After serving meals, food bank searching for funds
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That?s 7,140 more meals than in 2005. In fact, the food bank has experienced an annual increase in the amount of aid requested and delivered in the past several years.
Imagine again, what 2006 would have been like if the food bank had not been able to assist those families and individuals who received emergency meals.
That possibility is becoming closer to reality because the food bank is in need of funding.
?We?ve had a lot of support in the past and we?ve turned it away,? said food bank secretary Angie Youngblood. ?That?s because we were always fortunate to get the grants we needed to stay operational. But now the grants have dried up and we?re looking for more local support.?
The food bank operates with an all-volunteer board and one part-time employee, Nira Snyder. Board members include Lester Cowell, Father Jim Bretl, Karen Taylor and Youngblood.
?This is a very needed program and I didn?t realize how many people do need it until I started to work here,? said Snyder.
Families or individuals who are approved for emergency food are given enough food to last two days. If a family of five is approved, enough food is given for all five family members to eat three meals a day for two days.
In January, the food bank helped 80 local households.
?We?re an emergency group for people who find themselves in a crisis,? said Youngblood. ?The food bank is to meet emergency needs and is not intended to be a continuing support program.?
According to its 1983 charter, ?The food bank is dependent upon the community for support of the program.? The post office and several area churches collect non-perishable foods to help stock the shelves for later distribution.
Rising costs to purchase other needed food items and to maintain a storage/distribution location are causing concerns for board members.
?When this started out, we were over in the Blue Building,? said Cowell, a charter food bank volunteer. ?Now we?re over here across the street and we have to pay rent and other expenses.?
The food bank is located next to First Presbyterian Church.
Tax-deductible contributions may be made to: Warren County Emergency Food Bank, 278 W. Laurel Ave., McMinnville, 37110.