County Food Banks Are Struggling
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By TERESA McMINN Daily Record/Sunday News
Local agencies that turn to the York County Food Bank for supplies are seeing a 10 percent to 20 percent increase in clients, officials for the organization said Friday.
Fred Fisher, director of York County Food Bank Inc., said demand for the organization's services is greater than ever before. Agencies that rely on the bank for food have seen a significant increase in the number of families they serve, Fisher said.
"We attribute that to the economy," he said.
Fisher said donations of food and money are needed so the food bank can provide holiday meals for families. Right now, food is given away as soon as it arrives, he said. The food bank needs about 2,000 turkeys before Thanksgiving and Christmas, he said.
"We need to keep the flow coming in," Fisher said. "We are replenishing ourselves day by day. That's scary."
Fisher said the food bank sent out 3,000 letters this year asking area businesses and individuals for help. That's 1,000 more requests than last year, he said.
"We hope that they'll respond," he said. Fisher, who has been with the food bank for 27 years, said he's never seen the economy in such bad shape.
"We're living day to day at the food bank," he said.
Kris Pollick, director of Catholic Harvest Food Pantry, also said more people are asking for help.
"Not only the number of families is increasing, but the size of the families is increasing," she said. That could be because either families are moving in together to save money, or larger families can't make ends meet, she said.
Additionally, people who never thought they would need to ask for help are coming to the pantry, she said.
"Poverty is concentrated in the city . . . but now we're seeing families coming from the surrounding suburbs," Pollick said.
Marcella Kinard, director of Bell Family Shelter Services in York, also said supplies are low and demand is high. "What I haven't seen in a while is a food drive," she said. "Giving in general is down."
TO HELP
Turkeys, other food donations and financial contributions can be made at:
--- York County Food Bank Inc., 254 West Princess Street, York, 846-6435.
--- Bell Family Shelter, 852 East Market Street, York, 845-9536.
--- Catholic Harvest Food Pantry, 628 East Market Street, York, 846-8571.
