The story is from the Stevens Point, WI Journal, at this link.
Mary Ann Krems wins today’s award for talking accurately about reality, instead of sugar-coating things:
“Mary Ann Krems of Portage County Hunger and Poverty Prevention Partnership said the economy is to blame for the increases, but it’s hard to tell what the future holds.”I think a lot depends, because the jobs are still going down the tubes,” she said. “We’re expecting and anticipating an increase.”
While this increase in need at food pantries is coming during a time of supposed “job-less recovery” (an Orwellian doublespeak term if ever there was one), all the while, there is a “perfect financial storm” still coming.
Welcome to the perfect financial storm (click)
I’d say the food pantry business is in for some, as they say, “robust growth” in the next 24 to 60 months, wouldn’t you? Story is below my initials, in case the link doesn’t work.
b.g.
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Food requests continue to increase at Portage County food pantries.
Data from the Portage County Hunger and Poverty Prevention Partnership show the number of people unable to afford an adequate amount of food is continuing to rise in many pantries.
Operation Bootstrap, an emergency pantry, saw the largest increase between October and December, when it provided food for 259,749 meals in Portage County, and filled almost 700 requests for emergency assistance, said director Roseann DeBot. Last year during that time, she said, it provided food for 252,722 meals.
Operation Bootstrap received a check for $30,000 from an anonymous donor at the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin on Jan. 21, which will help address an increased demand for emergency services in Portage County, she said.
“This will help us really across the board continue all the good projects we have going and meet the increased demand,” said. “We’re going to be able to continue with … granting people money for prescriptions and dental, which are two of the biggest needs in the community.”
The money also will go toward fresh food, milk and other products that Operation Bootstrap provides to people in crisis.
St. Vincent de Paul in Plover also saw an increase in demand. It periodically provided food to 1,673 households between April and June. Between July and September, that rose to 1,748, and to 1,876 during the fourth quarter.
The Salvation Army is seeing the same trends, though the numbers dropped slightly because it was under construction for several months in 2009.
Bob Quam of The Salvation Army said in general, more people are coming in for meals. The center served 4,809 meals during the third quarter and 4,574 during the fourth.
“Right now our pantry is in pretty good shape. We can always use (donations), and I always know other food pantries that aren’t in as good a shape,” Quam said.
Mary Ann Krems of Portage County Hunger and Poverty Prevention Partnership said the economy is to blame for the increases, but it’s hard to tell what the future holds.
“I think a lot depends, because the jobs are still going down the tubes,” she said. “We’re expecting and anticipating an increase.”