Don't Let The Bad Economy Get You Down!
Nov 2, 2009 6:05 pm US/Eastern
Food Banks Might Run Short For The Holidays
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Poll
Have you ever donated food to a food bank or food pantry?
You need the latest Flash player to view our Poll.
Click here to download.
Click here to
bypass this detection if you already
have the latest Flash Player.
Local food pantries are very concerned that they will not be able to meet a soaring demand for help. "Feed South Florida's" director of development Anthea Pennant said donations are down, yet the number of people who need help with groceries has grown by nearly 40 percent.
"Everyone is challenged during these economic times, so it is true that people are not donating as much as they typically would," said Pennant.
That's bad news for Skyler Rickets and others like her. Rickets is an out-of-work grandmother, raising her two grandkids. She depends on the cartload of groceries that she gets every month from the Pantry of Broward.
"I love this place. In the time that I have dealt with this place they have helped me tremendously," said Rickets. "And it's a continuous support, you know, they start with the basic need, which is food. Everybody has to have something to eat. You can't think if you're stomach is empty, so that's the first need that they feed."
It's a need that the pantries and food banks worry they won't be able to fill.
This year they are in a worse situation that last year. In 2008, Feed South Florida said it distributed 14 million meals. They estimated there are 800,000 people living in poverty in South Florida, and their resources were only able to help nearly 18 percent of those people.
This year could be worse.
"With the holidays coming, people want to shop and maintain some normalcy for their families, and so we're not sure what to expect this year," said Pennant.
Feed South Florida said money and food donations are both appreciated. But your money will stretch farther with their buying power. For ever dollar they receive, they are able to provide six meals. The Pantry of Broward said no matter how meager your contribution, it helps.
You can use your cell phone to make a $5 donation to the Pantry of Broward by texting the word FOOD to 20222.
To donate to your local food bank call:
- Cooperative Feeding Program: 954-792-2328 (Plantation)
- Daily Bread Food Bank: 305-633-9861
- Farm Share: 305-246-3276 (Florida City) or 305-633-3387 (Miami)
- Manna Share A Meal: 954-475-0508 (Plantation)
- Share Florida Food Network: 1-800-536-3379
- Stop Hunger 305-891-8811 (North Miami)
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Fabulous Freebies Found Online
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
