Across our nation, Americans are being forced to make decisions every day on what is really important.  Stories of people skipping breakfast or lunch to free up money for gas to get to work are becoming common on the morning news. There are similar decisions being made right here in our community. Local food pantries are being overwhelmed with people just needing a little extra help. After a record increase in demand for food last year pantry directors are again reporting startling results. Directors stress that there is an overwhelming demand for food as people seek solutions to alleviate financial burdens resulting from rising food, gas and energy costs.

Two weeks ago Jodi Shumate, director of Quanada’s food pantry, saw an overwhelming turnout at her pantry where she distributed 132, food baskets in two hours. "We can’t keep food on our shelves,” she stated, “as fast as it comes in it is gone. The scary thing is that we are seeing new people, people we have never seen before that are using our pantry to offset other living expenses”. Quanada on average serves approximately 300 families a month.  The Salvation Army’s food pantry director, Dawn Gutierrez, has also noticed the increase in new patrons at their food bank.  “In April we gave out 75 baskets of food and 65 of them went to new people that had never previously been to our facility” commented Gutierrez. “We are also seeing a rise in elderly patrons.” she added, “Out of the 75 food baskets we gave out, 17 went to people over 60.”

Quincy Area food pantries are asking for community support during this year's Letter Carriers Food Drive this Saturday, May 10th to replenish their dwindling supply of food and non-perishable items. Last year directors asked the community for year round donations to accommodate the increased need outside of the traditional food drives. While this strategy seemed sound at the time, directors could not predict the current economic conditions. United Way of Adams County is currently working with a committee of pantry directors to develop a more permanent assistance plan to accommodate the constant shortage of food.  Hopefully, through the support of the community the Letter Carriers food drive will restock the pantry shelves until the plan is finalized.

Residents are asked to leave non-perishable donations—such as canned meat, fish and soup, and cereals, pasta and rice—in a bag near their mailbox on Saturday, May 10 before their letter carrier arrives. It will be taken to the local post office and then delivered to a local food banks, pantries and shelters.

Individuals who are unable to donate in this Saturday's Letter Carriers Food Drive  food drive are encouraged to contact any one of the food pantries. All pantries accept year round donations from 9-5 through the week and some even have weekend drop-off times. A list of pantries and contact numbers are listed below:

Walter Hammond Day Care, Inc.                 222-2992                    
Ladies of Charity                                        222-6359
Madonna House                                          224-7771
Quincy Housing Authority                            222-0720
Early Childhood Center                               228-7121
Quanada                                                    222-0069
The Salvation Army                                    222-2087
Quincy Catholic Charities                            222-0958