News

Area food banks struggle with increased demand

By SEAN ELY, Argus-Press Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:27 AM EST

The population is rising and the economy is steadily declining, with more mouths to feed every day despite fewer food donations across Mid-Michigan.

And if $2.8 million isn't raised for 2010, more than 18,000 families at 200 agencies will be left hungry due to lack of food at the Mid-Michigan Food Bank.

“This is an extremely urgent situation - we estimate we'll be completely out of food by the middle of January,” said Vince Villegas, chairman of the food bank, located in Lansing.

The organization is down 2.4 million pounds of salvaged food compared to last year.

Villegas and his administrators are in the process of rallying community leaders together to tackle the problem, with emergency meetings scheduled with the fundraising staff.

The food bank reports the unmeasurable demand for food depletes supplies every 10 days - credited to a combination of the poor economy, high unemployment, cuts in funding support from other organizations, state and federal cutbacks and reductions of donated food from manufacturers.

“Food drives are important, yet they only generate 1 percent in the food banking program,” Villegas said. “The most important thing is a food drive through financial donation.”

For every $1 donated, seven meals are created for needy families.

Since the Mid-Michigan Food Bank purchases bulk food for less, a $20 donation goes much further than simply donating $20 in canned goods of your own.

At Loaves & Fishes, a service through United Methodist Church in Vernon, the number of families requesting food has more than doubled in the last few years.

“The crowds never seem to let up as we've been very busy,” said six-year volunteer Esther Telford.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday, Loaves & Fishes serves needy families from Vernon, Bancroft, Durand, Gaines, Byron and Lennon.

On average, about 20 families visit each week.

But because of the competitive demand and the depletion of resources, families may only obtain free food every 90 days. Telford said families take $50-$60 in groceries each week.

The St. Vincent DePaul Society, 1020 S. Washington in Owosso, used to see about 10 families a week stop for food. Just three years later, it isn't uncommon for 35 families to show up at 7 p.m. every Tuesday.

Thankfully, President Terry Dwyer said, having their own budget, along with generous donations by the church, has allowed the group to be one of the most reliable in the county.

Dwyer said no one at St. Vincent DePaul has ever been turned away from obtaining food. Each visit provides a hungry mouth with three to four days of meals.

“We meet the requests that come to us. It's a very special thing when you can reach out and benefit everyone in need,” he said. “We're at a great need in Shiawassee County, with individuals coming from all over.”

Relief After Violent Encounter (RAVE) of Owosso and St. Johns receives a small grant to purchase food from the Mid-Michigan Food Bank.

RAVE, providing emergency shelter and services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, gives individuals food at its disposal 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If victims are in transitional housing and living with their families, other food banks are suggested to best assist them.

“Donations are down and people are having a hard time but since we are specialized, we are doing OK to provide people the food they need,” RAVE Director Rhoda Hacker said.

Churches, educational organizations and Boy and Girl Scouts are among the most likely venues for a food drive donation to a shelter.

The Perry and Morrice schools have been extra kind this holiday season, said Dave Robertson, treasurer of the Perry-Morrice-Shaftsburg Emergency Relief center.

About 20 families are served by appointment every month.

More than 130 orders were processed in three days for the Christmas rush, giving families enough food for seven to 10 days.

“We're an emergency food bank so they only get food when they seriously need it,” he said. “They're always very appreciative. We are very fortunate, small communities seem to be more generous to help each other. We know the problems many other food banks have had.”

Food banks across the country are forming partnerships with farmers and food service companies to create the best deals during such drastic times.

“This is much more overwhelming than we could have ever thought with the need increasing greatly in the last two years, serving not only the same people since the beginning, but new individuals too,” Villegas said.

People who work 40 to 60 hours a week in full-time professions are popping up at food banks as well - their weekly pay simply not enough for all life's necessities.

With furlough days and mortgage payments going up, buying food isn't easy, Villegas said.

The Mid-Michigan Food Bank has seen families go without heat and senior citizens drop their medication so they can buy food.

“It's incredibly difficult to grasp - we're the richest country in the world and we have this many people who go without food, medicine and warmth every night,” Villegas said.

For more information, and a video showing the value of a $1 donation to a food bank, visit www.midmichiganfoodbank.org

Comment on this Story

so concerned wrote on Dec 1, 2009 12:45 PM:

" .....and to think some are blinded of the fact and one area city manager stating that his city does "sexy things". Glitz and glamor while so many are searching almost hopelessly to simply feed their families. Don't you just love who is voted into office ??? "

Sandy wrote on Nov 30, 2009 5:33 AM:

" Our farmers need a huge break from out Gov. The farmers are the key to help all the good people who go with out food or have to strech their food very very thin. If our Gov. would do more to help the farmers then more people could eat just a little bit better. What do you think our parent's and their parent's and their parents did. They farmed. But with price's so darn high, our farmer's are struggling to just meet demand. And then that just is not enough. The Gov. needs to stop being so damn gready and give the farmers a break. I bet their butts do not go hungry. Just look at the food price's when you go to the store. It is crazy. You know and I know someone is lining their pockets very well. Their is no reason for food price's to be the way they are, it's only greed. For a pack of Cig's, you could feed 12 to 14 people. "

Nick wrote on Nov 29, 2009 1:00 PM:

" We should just keep borrowing more money from China, not pay them back and have a nuclear war over it. "

James Eaton wrote on Nov 25, 2009 10:13 AM:

" I'd just like to lift up the work of the food bank at St. Johns United Church of Christ in Owosso, supported also by the First Congregational Church UCC Owosso. There is a great work of feeding people that goes on there all the time. "

twinkie wrote on Nov 25, 2009 12:33 AM:

" american days are ending,even our lenders say we are near insolvency and they are floating discussions of debt forgiveness like 3rd world countries sometimes receive. we will need every bit of food production we can manage here in the us. you better run out and hoard all you can. people are in danger of slimming down to a healthy weight. it might put the 20 billion diet industry out of business. "