Corridor food pantries see growing demand

Demand for Corridor food pantry services has gone up over the years — mirroring the rest of the state, according to those on the front lines helping feed area residents.

Demand 'went up significantly in 2012 to 2013, and 2014 will be about the same,' said Brian Westphelen, a Linn Community Food Bank board member.

He said demand during the first half of 2014 was slower due to the cold temperatures, but activity has picked up. On average, about 40 people a day have come through the food bank's doors during November and December, he noted.

'But one person coming in does not necessarily equal how many people are served,' he said, explaining that people will bring bags of food home to their families.

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Westphelen said about 7,400 people came into Linn Community Food Bank last year, which translates to roughly 14,000 individuals served.

Families are able to visit the food pantry 12 times each year — or once a month — and Westphelen said it generally sees more people come in toward the end of each month, once Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — or food stamps — benefits have run out.

'We have not really seen a reduction in need, and I don't think this need is going away,' he said.

The food bank has not been having trouble keeping up with demand, he said, explaining the organization receives donations from a 'good group of churches.'

'Christmas is certainly a positive time for us,' he said. 'At the moment, we're doing well maintaining the level of giving.'

But the holiday season also is a very busy time for food banks, said Barb Kane, director of Metro Catholic Outreach, a cooperative effort by the 11 Cedar Rapids area Catholic parishes to provide social justice and outreach services. The organization provides emergency financial assistance to families in need as well as food pantry services.

Since the organization opened three years ago, it has seen the demand for its food pantry services shoot up, Kane said, adding that it has gone from handing out 40 boxes of food a week to about 110. Metro Catholic Outreach initially anticipated it would hand out about 75 to 100 boxes each week.

A box of food varies in size depending on the size of the family, Kane said, ranging from 25 pounds of groceries for smaller families to 50 pounds of food for larger families. Boxes include non-perishable items such as pancake mix, canned vegetables, peanut butter, and canned tuna.

Kane said that families that had stopped regularly visiting the pantry are now returning.

'We're trying to figure out why,' she said, noting a number of factors including residents having low-paying jobs or residents who have had hours cut at part-time jobs.

'They probably thought things were getting better and when they were settled in, they realized they need a little extra help,' she said.

The same holds true in Johnson County. Adam Sullivan, communications coordinator for the Johnson County Crisis Center, said the organization delivered 1.1 million pounds of food during the 2014 fiscal year and averaged about 50,000 visits. That's up from a little more than 38,000 in fiscal year 2010.

The organization is halfway through fiscal year 2015 and Sullivan said it is on pace to break last year's record high.

The crisis center gives Johnson County residents grocery assistance once a week with no limits on weekly visits each year. On average, families visit about 10 times per year, Sullivan said.

The food bank provides non-perishable items as well as produce, bakery, deli, dairy and health and hygiene items.

While Johnson County has a low unemployment rate, Sullivan said wages have not really increased over the years, which has put pressure on families dealing with rising food costs.

Food 'is considerably more expensive, and families can't make ends meet,' he said. 'The need is growing and with that the need for support grows as well.'