The county food pantry had to turn away a family seeking help for the first time last week.
A sharp influx of people needing help has nearly tapped out the resources of both the local and area food banks, according to Robbie Hill, Center Coordinator of Panhandle Community Services.
“We have just about depleted our food bank,” Hill said. “It’s just taking more for people to live now between bills, sending their kids back to school, and the high price of gasoline.”
Last week, a family of eight came by Hill’s local office and were told they would have to wait a week before they could receive any assistance. Hill said that was the first time in more than ten years that the food pantry could not help someone.
The First United Methodist Church stepped in last week and has the pantry ready for the rest of the month, she said.
“The help from the Methodist Church has just been superb.”
Local community members have reportedly donated about $400 worth of canned goods to the food pantry and 48 ten-pound bags of chicken leg quarters have been donated. Hill also said B&R Thriftway has been very helpful.
“The way this town has responded has just been a blessing.”
But despite last week’s donations, Hill said more is needed if the pantry is to last until year’s end.
“There is just a bigger need now,” she said. “We’ve had triple the requests for assistance as we did this time last year.”
The Panhandle Community Services / Donley County Food Pantry serves 25 to 50 families each month, and last week they served 25 people in just one day. Hill said the food pantry is only used in emergency cases, and they have very few people come more than once.
The pantry receives funds from the county, and other local groups contribute annually also.
“The Lions Club pays for food baskets at Christmas, and the elementary school kids usually have a contest to see who can donate the most food. The Scouts also help us around Thanksgiving. But this year we’ve run out before those groups can help us.”
Items that are needed include canned goods (meat, vegetables, and fruit) rice, flour, dry beans, corn meal, sugar, tea, coffee, jelly, peanut butter, and two- or five-pound packages of frozen hamburger meat. Dry foods may also be purchased in bulk to be repackaged by Panhandle Community Services.
Bread and meats are reportedly the hardest items to get from the food bank in Amarillo.
“We can also use personal hygiene items,” Hill said, citing laundry soap, toothbrushes, and deodorant as examples.
To make a donation, send a check or money order to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 157, Clarendon, TX 79226. Checks should be earmarked or made payable to the Donley County Food Pantry. Donations can also be brought to the First United Methodist Church at 420 S. Jefferson or to the Panhandle Community Services Building at 416 S. Kearney.
Collection points for food items have been set up at the office of the Methodist Church, the Herring National Bank, and Panhandle Community Services.
If you have items you’d like to donate and would like them picked up, call the Methodist Church at 806-874-3667.
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