Morning Call (Pennsylvania), July 24, 2008: Summer is a hard time to be hungry
July 24, 2008
The truth about summer — beyond all the obvious things — is that it’s an awful time to be hungry and broke. Local food bank supplies are at the bare minimum and many people who are willing to help believe that donations are needed most during the winter holidays. It’s a common misconception.
It’s a two-edged problem, especially in July and August. Just when supplies at local food banks are in shortest supply, children who are not in school to receive free or reduced-cost lunches add to the need.
Ann McManus, program director at Second Harvest of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania said that demand for food keeps rising and the number of people that food banks and pantries in the Lehigh Valley are feeding keeps increasing. Second Harvest, a program of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, distributes about 500,000 pounds of food monthly to 200 food banks, soup kitchens and other agencies that help people.
This summer, the need is even more acute due to rising food and gasoline prices and the overall sluggish economy. Thousands of people throughout the Lehigh Valley need help to afford food. Food pantries across the Lehigh Valley have seen a 30 percent increase in people served this past year.
Ms. McManus said that Second Harvest has numbers that show how demand has been going up. She compared the number of families that the food pantries served in July 2007 to March 2008.
For instance, in downtown Allentown, the Grace Episcopal Church food pantry served 170 families in July 2007. In March 2008, the pantry helped 248 families.
The Agape New Testament Fellowship on Route 873 in Schnecksville last July served 42 families, while in March 2008 it served 47. Smaller numbers, but it is an 8 percent increase, and it shows the need extends far beyond urban downtowns.
Rising food prices affect grocery shoppers and the food banks, too. For example, Ms. McManus said that a staple that Second Harvest buys a lot of, tuna, has risen tremendously. Last year, the food bank payed $23 for a case of basic chunk light tuna packed in water. This year, the price increased to $32 per case. The price of two other important staples, rice and spaghetti, also increased.
Donations are taken throughout the year, but they are most needed in the summer months. People who want to donate to Second Harvest can do so several ways. Watch out for food drives that happen throughout the year, like the annual Boy Scouts food drive in November.
And, individual donations of nonperishable foods that are sealed in the original packaging are accepted. Nonperishable, acceptable foods include peanut butter, cereal, rice and canned vegetables, meats, fish or soup.
Cash donations also are accepted. Supporting Second Harvest is a good idea because it helps so many pantries and kitchens. Every dollar donated allows Second Harvest to distribute about 15 pounds of food. A donation of $35 will feed a family of four for two weeks. Checks made out to Second Harvest of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania can be sent directly to the food bank at 2045 Harvest Way, Allentown, Pa. 18104.
There are other ways to help this summer. The Lehigh County Conference of Churches is running a program called ”Weigh in Against Hunger,” a six-month project asking people to donate one-tenth of their weight in food or cash to local food pantries or soup kitchens. This campaign will run through the end of the year. Go on-line to lcconfchurch.org for details.
Another option in the Bethlehem area is New Bethany Ministries at 337 Wyandotte St. in South Bethlehem, which serves breakfast and lunch five days a week. It accepts donations of money, food and personal essentials, such as diapers, shampoo and toothpaste. Its Web site — newbethanyministries.org — provides more details.
The summer is a hard time for the local food pantries. The need is up and people in a position to help are thinking about other things. Simple donations of a few cans or a couple of dollars will go a long way.