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Hungry during the holidays
We hand out food boxes every Wednesday and every Friday. We average about 155, 165 food boxes each food box day. Last year we provided over 259,000 meals. We handed out families-wise, to people, we handed out food boxes to over 40,000 people.
That's more people than in the entire city of Garden City. To qualify for food boxes families must meet poverty guidelines, like the ones used to qualify for free school lunches. For Thanksgiving the Emmaus house is handing out a special food box with items that you'd normally include in a holiday meal, and of course, the soup kitchen will be open. Although donations to the house are about the same as last year, Marsh says demand has increased.
Just in the past 30 days we've probably signed up, I don't know, between 30 and 40 new families that meet the poverty level guidelines. And either they've lost their job or where they're working their hours have been cut and so they're lucky they make it week to week let alone month to month. And we do have families that only come in here one week out of the month, they don't need us three weeks out of the month, they just come in that last week to help them get through to the next month.
Marsh says 80% of the families who get food boxes have children. Also, many recipients are elderly people who don't have enough income to make ends meet. During the holidays we expect to hear about those in need, but Marsh says the summertime is often when there's more need for donations.
It all stops. We literally have hardly any food coming in from May to September. It just drops off. It's the same with churches, because people are on vacation, they're going away. Out of sight, out of mind, you don't think about there are hungry people 365 days a year.
Not everyone who needs help paying for food meets poverty guidelines. That's where Prairie Land Food comes in. It's a non-profit organization covering all of Kansas that sells food packages at heavily-discounted prices that helps people stretch money and get quality food each month. Plus, spokesperson June Glasgow says there are no income caps.
It's a program for everyone, absolutely no income guidelines whatsoever, the only qualification is helping others. So what we like for people to do is to stop and think about what can I do to help someone else Do I help my neighbor? Do I call and check on someone? Do I help at my church? Sing in the choir? Teach Sunday school? It's just about finding a way within your own limitations to help someone else, and because you do that you can save money on your food bill every month.
The packages are delivered once a month and payment is expected when you make an order. The packages contain meats and fresh fruits and vegetables. The savings are substantial. Glasgow says a pack would be roughly 23 dollars and would be valued between 40 and 55 dollars depending on the month. Some organizations take advantage of this program for the holidays.
But we do have a lot of churches and organizations that do purchase the packages throughout the holidays to give to those who are needing a hand up through the holidays.
Although it's too late to plan for Thanksgiving, the December orders are open. I'm Lindsey Fields, HPPR News.
© Copyright 2012, hppr
(2009-11-24)
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GARDEN CITY, KAN.
(hppr) -
The Emmaus house blends in with other homes, but it's not just another house. The Emmaus House in Garden City, KS, serves as a homeless shelter, food pantry, and soup kitchen. Executive Director Robin Marsh.
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We hand out food boxes every Wednesday and every Friday. We average about 155, 165 food boxes each food box day. Last year we provided over 259,000 meals. We handed out families-wise, to people, we handed out food boxes to over 40,000 people.
That's more people than in the entire city of Garden City. To qualify for food boxes families must meet poverty guidelines, like the ones used to qualify for free school lunches. For Thanksgiving the Emmaus house is handing out a special food box with items that you'd normally include in a holiday meal, and of course, the soup kitchen will be open. Although donations to the house are about the same as last year, Marsh says demand has increased.
Just in the past 30 days we've probably signed up, I don't know, between 30 and 40 new families that meet the poverty level guidelines. And either they've lost their job or where they're working their hours have been cut and so they're lucky they make it week to week let alone month to month. And we do have families that only come in here one week out of the month, they don't need us three weeks out of the month, they just come in that last week to help them get through to the next month.
Marsh says 80% of the families who get food boxes have children. Also, many recipients are elderly people who don't have enough income to make ends meet. During the holidays we expect to hear about those in need, but Marsh says the summertime is often when there's more need for donations.
It all stops. We literally have hardly any food coming in from May to September. It just drops off. It's the same with churches, because people are on vacation, they're going away. Out of sight, out of mind, you don't think about there are hungry people 365 days a year.
Not everyone who needs help paying for food meets poverty guidelines. That's where Prairie Land Food comes in. It's a non-profit organization covering all of Kansas that sells food packages at heavily-discounted prices that helps people stretch money and get quality food each month. Plus, spokesperson June Glasgow says there are no income caps.
It's a program for everyone, absolutely no income guidelines whatsoever, the only qualification is helping others. So what we like for people to do is to stop and think about what can I do to help someone else Do I help my neighbor? Do I call and check on someone? Do I help at my church? Sing in the choir? Teach Sunday school? It's just about finding a way within your own limitations to help someone else, and because you do that you can save money on your food bill every month.
The packages are delivered once a month and payment is expected when you make an order. The packages contain meats and fresh fruits and vegetables. The savings are substantial. Glasgow says a pack would be roughly 23 dollars and would be valued between 40 and 55 dollars depending on the month. Some organizations take advantage of this program for the holidays.
But we do have a lot of churches and organizations that do purchase the packages throughout the holidays to give to those who are needing a hand up through the holidays.
Although it's too late to plan for Thanksgiving, the December orders are open. I'm Lindsey Fields, HPPR News.
© Copyright 2012, hppr
