A friend in need
More people seeking help from food pantriesBy JILL SCHRAMM, Staff Writer, jschramm@minotdailynews.com
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The number of people visiting area food pantries is rising at a time when supplies from food distributors are declining, according to area assistance programs.
The seven-county region served by Community Action Partnership in Minot has registered more food pantry clients this summer, particularly those whose incomes are just within the cut off for receiving assistance, said Wanda Schestler, food program specialist. Many of the new households are two-parent families, she said.
From May to July, the 13 food pantries in the region served 82 new households, aiding 795 total households in July.
Schestler said the number of clients typically changes throughout the year based on factors such as tax credit checks or arrival of winter fuel bills.
"Normally our numbers start going up, but not until October or November, not usually in July and August," Schestler said.
Meanwhile, there's less help available from food distributors.
"We buy from Great Plains, and our selection has gotten a lot worse," Schestler said. "The major donors aren't donating as much anymore, and transportation cost is what gets us."
The Great Plains Food Bank is located in Fargo.
In addition, federal money received to purchase commodities has to cover transportation as well as food costs. Transportation costs have doubled, leaving less for buying food, Schestler said.
Food costs also have risen nearly 6 percent in the year ending this past July, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Community Action had received 131 new applications for food assistance at the end of August, compared to 64 applications in July. Not every applicant will visit a food pantry every month, however.
Most of the increase is occurring in Ward County, although there are some increases occurring in the surrounding area as well.
Faith United Methodist Church reports client numbers are up about 10 percent this summer.
"For us, that's a lot," pantry coordinator Ada Lower said. "That's 40 new families above and beyond what we normally do."
The food pantry placed its largest order ever with the food bank in July and its second largest order in August. The church's soup kitchen also has seen a big increase, she said.
It's difficult to know what is driving the increase, although some have listed medical bills and lack of health insurance as reasons, Lower said. Others have moved to Minot and have no place to stay or income while looking for work, she said.
Joyce Sand, coordinator of the food pantry at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, said client numbers have been stable all summer.
"We are staying pretty close to what we were and donations are still coming really good," Sand said. "Whatever they give us, we are just so thankful to have."
The pantry's biggest problem is stocking meat to provide a protein source, she said. The government only supplies hamburger, and the amount of meat coming through Great Plains Food Bank is down.
Sand said Our Lady of Grace is looking into other outlets to purchase meat.
Lower also said canned meat products are at the top of its wish list for donations from the public.
Local pantry operators said they have been meeting the needs because local people have been generous with nonperishable foods and garden produce.
Local donations of diapers, shampoo, laundry detergent and other health and hygiene items also are the main means of replenishing those stocks, and pantry operators report that more of the items are needed.
