Food Bank shelves lack supplies

POMEROY–Local food bank is down on its luck with low food and commodity stock due to shortages of certain items, delivery changes and delays and the impacts from COVID-19 shutdown and slow recovery.

The local food bank is seeking help restocking shelves with food, dry goods, cleaning products, toiletries and holiday extras. According to Susie Bowles, Garfield County Food Bank Manager, the shelves have one month of stock left for October, which is far less than the standard three-month supply requirement.

"The Food Bank shelves should be stacked several cases high everywhere as well as on the back sides of the shelves," said Bowles. "There are also three more sets of shelving that look the same."

To some, the shelves look somewhat supplied, but with the needs of 72 families and 189 individuals, the commodities are used up quickly.

"Folks may look at the shelves and say we have lots of groceries–multiply even one item times 72 families and it adds up quick," said Bowles. "Our large families certainly need more than one can of green beans. For example, one can doesn't stretch far between 7-13 family members! When COVID surfaced in the spring," Bowles continues, "our suppliers changed and now after seven months our shelves have become sparsely filled. At the end of October, our shelves do not have enough groceries to serve our clients for the months of November and December.

There seem to be a generous supply of rice and beans remaining for the clients' basic food needs and recipes are provided to them for meal variety. However, with the changes the community has experienced in 2020, retaining some holiday traditions give a boost to hope and good will in those who are in need.

"We have rice and beans (kidney and garbanzo) which are in the tubbies and some on the shelves," said Bowles. "Every month we print off new recipes giving our folks suggestions on how to cook with them for a variety. However, rice and beans don't speak Thanksgiving and Christmas to me so my desire is to make these holidays a little better, food wise, for our clients," said Bowles. "We do have grant money to help us get hams for Thanksgiving and turkeys for Christmas."

The food bank is now accepting financial and food donations, especially food items for the holiday season.

"Folks are certainly welcome to donate food items as well as money to help us make these holidays better in this unpredictable year of 2020, said Bowles.

Special pantry suggestions are:

Canned or packaged gravy,

stuffing mixes,

rolls and butter,

pumpkin and pie crusts

cranberry sauce, olives, pickles

potatoes, onions, carrots, sweet potatoes

cake, cookie, brownie mixes

brown, white powdered sugars,

frosting

canned vegetables and fruit

condensed/evaporated milk

Cool Whip

cream cheese.