How can people afford for food nowadays?

I read stories about people in countries like the USA, Australia and Canada who have to ask strangers for leftovers in order to eat.

Worse still, mothers who can't eat so that their children can.

I have an aunt in Canada who has two small children, the kids are cute but I feel sorry for what their parents go through in Canada.

How do people survive these days? Why did we get into this situation?