PITTSBURG, Kan. — Crawford County families are having a harder time this year keeping up with inflation, if the shelves at Wesley House’s food pantry are any indication.
Their stories read like an abridged version of a credit-card commercial.
A gallon of gas: $3.35.
A gallon of milk: $3.59.
Being able to feed four people for a month: priceless.
That’s why pastor Ellie Foster is hopeful that this Saturday’s football game between Pittsburg State University and Truman State University nets a score higher than what’s seen on the “Jungletron.” She’s hoping to restock shelves that at one point over the summer were nearly bare.
Fans attending the game are being asked to bring along a few nonperishable items — think canned veggies, macaroni and cheese, or canned tuna — to restock the Wesley House food pantry after it has helped more families so far this year than were helped during all of 2007.
“Throughout the summer, some of our numbers were double what they were a year ago,” said Foster, who directs the food pantry.
“We see heartbreaking stories. Especially when we were signing people up during back-to-school time. We had many, many families — usually the mother — who were totally embarrassed at having to come in to ask for help. So many of them told us that they used to help us by giving donations, and now they’re having to ask for them themselves.”
Foster said she attributes recent layoffs in Crawford County, Wesley House’s coverage area, as well as rising prices.
“Some are telling us they’re from Superior Industries, or other business that have either closed or done some pretty hefty layoffs,” she said. “I have talked to so many families that are telling us that they were just getting by paycheck to paycheck. But with the price of everything rising, sometimes an unexpected medical situation will occur or a problem with their car, and then they’re broke.”
Donations to date have been fairly steady, Foster reported, but with increased demand they don’t stretch as far.
“Through the end of September this year, we assisted 3,760 families; in all of 2007, we assisted 3,024,” she said. “Of those families, 358 have never requested help before. There were 46 new ones in September alone.”
That threw Foster and her crew for a loop, because traditionally, requests for food are higher in the summer and go down a little when school resumes. She expects November to be busy and December even more so.
“The picture is changing,” she said. “And not for the better.”
Wesley House follows the same guidelines as the federal food-stamp program, which translates to serving those with a maximum income of $2,238 per month for a family of four; for each additional person in the household, an additional $377 is allowable.
“What we’re seeing is an increase in the number of families coming to us where both adults are working two jobs,” Foster said. “They just can’t make it. Minimum wage just doesn’t get it. They are totally beside themselves. They have to swallow their pride and come ask for help, many of whom have never asked for help before. People are having to choose between a gallon of milk and a gallon of gas.”
She hopes Saturday’s food drive will help restock the depleted shelves.
“We’ll have collection boxes for nonperishables at each entrance to the stadium,” Foster said. “If everyone coming to the game brings one or two items, we’d have a great deal of food. I’m hoping we have a terrific storage problem. That would make my day, if this building is so full that we could barely get in for Sunday service and hold church outside.”
Beyond Saturday, Foster welcomes any donation of money or food, in any amount, throughout the year. “When people go to the grocery store, pick up three extra cans of green beans and drop them by,” she said. “It doesn’t seem like a lot, but if we put it together with other people’s cans of green beans, before you know it, we have 100.”
To stay within United Way guidelines, Wesley House is limited to serving Crawford County. Eligible families of four are allowed about six bags of groceries per month through Wesley House, Foster said. Those wanting to make donations of food or money may contact Foster at (620) 232-3760. The food pantry is open from 1 to 3:30 p.m. weekdays at 411 E. 12th St. in Pittsburg.
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