Meals banks are effectively stocked and able to assist

Grayce Min December 20, 2021

17 4 minutes read

Meals banks are effectively stocked and able to assist

Gina Bichard, director of the food pantry at The Salvation Army in Cambridge, stands among the supplies used to feed local residents in need. The agency fed more than 7,000 people in 2020, but that total has fallen to less than 5,000 this year.

Whereas some meals banks throughout Ohio are reporting increased calls for and costs in 2021, the alternative is true right here in Guernsey County.

Native meals banks are reporting a major decline within the variety of individuals searching for their companies from years previous and a readily-available provide of provides.

“All the pieces has been impacted by COVID,” mentioned Pat Wears, director of the meals financial institution at Predominant Avenue United Methodist Church in Byesville. “Issues began to decelerate when individuals began getting stimulus cash, and it has not picked up a lot since. We had a number of further final month.”

Based on Wears, the pantry at 223 Predominant St. served roughly 200 households per 30 days, however that whole dropped to an estimated 100 a month this 12 months.

“We’re fortunate to have 100 a month,” Wears mentioned. “Issues have actually slowed down, however we’re not the one ones experiencing a decline.”

“There was much less of a requirement in 2021 by fairly a bit,” mentioned Gina Bishard, director of this system at The Salvation Military at 221 Dewey Ave. in Cambridge.

Bishard in contrast the months of January via November in 2020 to 2021 and located roughly 7,000 individuals had been served throughout that point interval final 12 months to lower than 5,000 this 12 months.

Feed My Individuals at Christ’s Lutheran Church at 1101 Steubenville Ave. in Cambridge simply accomplished a six-month kitchen rework undertaking, which probably contributed to a decline in patrons.

Director Jenny Stephenson mentioned they averaged 2,000 dine-in and take-out meals per 30 days in earlier years, however that whole has fallen to 900 a month.

“We simply re-opened the eating room a pair weeks in the past and the variety of meals goes up,” mentioned Stephenson.

In the course of the top of the COVID-19 pandemic, Feed My Individuals solely supplied take-out meals.

“We’re excited to welcome individuals again to the eating room after the kitchen rework,” mentioned Alissa Kovack, Feed My Individuals board member.

The eating room is open 10 to 11:30 a.m., Monday via Friday.

“We hope to open the eating room on Saturdays, however we’re nonetheless in want of volunteer assist,” mentioned Kovack.

Stephenson invited the group to Feed My Individuals’s Christmas meal being served on Dec. 22. The menu will embody ham, scalloped potatoes, candy potatoes and inexperienced beans.

“The meals is free and there aren’t any restrictions,” she added.

At The Salvation Military, the pantry is open Monday via Friday 4 weeks every month. Patrons can obtain one field of meals per calendar month and every field accommodates 15 meals that can feed about 4 individuals per meal.

Bichard mentioned The Salvation Military may also present greater than 600 packing containers for Christmas meals to serve greater than 450 households, based mostly on present requests.

“I do not let anyone go hungry if I will help it,” mentioned Bichard.

Primarily based on her personal previous, Bichard, who has been with The Salvation Military for six years, has made an funding to serving native residents in want.

“I ensure there are meals in packing containers as a result of I have been homeless and hungry and going with out,” she mentioned. “Simply since you are poor, it does not imply you do not need to be handled with dignity. I’ve been blessed my life turned out the best way it did.”

The meals and different provides offered by the native meals banks are a mixture of things bought from Mid-Ohio Meals Companies and native donations.

The Columbus Dispatch not too long ago reported Mid-Ohio Meals Collective, which runs its personal meals pantry and in addition companies 680 accomplice businesses (together with pantries, soup kitchens and after-school packages), is projecting a $1.4 million improve in prices this 12 months.

The meals financial institution was capable of take up the improve in its $37 million finances due to help from the Better Columbus group, in addition to metropolis, state and federal authorities funds, such because the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan.

“We purchase meals from Mid-Ohio and the costs have gone up a bit, nevertheless it’s nonetheless very reasonable when in comparison with shopping for issues at different shops,” mentioned Wears of the Predominant Avenue UMC pantry, which is open from 9 a.m. to midday the primary 4 Thursdays of every month.

Wears mentioned is has been tough to get meat at instances, however every thing else has been effectively stocked.

The Salvation Military additionally purchases meals from Mid-Ohio Meals Collective.

“We have now not had any points with our provide,” mentioned Bichard. “Mid-Ohio has been a Godsend for us and, pound for pound, we get our provides for pennies on the greenback they usually have been fantastic to work with.”

Bichard mentioned native firms who bought pigs through the latest Guernsey County Honest have additionally donated sausage and pork chops to bolster this system.

“They at all times give us meat and we obtain different meals donations from native shops and infrequently people,” mentioned Bichard.

Among the donations are previous the “finest by” or “higher by” dates, however that does not hold them from getting used. Based on Bichard, the meals financial institution permits them to make use of gadgets for as much as a 12 months previous the dates earlier than they begin shedding dietary worth.

Bichard additionally credit Captains Edward and Candice McMillen together with native meals drives for serving to hold the cabinets on the pantry stocked.

“The officers are superb,” she mentioned. “Captain Sweet’s philosophy is the extra you give, the extra God returns and boy is she proper. All the pieces we want is true right here.”

At Feed My Individuals, native meals drives, together with efforts by Buckeye Path colleges and the Cambridge Metropolis Faculties band, mix with particular person donations assist hold patrons fed.

“We’re doing effectively with meals and meals donations,” mentioned Kovack. “We’re combating financial donations, as we pay 4 individuals to work right here.”