for the average American worker. Last year we spent all that we earned … and more. For the first time since the Great Depression our savings rate fell below zero (negative 0.5 percent).

The average inflation-adjusted household income declined 2.3 percent during the 2001-2004 period. This is in contrast to a gain of 17.3 percent in the preceding three-year period. Many families (seven out of 10) have borrowed against the equity in their homes and are using credit cards as a safety net to cover basic expenses.

The middle class seems to be doing all the right things to make ends meet, but falling further behind. We worked longer hours, took on second (or third) jobs, cut down on basics like cable TV and newspaper subscriptions, raised insurance deductibles,  shopped at discount stores, and cancelled land-line phone service in favor of cell phones to save money.

Of more than 25 million people who receive food help from the America’s Second Harvest network each year, approximately 36 percent are under 18 years old, 9 percent are under 5 years old, and 11 percent are elderly. Sixty-eight percent have incomes under the federal poverty level. Only 5 percent are on welfare and 12 percent are homeless. I suspect that those who seek food assistance represent just the “tip of the iceberg” of America’s hungry.

All of these facts have serious consequences for your students and for you and your colleagues. While there is no magic formula to keep you from falling into the economic sink-hole that used to be the middle class, judicious management of your resources —before they get out of hand—is the only hope.

Live below your means; avoid “growing into” your annual salary increases; stash away an emergency fund to cover at least six months’ living expenses; save for short-term goals; and invest for longer-range plans like buying a home, paying for college for your children or funding retirement.

It is Your Money and the only one who can control it is you.