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Area food banks running out of rations

Mark Schantz/SUNCOAST

Wanda Weber, director of the Shepherd Center, in Tarpon Springs, says center's food pantry shelves only have items purchased from local retailers. There are no donated items.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: November 14, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - Area food banks say they have never seen the local economy so bad and the need for emergency donations of food so great.

Those who used to be donors of food to the Shepherd Center Food Pantry, in Tarpon Springs, and FEAST Food Pantry, in Palm Harbor, are suddenly finding themselves turning to those agencies as clients.

Donations of nonperishable food items to the Shepherd Center's food pantry have dropped to almost nothing. This severe reduction in donations is occurring at a time when requests for monthly emergency allotments of food continue to dramatically rise, more than 25 percent, as the local economy worsens.

The demand for food items is up 25 percent, according to the Shepherd Center's executive director, Wanda Weber.

"The food pantry's food supply is extremely low," she said. "I don't remember ever seeing it this bad."

Walt Anderson, FEAST of Palm Harbor director, said he has not seen the need for food so great in more than two decades. A recent food collection drive fell well short of its goal and private donations of food have dwindled, he said.

In order to sustain itself, the Shepherd Center's food pantry has to purchase food from supermarkets and pantry cooperatives, which greatly adds to its cost of serving the needy, explained Weber. "People who used to donate food are now turning to us for help to make ends meet," she said.

The number of people - traditional families, single parents and individuals - coming to the pantry for an emergency supply of food increases each month. Many of the adults had good-paying jobs before the economy took its toll on them and have had no success finding work or returning to their former salary levels, Weber said.

With savings dwindling and unemployment benefits running out, "People can't pay their mortgage and the electrical bill and feed their families working minimum, low-wage, jobs," she said.

Things aren't likely to improve anytime soon, Weber added.

The Shepherd Center will still be able provide 600 Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets for needy families this holiday season. The shelves of its food pantry, however, are stocked with the few items it has been able to buy at local stores.

With the Shepherd Center seeing about 630 families a month, Weber would welcome community and church groups holding food drives or fundraisers to aid its pantry.

FEAST leader Anderson says the pantry is confronting the biggest challenge in its 26-year history. "It's been much more of a struggle now that it was at 15 or 20 years ago," he said.

FEAST is seeing the same steep drop in donations and big increase in requests for food aid. If things don't improve by January, Anderson said, the pantry might have to reduce the amount of food it hands out and give out food only once a month, not twice.

"Some days we wonder whether we will have enough food to meet the needs of the community," he said.

The ranks of former FEAST donors who now need helps include former bank tellers and managers, dental hygienists, waitresses and laborers. "We are seeing parents and grandparents who are caring for relatives who have fallen on hard times," Anderson said, adding, "They cannot support a family on Social Security income."

Like Weber, Anderson does not see better times on the economic horizon.

A recent door-to-door food drive only brought in about 25 percent of the food expected, he said. The area's next food drive, by letter carriers, is not until May. FEAST's food pantry could be empty before the next food drive, he said.

Helping out

Food for the Shepherd Center, in Tarpon Springs, can be dropped off at 101 W. Court St. Anyone interested in holding a fundraiser to aid the center can call 727-939-1400.

FEAST Pantry accepts donations at its home on the grounds of Grace Community Church, 2255 Nebraska Ave. Palm Harbor. Those looking to hold a food drive for FEAST can call 727-789-5275.

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

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