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Feast Food Pantry Feeling Empty

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: August 30, 2008

PALM HARBOR - The sharp downturn in the housing market and other areas of the economy has had a major impact on a local charitable food pantry.

"For the first time we are seeing car loads of people arriving at one time, because several people had to chip in for gas money to get here. Nobody ever thought it would get this bad," said Walter Anderson, volunteer director of the Food Emergency and Services Team.

Traditionally, most of the people seeking help from the FEAST food pantry were low-income seniors, according to Anderson. Now, however, there are more working poor and people who have lost their jobs, he said.

At the beginning of the year, FEAST's food pantry was serving about 1,300 individuals and families each month. Now that number is up to 2,000 and is steadily rising.

Just this month alone, 35 new people came to FEAST looking for emergency food, Anderson said. Each month we only loose about two or three, who have been able to get back on their feet, he said.

For the first time the pantry is seeing many real estate agents who have not sold a house in months and can no longer afford to buy food and pay their rent, he said.

People from the middle class are now turning for help from FEAST, Anderson said. The pantry operates on the Grounds of Grace Community Church, 2255 Nebraska Ave.

Anderson attributes part of the surge in people seeking help from FEAST to the downturn in the housing industry. Many area construction workers and people in related industries have lost their jobs, he said.

In addition, many restaurants are closing or cutting back and laying off workers, according to Anderson. This is important because many area residents work in the restaurant industry, he said.

"Adding to the really bad economy, high gas prices are really hurting people," he said. Other people who have second jobs to help make ends meet are finding their hours cut or are being laid off, according to Anderson.

"It's getting really serious out there," he said.

People can come to FEAST twice a month for emergency allotments of food and even essential household supplies.

People are even asking for essentials like shampoo so they don't have to wash their hair with dishwashing detergent, Anderson said.

Food stamps won't pay for toilet paper, so they are asking for that as well as personal hygiene and baby items, he said.

The nonprofit FEAST, which serves people from around North Pinellas, could use donations of as much food as people can spare, Anderson said. Monetary donations, however, allow the pantry to purchase food from vendors that offer discounts.

"If things get even worse food stipends could go to once a month, but FEAST is struggling to provide help people need and they need to receive emergency food at least twice a month," he said. No one wants to think what it will be like during the holiday season, he added.

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