Community continues to support local food pantries

There is no donor fatigue in Jefferson City, said Marylyn DeFeo, executive director of the Samaritan Center.

With Thanksgiving behind them and Christmas around the corner, local food pantries are settling in for a long, cold weather season with limited aid from the Central Missouri Food Bank while the numbers of clients increase.

Direct donations of cash and food have kept the Samaritan Center's groceries going, although they're paying for more than they did before the southeastern hurricanes.

Likewise, the First United Methodist Church food pantry has seen an increase in congregational giving to make up the difference.

But The Salvation Army food pantry "is bare compared to last year at this time," said Maj. Beth Stillwell. "We need food to meet daily needs -- not even Christmas -- just to make the ends meet."

Since early September a majority of America's Second Harvest foods have been diverted to help in hurricane relief, instead of supplementing the Central Missouri Food Bank.

The area food bank and the agencies it serves in 33 Mid-Missouri counties have fared better in this hardship than many of its counterparts across the nation, said Peggy Kirkpatrick, executive director.

The Central Missouri Food Bank is one of five among the nation's 200 that do not charge a minimum fee-per-pound to its agencies.

At one point they had secured the availability of 30 loads of food, but couldn't find the drivers and trailers to bring it back, she said.

Looking ahead, Kirkpatrick said she expects the Second Harvest stores gradually to return to normal.

For now, "the holidays are the best of times and the worst of times," she said.

"I've seen the greatest compassion of mankind for a neighbor in need ... and winter demands can be crushing -- exacerbated by fuel costs makes it even tougher on the poor."

The food drives and donations that usually flow in this time of year to the Central Missouri Food Bank came in September and October to offset the hurricane shortfall, Kirkpatrick said.

And the Check Out Hunger campaign at the check-out registers of some grocery stores ends Christmas Day, so the money donated to that now will not help the Central Missouri Food Bank until after the holidays.

"It hurts; but we understand too, the incredible amount of need," Kirkpatrick said. "The type of hunger here is not so nearly catastrophic."

Cold weather means people will be depending more on the food pantries to take up the budget slack for increased fuel costs, Stillwell said.

Energy assistance will be a real need this winter, DeFeo said.

Bills will be high and the state and federal reimbursement is slow to process.

Overall, the Jefferson City community seems to have stepped up to fill the needs of agencies serving the needy, such as the food and meat needed for the Thanksgiving community dinner at The Salvation Army.

Even the Adopt-a-Family and Santa's Workshop Christmas-time programs have received the needed generosity, DeFeo said.

But "we still need continued support," DeFeo said.

Lend a helping hand

* Prayer -- The business of helping people in need can be stressful on those who work in the ministry, in addition to those who benefit from it.

* Support -- The Central Missouri Food Bank has a warehouse in town that supports 14 agencies providing daily meals or monthly groceries. Give to the local agencies first.

* Food drives -- Non-perishable canned and boxed items may be dropped off at the local agencies.

* Monetary gifts -- Agencies have discounts and arrangements that make cash gifts go a long way. And most gifts are tax-deductible or eligible for tax credits.

* Give a dollar -- The Check Out Hunger campaign at grocery store check-out counters continues through Dec. 24.

* Leftovers -- After Christmas parties, leftover sandwiches or food can be taken to The Salvation Army shelter.

* Remember -- When sitting down to a meal, there are needy families who are making choices between a can of food, medicine or keeping the heat on.

* Notice -- Know your neighbor and his needs. A bag of groceries on his doorstep might be just what he needs in this time of Goodwill.

Residents and volunteers form a line Friday morning to unload pallets of food brought to the Salvation Army by the Central Missouri Food Bank. Their pantry was almost empty, but the emergency delivery restocked their shelves. (Julie Smith/News Tribune photo)