Food demand a 'sign of the times'
By KALEY CONNER
When Robert Balloun began serving on a volunteer board for the Russell Food Pantry, the organization was distributing food to about 30 households a month.
It's 20 years later, and that number has more than doubled. The nonprofit organization now provides groceries to about 69 families every month.
"It's a sign of the times," Balloun said. "A lot of people (have) lost their jobs, and a lot of companies have put their employees on part-time to avoid benefits. We have quite a few elderly on fixed income that just won't stretch."
The pantry's service is up 16 percent, from an average of 62 families monthly in 2008.
The organization, which serves Russell County residents in need, is one of many food banks in northwest Kansas striving to meet an increased demand for services.
So far, so good. In Russell County, donation numbers have swelled enough to keep the shelves stocked. The holidays were especially busy, with the group handing out 187 Thanksgiving meals and 292 boxes of Christmas dinner supplies. Those numbers marked an increase of 20 percent from 2008.
"We got hit pretty hard this year, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas," Balloun said. "That set us back, but we're still meeting the need."
Besides holiday help, the pantry, located at 15 N. Front St., allows residents to pick up a box of groceries up to six times annually. The amount of food given is proportional to the number of family members.
While the pantry has many loyal contributors, community food drives are a major source of supplies. Some groups make food drives an annual event, though even those contributions have taken a hit with the economy, said Cathy Berry, the pantry's only employee.
"It's hitting a lot of the families a lot harder, so there are fewer families donating," she said.
Volunteers are hoping the donations of food and money will keep coming in, enabling them to continue optimal services.
"We sure don't want to reduce our services if we can keep from it," Balloun said.
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The story is similar in Hays, where organizers at the Community Assistance Center and St. Joseph Food Pantry report an increase in services for 2009.
The CAC serves more than 5,000 low-income Ellis County residents annually by providing food, clothes, and even home furnishings. Demand for food was up about 30 percent last year, with about 100 boxes of food distributed each month, said Director Theresa Hill.
Residents can receive four boxes of food each year, with portions based on household size. The center also distributes about 400 Christmas dinner boxes every year.
"But we've gotten more food this year than we have ever gotten during the holidays," Hill said.
Supplies were getting a little lean before Thanksgiving, but community food drives provide a huge boost to get the food bank through the holidays, she said.
"We have food drives we don't even know about," Hill said. "We were a little worried there for a while, but we just give less food if we don't have enough."
The CAC, located at 208 E. 12th, also has two garage sales every month. Proceeds from the sales are used to replenish supplies, and donations always are welcome, she said.
The St. Joseph Food Pantry, at 210 W. 13th, strives to provide non-perishable food items to Ellis County residents who find themselves in crises on a weekend, said Coordinator Renee Michaud.
The pantry, which opened in 2001, is open from 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturday of the month. The pantry, working with First Call for Help, also offers assistance for emergency situations.
There are no requirements or limitations on how many boxes residents can receive each year.
In a typical year, between 60 and 80 boxes are distributed during January pantry hours. Last month, a total of 202 boxes were given during weekend hours.
"It seems like every pantry day we do some new faces," Michaud said. "We also have those people who are on a fixed income that we do see every time the pantry is open."
In 2009, each client visited the pantry an average of five times throughout the year. A total of 432 families received groceries from the pantry.
Like other food pantries, donations are always needed, and can be left at a drop-off site inside the St. Joseph parish, Michaud said.
"Most of the time at the end of a food pantry morning, the shelves are almost bare," she said. "We haven't had to turn anyone away."
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Other communities have looked for ways to expand services to residents in need. In Wilson, Czech Community Action Team took over food bank services in April, opening a thrift shop on Old U.S. Highway 40 to fund its operations.
Food baskets are distributed to residents in need for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Emergency aid also is available by appointment, said CAT chairman Ron Lowry, a retired reverend with the United Methodist Church.
"There is a great need there," Lowry said of the food bank services.
About 50 boxes were distributed for each holiday in 2009, and there has been a slight increase in the number of families needing assistance in the interim, he said.
Donations of food, money and clothes are appreciated, and it's strong community support that has kept the services going, he said.
"We've really, really been blessed that we've always had enough food," Lowry said. "As we give away a bunch of baskets of food, then we run a bit low for a little while, but people have just been great to support it."
Ellis Food Boxes is another small-town operation that has expanded over the years to help feed the hungry. The initiative began about 10 years ago in Leonard Schoenberger's home, providing food during the holidays.
The organization delivered more than 60 boxes of food in 2009, and has become large enough to offer emergency assistance, Schoenberger said.
Distribution numbers were up considerably this year, from an average of about 40 boxes annually in years past. Thanks to an anonymous donor, volunteers also were able to distribute much-needed cash to some Ellis residents.
"I can't tell you how many people that responded with calls and were so grateful," he said. "There was so much joy and just goodwill that was shared here this year."
There are no eligibility requirements for services, and the group tries to provide help as soon as possible.
"When you're hungry, you need food now," Schoenberger said. "You don't need it 30 days from now."
Those needing services can contact the Ellis Alliance. Donations are welcome, and an account has been established at Golden Belt Bank in Ellis for monetary gifts.
Schoenberger said he is thankful for community support -- food drives have provided additional donations to meet the growing demand.
"I was a little concerned in November when there didn't seem to be much (donations) gathering," he said. "I guess sometimes your prayers are answered in special ways, because it ended up being the best year ever."