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Many of the indicators suggest the economy is recovering, but don’t tell that to area families still in the grip of the economic squeeze. These are folks caught up in the daily struggle to feed their families – working hard to fulfill one of the most basic of human needs. Most of us simply take that for granted as we push our shopping carts thru the abundant HEB aisles.
The Caring Place experienced a record-setting distribution of over 352 tons of food to nearly 3,900 families last year. And to top that off – the demand for food during the first three months of 2011 is even greater than ever before. Through the end of March, 1,064 families have received 113,295 pounds of food. This compares to 817 families receiving 83,580 pounds during the same period in 2010. This reflects an incredible 30% increase in the number of families seeking assistance, and a 35% increase in the amount of food being distributed.
The shelves in the food pantry reflect this huge volume increase, as there are more bare spots which need immediate attention to fill. The largest portion of non-perishable food on the pantry shelves come though the community food drives held at various businesses, churches, schools, and organizations throughout the community, as well as from individuals who drop off food when they come by to donate items for us to sell in the store. The Caring Place also has to purchase both perishible and non-perishible food when the shelves are bare and food drives fall short, spending nearly $25,000 in 2010 to keep the shelves filled.
If you or your group or organization would like to schedule a food drive to benefit area families, please contact Rita Turner at The Caring Place by calling 869-4735, ext 231. Rita will provide you with a list of the most critically needed items, and make arrangements to drop off collection barrels, help with the publicity, and arrange for the return trip to pick up the filled barrels. Also, be watching for the next big community-wide food drive – Help Stamp Out Hunger on the second Saturday in May. This annual collection is conducted by the National Postal Letter Carriers Union and provided over 27,000 pounds of food to The Caring Place in 2010.
You can also help out The Caring Place by dropping off food in the special barrels at the front of Georgetown’s HEB stores. All of this food comes directly to The Caring Place to help hungry families.
Contact Rita Turner at 869-4735 for more information or to learn how to volunteer in this rewarding area. |