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Middle Class Joining Ranks Of Needy

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: November 15, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - In a sign that it is getting tougher to survive, middle class and larger families are now turning to faith-based charitable group the Shepherd Center for emergency allotments of food.

In the past year the Shepherd Center has seen a more than 25 percent rise in the number of individuals and families needing assistance from its food pantry, Wanda Weber, the center's executive director, said.

The need is growing every month, she said.

The working poor have always had a hard time, but now the middle class is finding it difficult to make ends meet, Weber added.

Everyone from single parents to larger families is finding it a daunting task to put food on their table, while trying to pay the bills, Weber said.

More places are laying-off workers or reducing hours. If a family looses their house, they still have to pay for expensive rental apartments and feed their family or themselves, she explained.

The poor can turn to the Shepherd Center's food pantry once a month for an emergency allotment of food. Usually larger families receive more food than smaller. Now, however, because of dwindling supplies everyone will get one bag.

"It's scary, real scary," Jessica Daniels, a Shepherd Center staff member, said about the growing need and how little food people have.

Donations are needed now more than ever. The center needs donations of nonperishable food items and monetary donations so it can purchase much needed food staples, she said.

Donors can bring nonperishable food or send checks to the Shepherd Center, 101 W. Court St., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689.

In past years the center served about 500 needy households each month. That average has now risen to more than 750.

The winter influx of families and individuals looking to escape the cold has just begun. In a few months the need could be even greater.

"We remain optimistic that we will be able to serve the community's needs," Weber said.

This year the center's fund that provides Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets was depleted in one week. In past years, it took several weeks for needy families to be recommended for assistance.

About 600 food baskets will be handed out for each holiday, according to Weber.

The economy has impacted the Shepherd Center's thrift store, with fewer donations of furniture, appliances and clothes coming in. More people are not buying new items. They are holding onto their appliances and furniture longer.

The drop in revenue from the thrift store is reducing the center's ability to buy allotments of food at a time when the need is growing each month, she said.

Anyone with furniture or appliances, clothing for children as well as adults, blankets or toys is asked to donate.

The center is even willing to pickup large furniture and appliances. Benefactors with those items can call 727-939-1400, ext. 11.

Tarpon Springs, Weber said, is lucky to have soup kitchens open everyday of the week to feed the hungry. Especially with the weather getting colder, the number of hot meals being served is also growing each week, she said.

Local churches and the Tarpon Springs Housing Authority have joined with the Shepherd Center to provide a hot meal each day of the week.

Shepherd Center free meal schedule

•From 10:30 a.m. until noon Monday at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral Hall, on Pinellas Avenue at Orange Street.

•From 10:30 until noon Tuesday, at Mount Moriah AME Church, at 722 S. Disston Ave. The church provides a second meal, on Sunday's at 4 p.m.

•From 10:30 p.m. until noon, Wednesday and Friday, at the Housing Authority Community Center, at 305 Ring Ave.

•At lunchtime and 5 p.m. Thursday, at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 812 E. Tarpon Ave.

•At 11 a.m. Saturday, at Mount Hermon Missionary Baptist Church, at 400 S. Levis Ave.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

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