Post by blackcrowheart on Nov 7, 2006 15:22:07 GMT -5
Oneida Pantry needs help stocking shelves
Fewer donations come in, while number needing assistance grows
By Patti Zarling
pzarling@greenbaypressgazette.com
ONEIDA — While the number of families asking for help from the Oneida Pantry has nearly doubled since the beginning of the year, the center is receiving fewer donations and struggles to keep shelves stocked.
"We need help. We need it pretty bad," said Gary Smith, pantry emergency network coordinator.
Times are tough for families, he said. After Hurricane Katrina a year ago put thousands in need and diverted some gift giving, things have been tough for area pantries, he said. Plus more families are struggling to make ends meet. He noted that for January, the pantry distributed 365 bags of food. In August, it gave out 722, and in September, 650 were given out.
People find themselves short on groceries for a variety of reasons, Smith said.
"What we're seeing is we have elders, we have old people," he said. "Since Katrina everything is lower. And with the economy and the cost of living going up, many people lose their jobs or can't afford to keep up."
Single mothers and people moving back into the area also frequent the pantry, he said. The center sees about three new clients a week, he estimated.
And the pantry serves anyone in need, Smith said, not just Oneida tribal members. Though the pantry provides services to any family living on the Oneida Indian Reservation and to households with at least one Native American tribal member living off the reservation, it won't turn anyone away, Smith said.
"It's very beneficial to make ends meet," said Oneida Tribe of Indians member Nancy Skenandore, who visits the pantry regularly. "They always have very healthy foods, and they're concerned about nutrition."
To make up for less food and more people in need, the pantry gives out less food, Smith said.
"We just put less in each bag."
Clients typically receive one bag of food for every two people, he said. Clients are allowed to visit once a week.
The pantry is in need of any type of nonperishable canned, boxed or packaged food, he said. Hygiene products, such as toothbrushes, soaps, laundry detergent or baby diapers also are in demand, he said, as is baby food.
"Anything to help people live," Smith said.
Need seems to increase at holiday time, he said. With colder weather, families can't rely on garden produce. And families seem to need more food as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, he said.
"It just always seems to be busier."
The pantry recently has seen some increase in donations, he said. Oneida Bingo & Casino held a food drive, as did the tribal middle school. The pantry has no budget and relies on fundraisers for support. The Oneida Tribe donated the pantry building and pays for utilities, Smith said.
But it lost a significant amount of funding in the past two years. The Festival of Giving, a fundraiser sponsored by Oneida gaming and Festival Foods, contributed $24,000 to the pantry two years ago, and also gave $24,000 to Paul's Pantry and The Salvation Army. Last year, the Oneida pantry received $5,000 from the program, and this year it won't get anything. Smith said the pantry used the cash to buy food when supplies ran low.
"That's why I'm on my knees begging," he said. "Right now we have to cut back so everyone gets something. We won't turn anyone away, but it's a challenge to keep up."
Fewer donations come in, while number needing assistance grows
By Patti Zarling
pzarling@greenbaypressgazette.com
ONEIDA — While the number of families asking for help from the Oneida Pantry has nearly doubled since the beginning of the year, the center is receiving fewer donations and struggles to keep shelves stocked.
"We need help. We need it pretty bad," said Gary Smith, pantry emergency network coordinator.
Times are tough for families, he said. After Hurricane Katrina a year ago put thousands in need and diverted some gift giving, things have been tough for area pantries, he said. Plus more families are struggling to make ends meet. He noted that for January, the pantry distributed 365 bags of food. In August, it gave out 722, and in September, 650 were given out.
People find themselves short on groceries for a variety of reasons, Smith said.
"What we're seeing is we have elders, we have old people," he said. "Since Katrina everything is lower. And with the economy and the cost of living going up, many people lose their jobs or can't afford to keep up."
Single mothers and people moving back into the area also frequent the pantry, he said. The center sees about three new clients a week, he estimated.
And the pantry serves anyone in need, Smith said, not just Oneida tribal members. Though the pantry provides services to any family living on the Oneida Indian Reservation and to households with at least one Native American tribal member living off the reservation, it won't turn anyone away, Smith said.
"It's very beneficial to make ends meet," said Oneida Tribe of Indians member Nancy Skenandore, who visits the pantry regularly. "They always have very healthy foods, and they're concerned about nutrition."
To make up for less food and more people in need, the pantry gives out less food, Smith said.
"We just put less in each bag."
Clients typically receive one bag of food for every two people, he said. Clients are allowed to visit once a week.
The pantry is in need of any type of nonperishable canned, boxed or packaged food, he said. Hygiene products, such as toothbrushes, soaps, laundry detergent or baby diapers also are in demand, he said, as is baby food.
"Anything to help people live," Smith said.
Need seems to increase at holiday time, he said. With colder weather, families can't rely on garden produce. And families seem to need more food as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, he said.
"It just always seems to be busier."
The pantry recently has seen some increase in donations, he said. Oneida Bingo & Casino held a food drive, as did the tribal middle school. The pantry has no budget and relies on fundraisers for support. The Oneida Tribe donated the pantry building and pays for utilities, Smith said.
But it lost a significant amount of funding in the past two years. The Festival of Giving, a fundraiser sponsored by Oneida gaming and Festival Foods, contributed $24,000 to the pantry two years ago, and also gave $24,000 to Paul's Pantry and The Salvation Army. Last year, the Oneida pantry received $5,000 from the program, and this year it won't get anything. Smith said the pantry used the cash to buy food when supplies ran low.
"That's why I'm on my knees begging," he said. "Right now we have to cut back so everyone gets something. We won't turn anyone away, but it's a challenge to keep up."