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Empty pantries: Area food banks face growing need with less
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009 10:16 AM EST
Argus-Press Photo by Anthony Cepak Volunteer Peggy Lewis stocks the shelves at Loaves & Fishes food bank in Vernon.
Thirty-six-year-old Patty Curreli, like so many Americans, struggles on a weekly basis.
With what seem like never-ending bills for things like rent and utilities, she needs all the help she can get - especially when it comes to obtaining food.
“That's why food banks are so helpful,” said Curreli, who gathered together a week's worth of food at Loaves & Fishes in the United Methodist Church in Vernon. “They take the pressure off my other bills, even if just for a week.”
One in seven people in mid-Michigan doesn't know where their next meal will come from. More than 1 million Michigan residents use food banks each year.
Loaves & Fishes not only gives families larger amounts of food than many other Shiawassee County food banks - seven to 10 days worth - but it makes sure to hit all the food groups.
“It's a great balance of fruit, vegetables, bread and juices,” said Virgil Cole, a 56-year-old Durand resident, who lives with his wife and 7-year-old granddaughter. “They're just so great here. We appreciate it so much.”
Food banks across the area don't just settle for providing items such as breads and cheeses - they appeal to many taste buds. Loaves & Fishes often has condiments, pancake mix, stuffing and baking ingredients.
“My 10-year-old Karleigh even got a pumpkin here, which she absolutely loved,” said Carrie Cass, who lives in a household with four adults and her daughter. “We carved it together. That really meant a lot to her.”
Peggy Lewis began volunteering at Loaves & Fishes to help her mother, Thesa McCarty, but quickly fell in love with the work.
Like an assembly line worker, volunteer Esther Telford yells out what size family is coming in next, so other volunteers can quickly package a shopping cart full of food and toiletries, appropriate to the age range and tastes.
“Coffee or tea drinkers?” a voice yells from the back as a family approaches.
“It works well,” Telford said. “We don't want to keep anyone waiting too long. We want to get them on their way with the food. But our volunteers are great; we're truly blessed to have so many.”
Troy and Kelly Langdon both work, but after taxes, utilities and normal monthly payments, funds for meals are simply not there for them and their three children.
“Loaves & Fishes is one of the best food banks around because it's so productive,” Troy Langdon said. “You don't have to stand in a long line to get in and then find out you're just getting a couple things. We've been coming here for three years and it's only gotten better.”
Necessities such as toilet paper, shampoo and laundry detergent are not provided by The Michigan Food Stamp Network.
“They can get it here and we, of course, know everyone needs that stuff, including lotion, storage bags and body soap,” said Barbara Williamson, a Loaves & Fishes volunteer.
The Mid-Michigan Food Bank, responsible for providing 200 agencies with food, must raise $2.8 million to assist 18,000 families who will otherwise be left hungry in 2010.
Chairman of the Mid-Michigan Food Bank, Vince Villegas, said at the current rate, food will be depleted by mid-January - down 2.4 million pounds of salvaged food from last year.
“The need for food and donations has grown to new heights and we're in a very urgent situation right now,” he said. “Monetary donations buy more food, since we get it at a discounted rate, but food donations are great too.”
The Laingsburg Co-op Food Bank distributed 22,000 meals to families last year, a record high. Just one year later, that number jumped to 31,000, averaging almost 30 families per month.
The Laingsburg Area Food Bank purchases food at 18 cents a pound from the Mid-Michigan Food Bank, but that routine could end shortly if the umbrella organization doesn't raise the $2.8 million.
Laingsburg Co-op Food Bank is open from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and clients may come up to five times per year. Individuals receive 21 meals each time they utilize the food bank.
The food bank of St. John's United Church of Christ in Owosso gets tremendous help from area organizations as well as the Red Cross Food Bank.
“Local farmers will even bring fresh eggs to us to give out or serve with our Saturday morning breakfast,” said Office Manager Jill Arend. “Everyone helps out where they can - they know the need for it.”
Comment on this Story
shiataxpayer wrote on Dec 1, 2009 1:55 PM:
It could be they WERE gainfully employed when the vehicle was financed,
could be the vehicle is for sale, but upside down, as is the case for most vehicle loans,
could be it's a borrowed car,
could be any number of things that have NOTHING to do with fraud or what neighborhood they live in.
Your intolerance and judgment got the better of you there.
Yes, there are SOME folks who abuse the system. But, far more
who do not.
And, like I already said--how do you know what the facts of the matter are?
And, if you know somebody who is committing fraud, report them. "
keith wrote on Dec 1, 2009 12:12 AM:
shiataxpayer wrote on Nov 30, 2009 10:43 PM:
housing, includes utilities, insurance, phone
food, no eating out and a frugal menu
transportation, includes insurance, gasoline, maintenance, repairs
clothing, necessity only ex: shoes have a hole in them
THEN you pay the other bills: medical, credit cards, loans
You must take care of your 4 walls before anything else!
www.daveramsey.com "
Lisa wrote on Nov 30, 2009 12:13 PM:
Bill wrote on Nov 30, 2009 6:58 AM:
Bill wrote on Dec 2, 2009 7:00 AM: