Oct 17, 2009 7:09 pm US/Central
Minn. Food Shelves Stretched Thin For Thanksgiving
NEW HOPE, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Every $30 the Emergency Food Shelf Network collects for the Thanksgiving baskets can help feed a family of eight.
CBS
Minnesota food shelves are hurting. Donations are coming in but the demand is so high, many places can't keep up.
The
Emergency Food Shelf Network helps over 230 food programs. They say they don't know if they're going to be able to help everyone that is looking for resources.
They want to help 35,000 people for the holiday, but they don't know if they are going to be able to reach that number. On Friday registration opened for their Thanksgiving baskets.
"We have seen 1,200 people in two days register as of today," said Ted Evans, the spokesperson for the Emergency Food Shelf Network. "That is not normal. Usually it takes a couple weeks, last year it took 10 days, this year we're expecting to probably be full for Thanksgiving by Monday or Tuesday."
Every $30 the Emergency Food Shelf Network collects for the baskets can help them feed a family of eight.
"Last year we served 4,000 baskets, this year we're hoping to serve 5,000 baskets, serve 35,000 individuals and it's going to cost us about $150,000 to do that," said Evans.
The food shelf program is hurting overall. Now-empty shelves are normally filled with food.
"We are barely getting by. Donations are coming in, Minnesotans have heard the call, but it's definitely -- our overall donations have maybe maintained kind of a regular trend, but we have not kept up with the rising need at all," said Evans.
They are not the only food shelf in bad shape.
Catholic Charities said that at one of their food shelves, the demand is up 91 percent.
Bloomington's
Loaves & Fishes said that at some of their sites they've seen a 25 to 35 percent growth from last year. Working families and seniors are mostly using the food programs.
"It's a combination of the economy, when food prices increased and the economy dropped out and people are out of work. Budgets are tight and they're looking for every sort of resource," said Evans.
Sonya Goins, Producer
Contact Sonya
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