Food crisis: Samaritan Center low on food as more and more people seek help

The Samaritan Center in Jefferson City has seen a dramatic increase in people seeking food and energy assistance.

“Many of the new people who are coming have a sense of shock to them that they never thought they would be looking for assistance like they are,” said Ben DeFeo. “The costs just exceed the budget they have set.”

But even as donations continue to come in, it's not enough to cover the need. “Our demand is outpacing our donations,” DeFeo said. “Donations are steady and have grown over the year, they just are not growing with the increased costs and demand.”

The center is focusing its resources on its number one priority - food. That means no funding is available to help with utilities, rent or other one-time crisis needs, DeFeo said.

“We are not turning anyone away (for food), but we are having to reduce the amount of food to make sure it stretches for all those coming in,” DeFeo said.

This is a scarce time of year for the Central Missouri Food Bank, too. So the center's resources are built off of direct donations.

The center attempts not to go into conventional debt. Charge accounts with vendors allow a 30-day window that helps with cash flow, as the bulk of donations come in at the start of each month.

The Samaritan Center Foundation has been raising funds for the last several years to assist in an extended crisis. But the center has not tapped those funds yet, DeFeo said.

One year ago, an exceptionally busy day for the center would have been up to 100 families. Now it is the norm.

“People are lining up out front earlier and earlier, to wait for the doors to open,” DeFeo said. “There are so many people that we have had to start cutting the line off at 100 families during the daytime hours.”

All will be served on Thursday evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Since the first of the year, the center has registered 749 new families, representing 1,609 individuals. Clients must live at 125 percent of poverty level to receive services. And the center will be revisiting its measures to ensure the system isn't being abused.

“We have always felt that if people are begging for food, they truly need it,” DeFeo said. “There is no black market for food, so there is not much that they could do with it.”

Volunteer Dennis Zimmerman picks out some beans from the last five cases at the Samaritan Center in Jefferson City. (News Tribune photo)