|
|
Food pantries are one of the many services families and individuals facing financial crisis can turn to for help. But with so many facing unemployment or simply not bringing in enough to make ends meet, providing help can sometimes be difficult.
Some food pantries rely on government assistance while others are operated through the generosity of churches, civic organizations and individuals.
"The food program was not cut this year, but last year it was cut by 4 percent," Gail O'Donnell of Central Counties Community Action said. She said food assistance is one of many programs Community Action provides for residents in Centre and Clearfield counties.
"From what the numbers show, it looks like we're 'safe' this year but that can always change," O'Donnell said. Although the food program's funding has not been cut, food pantries still face the challenge of making the money they have stretch as far as it can go.
"The food costs more but we have the same amount of money to buy it with," she said. "Gas prices may be coming down but the price of food is still up there."
O'Donnell said in Clearfield County alone, Community Action is serving about 200 more families in 2008 then they did in 2007. She said there are a lot of families and individuals coming in who never thought they would need food assistance.
"They have jobs but they're just not making enough to take care of all the expenses," she said. In Clearfield County, those needing food assistance are broken down by the school district in which they live. She said each school district has a pick-up center where families and individuals can go to receive food. She said those needing assistance do not have to provide proof of income but must sign a declaration of need. She said for a single-person home, the income must be $300 per week or lower, but they've been known to "bend the rules" a little.
"We're not going to turn someone away if they make $302 a week," O'Donnell said. "We see that sometimes, the family makes a few dollars more than the cut-off but that doesn't mean they'll be turned away."
O'Donnell also said the generosity of the community has helped immensely in keeping the pantries stocked. She said the donations allow the food pantries to maintain the amount of food given to those in need. She said people seem to be a bit more generous around the holidays and they're giving all they can but times are difficult for everyone.
AGAPE is another food pantry, located in DuBois, whose services are based on income.
According to Manager Dana Burnes, AGAPE receives some government funding but the majority of its food and funding comes from churches and the community.
"There's been a definite increase in people needing our services," Burnes said. "So far, we're still able to meet the needs but (programs for) the poor are usually the first ones to lose funding when times get tight."
Burnes said the government funding for AGAPE seems to be staying the same but as more people lose their jobs, the more programs like food pantries will have to pick up the slack. He estimates AGAPE has seen an increase of about 5 percent in families and individuals needing assistance.
AGAPE also goes one step further in providing food assistance by making deliveries and other arrangements for the elderly or the handicapped who are unable to drive to a food pantry to pick up groceries.
There are some food pantries, such as Helping Hands in Brockway, who depend totally on donations to maintain their operations.
"We're doing well," Maxine Binnie of Helping Hands said. "We receive donations month to month and, while we're not doing fantastic, we're still able to hold our own." She said people are usually more willing to donate around the holidays but donations were higher in the summer then they were recently. Binnie said Helping Hands is not affiliated with the government. The program was started about 22 years ago by a church in Brockport.
"We're still able to avoid government money and we keep praying we can stay that way," she said.
Binnie said Helping Hands, like many other food pantries, is seeing an increase in people needing assistance. She said the organization has already out-grown one building and serves about 100 families each month and 110 in the summer. She said Helping Hands also assisted 54 families with Christmas gifts.
To receive assistance from Helping Hands, a family or individual is interviewed by members of the staff. While Helping Hands only provides food assistance, it is affiliated with other organizations who can assist with other services.
"We base our services on need, not income," Binnie said. "There are a lot of people who may have a good income, but their other needs and expenses, like medical expenses, bring that income down."
She said Helping Hands is seeing a lot of senior citizens coming in for services.
"It's not just for the unemployed," Binnie said. "A lot of people have to decide whether to buy their medication, pay their bills, or buy food because they just don't have enough for everything."
