Gas at $4 a gallon and rising food and utility costs are causing many people to seek assistance from Combined Community Services to help put food on their tables.
"We have seen working people who have never used our services before seek assistance at Combined Community Services because they can't afford food on their own with rising food, utility and gas prices," said Peggy Lisenbee-Wright, CCS director of client assistance.Lisenbee-Wright said Combined Community Services is seeing an average of 80 additional families per month since January seeking food assistance. In April, CCS served 473 families through its food pantry.
"The higher utility costs, food costs and price of gasoline has made it difficult for many working poor families to make ends meet," Lisenbee-Wright said.
She said the food pantry is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
USDA commodities are provided for families under 165 percent of national poverty income guidelines. Donated food is provided to families who ask, Lisenbee-Wright said.
CCS collects a minimum of information such as name, address and household occupants and asks for a form of identification.
"It's heartbreaking that many parents in our community struggle to provide a healthy meal for their children," Lisenbee-Wright said.
She said hunger is often seen as a problem effecting other countries or larger cities.
"Reality is that it might be the little girl sitting on the swing at Center Park or the little boy down the street," she said.
Lisenbee-Wright said children's hunger effects health, behavior, performance in school and social aspects of a child's life.
She said the organization's biggest need for donations with summer coming up are "kid friendly" foods such as peanut butter and jelly, canned pastas, pop tarts, pancake syrup, pancake mix and eggs.
CCS's food pantry is supported by monetary donations, food drives and donations from churches, businesses and individuals in the county.
For more information call Lisenbee-Wright at CCS at 574-269-6019, Ext 22.
