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Merrimack Valley

Food pantries seeing more patrons

Letter carriers extend annual food drive to fill shelves

By Crystal Bozek
Staff writer
Published: May 13, 2008

LAWRENCE — They are people who would normally donate a few spare cans to a food drive, but now they find themselves in the opposite position — waiting in line for a bag of free groceries.

Salvation Army Maj. Alberto Suarez has never seen so many of them.

Throngs of first-timers are heading to Suarez's post and other area food banks looking for help. He said service has increased by 400 percent in just six months.

"It's getting tough out there for folks," Suarez said. "There are a lot of new faces coming. I don't remember a situation as desperate as this is. It's a recession. People are hurting."

Housing foreclosures, rising prices at the gas pump, skyrocketing grocery bills and a rise in layoffs have area food banks and pantries scrambling to meet the swelling need, while dealing with their own rising costs.

The trend is nationwide.

"It's not something most people want to do," Suarez said. "It gets to the point where it's that or a starving family. They have to swallow their pride a bit to put food on the table. We're here to help."

The need could be seen over the weekend, as letter carriers kicked off their 16th annual postal food drive, collecting nonperishable foods from residents' porches as they delivered the mail.

Lawrence letter carriers divide what they bring in among Lazarus House, Neighbors in Need, Bread and Roses and the Salvation Army.

The drive typically brings in 24,000 to 45,000 pounds of food.

"They said they've had a really, really tough year," postal worker Joy Howlett said. "We want to get as much food on their shelves as possible."

That means extending the one-day drive, allowing people to bring food directly to the Common Street post office until Saturday, May 17, because the need is so great.

"We're always looking forward to the postal food drive," said Lana Schofield, communications director at Lazarus House. "It seems like this year it can't get here fast enough."

Lazarus House hosts a food line every Wednesday. It works on a first-come, first-served basis, with staff handing out food tickets beforehand so people do not wait in line for six or seven hours.

Schofield said they are seeing "double-digit" increases.

"Certainly the economy has had a great impact," Schofield said. "We're not meeting the need with the donations we normally get. ... People who have never come to us for services are now waiting in our food line. Lately, all people are talking about is the need for food."

Lazarus House has been actively calling on schools, Scout troops and other organizations to hold food drives for them. Salvation Army is looking to establish new partnerships with area corporations and grocery stores.

Summer is on the way, and that's when donations tend to taper.

"We used to go every six weeks to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank," Suarez said. "Now we have to purchase food there every week. And it's gone in two days. It makes a dent in our budget."

At the Salvation Army, families may receive food at the pantry once a month. They must show proof of residency. More than 1,000 families come in for food every month, sometimes only leaving with a box of cereal, some pasta and a few cans.

"Really anything is appreciated," Suarez said.

 

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How to get involved

Want to hold a food drive or donate money to feed your neighbors? Here's who to contact:

r Salvation Army, 978-682-8038

r Lazarus House, 978-689-8575

r Bread and Roses, 978-681-8768

r Neighbors in Need, 978-685-8321

 

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Extended

The National Association of Letter Carriers has extended its annual food collection until Saturday.

In Lawrence, donations of nonperishable foods will be accepted at the central post office, 431 Common St., during regular hours of operation.

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