State food banks face shortages

Some food banks across the state are struggling to keep up with demand as more people seek out food pantries, soup kitchens and other help to feed their families.

The upcoming holidays help highlight the need food banks are facing.

“I can't remember a time when I've worried so much about having enough food here for the partner agencies,” said Carey Miller, executive director of the Food Bank of Iowa.

The food bank provides food to 285 agencies across a 42-county region of the state. Those agencies include food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and programs for youth and low-income seniors.

“So many people have limited financial resources, and after they've paid mortgage or their rent and their utilities and medical bills, there's not enough money left for food,” Miller said.

For the Thanksgiving holiday, the food bank bought 3,500 turkeys, but the agencies they serve had requests for 6,000. They are still hoping they will have more turkeys donated or money available to buy more.

The bank's in-demand items now are fruits and vegetables, cereal, and high-protein items such as peanut butter, tuna and canned meats.

At the Food Bank of Siouxland in Sioux City, demand is up 10 to 20 percent and donations are not keeping up, said operations manager Judy Peters.

“We're really short of food,” Peters said.

Companies are not donating as much as they used to, which poses challenges for the food bank that serves 14 counties in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo is seeing a 27 percent increase in demand throughout its 16-county region.

“There's always a need, because it seems like as fast as the food comes in, it goes out the door,” said executive director Barb Prather.

A lot of people in the community are hurting whether they've lost a job or are working reduced hours, she said.

“Any donations, whether they are money or food, are very welcome at food banks and pantries,” Prather said.

Sue Pearson, director of the Linn Community Food Bank in Cedar Rapids, said the No. 1 reason families are seeking help from them are because of unexpected bills.

The second-most common reason is that they have run out of food assistance benefits, formerly known as food stamps. Others are seeking help because they are out of work.

She said usage is up about 20 percent over last year and is creeping up each month.

“We are seeing a definite increase,” Pearson said. “We almost have to go back to 2003 to see numbers quite as large as what we're seeing now.”

Despite more people seeking help, Pearson said they are keeping up with the demand, citing 2008 as one of their biggest years for donations. She said donations have been steady.

The food bank is open Monday through Friday, handing out emergency supplies of food.

Located in a church basement, the food bank has existed since 1972 and is staffed by volunteers.

“Any contributions that we receive go right back into providing food,” Pearson said.

Donations are highest between Thanksgiving and the end of the year.

She cited the summer months when children are home from school as their highest season of need.

In the past, the majority of their donations were in food. Now about 60 percent of donations come in as cash, which help leverage their bulk purchasing power.

“As people become more educated about that, it's a whole lot easier for them to give us the dollar than take it to the grocery store,” Pearson said.