Shelves bare at pantry

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Lest you forget.. The recession ended in 2009..

This story pilfered from The Joplin Globe All credit given

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September 25, 2012

Organizers say Pittsburg’s fourth annual food drive more important than ever

By Andra Bryan Stefanoni
news@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. — The executive director of Wesley House says a communitywide food drive slated for this weekend couldn’t come at a better time: The cupboards have been bare several times in recent months, and more people have been served so far this year than ever before.

“I did the comparison between 2007 and this year, and it just blows my mind,” said Ellie Foster, who oversees the food pantry and other operations at Wesley House.

From January to August 2007, the year before the recession, the pantry served 9,692 people. The numbers have been climbing each year. For that same period this year, the pantry has served 13,016 people — a 34 percent increase.

“Lots of times the shelves are bare, and I think, ‘Can we make it through?’” Foster said.

Wesley House is a local nonprofit agency supported by churches and volunteers. Foster said she is seeing more new families that haven’t ever accessed services there.

“People who are so apologetic because normally they donate, and now they’re having to ask for help,” she said. “It’s really humiliating for them.”

The Rev. Kevin Arensman, pastor at the First Christian Church of Pittsburg, is hopeful that the fourth annual food drive, called The Horn of Plenty, will help.

“The need has not decreased at all,” he said. “So we’re trying harder. Last weekend, we distributed almost 5,000 sacks that Dillons donated, and we’re asking people to pick up just a few extra things at the grocery store this week to put in those sacks.”

Those who want to contribute nonperishable food items may do so by leaving the sacks on their front porches by 1 p.m. Sunday. As many as 25 volunteer groups are slated to canvass the community until 5 p.m. to pick them up for transport to Wesley House.

“About 200 people have volunteered, from pint-sized Girl Scouts to senior citizens to young professionals to students from the middle school, the high school, the college, as well as civic and church groups,” Arensman said. “It really, truly is a communitywide effort.”

Significant effort

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, the drive has gathered more than 40,000 pounds of food for Wesley House. “That starts to show the significance that the community has made,” the Rev. Kevin Arensman said.

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It is the policy of the federal reserve bank and our own government that has forced us into this situation.. In MY opinion..

Greg

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